The Reservists (political party)

The party does not formally affiliate itself with any political bloc, and does not rule out working with anyone, including Benjamin Netanyahu and Itamar Ben Gvir. It calls for the formation of a 'Zionist unity government' which includes all political parties currently in the Knesset besides the Arab and Ultraorthodox parties.^[7]

Hendel sees the Israeli–Palestinian conflict as a "clash of civilizations", seeing peace as unlikely without change that will take generations. He criticized the idea of using "investment and engagement" to "win hearts and minds", comparing it to a John Lennon song. He went on to say that the concept was a "mistake" which led to the 7 October attacks "with people coming to slaughter us and our kids".^[5]

A major issue for the party is conscription in Israel, most notably for Haredi and Arab Israelis, both of which are currently exempt from military service. As a result of operations in the Gaza war, the IDF has been having manpower shortages and is at risk of facing "severe harm".^[8] At the same time, there are about 80,000 Haredi men eligible for conscription, but has less than 3,000 enlisted. The Supreme Court has also ruled that there is no legal basis for not conscripting the Haredim.^[9][10] But as Haredi parties are part of the current governing coalition, the government has not yet conducted large-scale conscription. Party founder Yoaz Hendel believes that his party is able to bypass this deadlock by acting as an alternative support base. Hendel also noted that the demographic imbalance is unsustainable, as 30% of the population is projected to be Haredi by 2065.^[5]

The party's main policy proposal is to mandate conscription for all Israeli citizens by imposing major sanctions on those who do not join military or national service.^[1] These punishments include revocation of the right to vote or become elected, cancellation of tax deductions, denial of welfare benefits, revocation of driver's license and prohibition on leaving the country. This plan is based on four key principles: 1) full national service for every Israeli citizen - secular and religious, Jewish or Arab; 2) legally equating evasion of military or alternative civil/national service to desertion; 3) creating a service environment that respects the faith and lifestyles of all those serving; 4) creating armed yeshivas along Israel's borders and a national service track that includes living and studying in those.^[11][12]

Concurrently, the party supports encouraging service by increasing benefits for veterans and reservists such as increasing tax credits and deductions, priority for reservists in recruitment for civil service jobs and for senior positions, priority for reservist businesses in state contracts, financial compensation for employers of reservists, housing and childcare benefits.^[11]

Overall, the party's movement is aimed at promoting universal military conscription by ending the draft exemptions and imposing harsh penalties for draft evasion.^[1]

The party calls for a State Commission of Inquiry [he] to investigate the October 7 attacks, as well as some judicial reform that has a "broad consensus".^[1][13]

The party also announced its opposition to the 2023 Israeli judicial reform, initiated by the Netanyahu government, saying that some reform is necessary, but it cannot be imposed on the country and must be done by broad consensus.^[1]

• Official website