Former center-right communications minister Yoaz Hendel and recently resigned Blue and White lawmaker Chili Tropper officially launched the campaign of their new joint party, dubbed Zionist Home-The Reservists, at an event in Jerusalem on Wednesday evening, promising to “establish a Zionist, statesmanlike government” and reestablish “governance” in the State of Israel.

The new faction will be chaired by Tropper, who left Benny Gantz’s Blue and White this summer as part of a wave of defections as the center-right party hovered at or beneath the electoral threshold.

The former culture and sports minister is well-regarded, having spent a number of years in the fields of educational and social work before entering politic. He also donated a kidney to a stranger.

Ending months of speculation, Tropper joined Hendel’s The Reservists party last month alongside bereaved family members Shira Shapiro and Elyasaf Peretz, stating at the time that they were “setting up a Zionist home. A home for Israelis who are full of pain and hope, who want to work together to make things better here. A home that will not be torn apart from within. A home in which everybody will serve.”

Addressing Wednesday’s party conference, Tropper, who will head the party’s slate in the October 27 election, demanded the National Security Ministry for Hendel and slammed far-right incumbent Itamar Ben Gvir.

“After years of talking about governance without governance, after years of big promises but with bleeding streets, surging violence, and rampant crime, the time has come for someone who comes to work, not to pose for photos. The time has come to care about personal security, not TikTok likes,” he said.

Ben Gvir has come under public criticism for failing to stem surging violent crime in the Arab community.

The party also demanded “the establishment of a Zionist government and the passage of a conscription law” as a condition for their participation in any coalition.

Hendel, a political scientist and former communications minister........

© The Times of Israel