The reservist-focused party splits as Tropper and allies secure spots on Eisenkot's list, while co-founder Yoav Hendel explores options with Benny Gantz
The Bayit Zioni (Zionist Home) party, founded by Knesset member Chili Tropper, is set to dissolve, with Tropper himself joining the list of Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party. The move includes guaranteed positions for several figures from the reservist-focused party.
According to details that have emerged, Shira Shapira will receive a realistic spot on Eisenkot's list, while Eliasaf Peretz is slated for a borderline position. Eisenkot is expected to present his updated list on Monday. The development marks the end of the partnership between Tropper and Yoav Hendel, who together founded Bayit Zioni as a party representing reservists who served extensively during the current conflict.
Hendel, who was left out of the agreement with Eisenkot, will need to find a new political framework. According to reports, Hendel and MK Benny Gantz are expected to explore the possibility of running together. Meanwhile, former Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked is expected to decide on Sunday whether to join this framework.
The move effectively removes the possibility of a political alliance between Eisenkot and Naftali Bennett, leader of the Beyachad (Together) party. Bennett has continued strengthening his own list with additional figures in recent weeks, including MK Eitan Ginzburg from Blue and White, Mati Gil, CEO of AION Labs, and Nisan Zeevi from Kibbutz Kfar Giladi.
Gadi Eisenkot (Moshe Shai / Flash90)
Tropper, who has previously stated he would not sit in a government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, sets mandatory universal conscription as a threshold condition for any future coalition. In an interview with Kikar Hashabat about a month ago, Tropper clarified his opposition to Hendel's proposal to revoke voting rights from those who don't serve, preferring economic sanctions instead.
Eisenkot, whose party has been strengthening in recent polls, has been at the center of public controversy after revealing details about events on January 10, 2018, when an Israeli F-16 fighter jet was shot down. At a Ynet conference, Eisenkot claimed he was forced to make critical decisions without the prime minister, whom he couldn't locate for two hours.
In a joint statement, Tropper and Hendel wrote:
"True friendship. We have more than 20 years between us of being neighbors, friends, sitting next to each other in synagogue, and also several years of reserve duty together. We both chose to try to serve the public through the political arena as well. In some cases together and in all cases separately, but with very similar ideological outlooks.
In recent weeks we established Bayit Zioni-The Reservists together, with a clear goal: forming a Zionist government, and an effort for it to be as broad as possible. To our joy, the party gained an important and significant place and many joined it. However, facing the complex political reality, each of us made a personal decision.
We are both committed to continuing to serve the state and work for those who serve and for internal unity, each from his own place. What matters is the ideological partnership that remains intact, the belief that we will still cooperate in the public sphere, and of course the friendship—even if you search really hard, you won't find remnants of bad blood. This is a friendship of many years, which began before the political journey and will continue long after."
