Two weeks to the election

Hendel reveals PM pick, coalition terms

Miluim Party leader says he'll back whoever brings most Zionist mandates, rules out 61-seat coalitions with haredi or Arab parties, and predicts 7–8 seats for his own list

Gila Isaacson

OCT 13, 2026 11:40

1 min read

Hendel Sets Condition for Joining Next Government, Reveals PM Pick

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Yoaz Hendel, chairman of the Miluim Party and former minister, has laid down clear red lines ahead of the formation of Israel's next coalition and says he is confident his party will cross the electoral threshold and surprise Israelis in its results.

In an interview at the ynet and Yedioth Ahronoth "People of the State" conference, Hendel addressed his strategy for post-election recommendations and coalition talks. "The rule I've set is that whoever brings the most Zionist mandates, we'll recommend him, plain and simple," Hendel declared.

Hendel made clear he will not allow a coalition propped up by non-Zionist parties or the political extremes. "We won't sit in Netanyahu's 61 with haredi parties, and we also won't sit in 61 with Arab parties," he stressed. "But whoever brings Zionist mandates, we'll definitely sit there. Anyone who brings Zionist mandates and manages to form a Zionist government, we're in."

Asked about polls showing his party failing to cross the threshold in some surveys, Hendel dismissed the forecasts and offered a far more optimistic prediction. "We'll cross the threshold - with 7 to 8 mandates," he said firmly.

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