The Reservists-The Economic Political Party (Hebrew: המילואימניקים-המפלגה הכלכלית) is an Israeli political party founded in 2025 and led by Yoaz Hendel, a former communications minister, Knesset member, and Israel Defense Forces reserve commander. The party emerged from a movement formed after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. It sought to translate the wartime activity of reservists, bereaved families, wounded veterans, and civilian volunteers into political representation.
In the months after the attack, Hendel organized a grassroots reservists’ movement that conducted volunteer projects, including assistance in repairing homes damaged during the war. He also helped establish and command the Be’eri Battalion, which incorporated volunteer combat soldiers who had passed the usual age for reserve duty. In June 2025, the movement began collecting the signatures required to establish a political party. Its organizing campaign emphasized universal military or national service and greater political influence for Israelis who served in the military or contributed through civilian service.
An application to register the party under the name “The Reservists” was submitted to the Registrar of Political Parties on September 15, 2025, and the party publicly announced its formation three days later. Its founders included reservists Yoav Adomi, Roy Frank, Israel Ben-Shitrit, Yonatan Bahat, and Erez Ben-Ezra; attorney Shvut Raanan; pre-military academy head Hadas Crissi; and activists representing reservists’ families and bereaved families.
The registration documents stated that the party would promote Zionist values, including settlement, immigration, and national defense; require every citizen to perform military or national service; pursue a constitution and changes to Israel’s system of government; balance the branches of government; and encourage national unity and respectful political discourse. Party representatives subsequently identified three immediate priorities: forming a broad Zionist unity government, enacting universal service, and establishing a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 failures. The party described itself as center-right on security but said it was prepared to cooperate across conventional political blocs if prospective partners accepted its principles. Founder Roy Frank also advocated denying the right to vote or seek election to citizens who refused to serve, a proposal that attracted public attention but was not included among the party’s formal registration objectives.
In December 2025, the Registrar rejected a Likud objection claiming that the party’s name could mislead the public or improperly appropriate the identity of reservists. The decision allowed it to retain the name “The Reservists.”
In February 2026, party members elected a broader leadership through remote electronic voting, with a reported turnout of 76 percent. Those elected included reservists, wounded veterans, members of bereaved families, a Druze representative, and other civic figures. Among them were Sandra Alon, whose son Sgt. Tomer Keren was killed during the war, and Shlomi Damari, whose brother Dan was murdered at the Nova music festival.
The party held digital primaries in June 2026. Hendel was retained as leader, while Yoav Adomi, Roy Frank, Erez Ben-Ezra, Tehila Peretz, Shlomi Damari, and Amalia Keinan received the leading positions on its candidate slate.
On July 7, 2026, the party announced a joint election campaign with former Blue and White lawmaker Chili Tropper. Hendel and Tropper were presented as equal partners, joined by Shira Shapira, mother of October 7 victim Aner Shapira, and reservist Elyasaf Peretz. The party was subsequently renamed “The Zionist Home–The Reservists.” The alliance said it sought to build a larger Zionist political force and form a broad Zionist government, while remaining formally unaffiliated with either the Netanyahu or opposition bloc.
On September 6, 2026, Hendel announced a joint Knesset run with economist Yaron Zelekha after his former partner, Chili Tropper, left their centrist alliance to join Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party. Hendel and Tropper’s party had consistently polled below the electoral threshold, while Zelekha’s previous economic parties also failed to enter the Knesset. The new alliance pledged to fight the cost of living and promote universal military or national service.Its new name became “The Reservists-Economic Political Party.”
Sources: Eliav Breuer, “Yoaz Hendel’s reservist group begins proceedings to form new party,” Jerusalem Post, (June 10, 2025).
“Notice of an Application to Register a Party in the Party Register,” Israel Corporations Authority, (September 18, 2025). [Hebrew]
Moran Azulay, “Olive Green in the Logo, List of Principles for a Government: Hendel Registers ‘The Reservists’ Party,” Ynet, (September 18, 2025). [Hebrew]
Keshet Neev, “Reservists Party Principles: Zionist Gov’t, Draft for Everyone, Oct. 7 Inquiry,” Jerusalem Post, (September 22, 2025).
Moran Azulay, “Likud Objected - Party Name Approved,” Ynet, (December 4, 2025). [Hebrew]
Keshet Neev, “Bereaved Family Members Chosen for Reservist Party Leadership After Internal Elections,” Jerusalem Post, (February 10, 2026)
“Results of ‘The Reservists’ Party Primaries Published,” Srugim, (June 17, 2026). [Hebrew]
Shir Perets and Keshet Neev, “Chili Tropper, Reservists Party’s Yoaz Hendel Announce Joint Campaign for Upcoming Knesset Election,” Jerusalem Post, (July 7, 2026).
“Ditched by partner, center-right Hendel joins forces with economist Yaron Zelekha,” Times of Israel, (September 6, 2026).
Photo: Wikimedia Commons.