# The Reservists and the Economic Party: what they've published

Close Read, episode 16. The Reservists and the Economic Party (המילואימניקים והכלכלית), list 16, ballot letters די. Published October 9, 2026. Israel's Knesset election is on October 27, 2026.

- Page: https://closeread.show/israel-2026/reservists-economic-party/
- Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GqwNpq34KM
- Audio: https://media.closeread.show/audio/closeread-016-reservists-economic-party-0c404c69.mp3

This list wants to cut VAT from 18 percent to 12 percent, and it wants anyone who skips military or civilian service to lose the right to vote. [S11](#source-s11) [S2](#source-s2) Those two ideas come from two different parties that are now running on one ballot slip.

## Who is The Reservists and the Economic Party?

The list is called "The Reservists and the Economic Party, led by Yoaz Hendel and Yaron Zelekha," ballot letters Dalet Yud, and it's a joint run of Hendel's Reservists party and Zelekha's New Economic Party. [S1](#source-s1) [S26](#source-s26) [S34](#source-s34)

## What has The Reservists and the Economic Party published?

Here's the first thing to know. I couldn't find a joint platform for this list. [S10](#source-s10) What exists is two separate platforms, one on each party's own website. [S2](#source-s2) [S11](#source-s11)

The Reservists' site has a platform page, a ten-page draft plan as a PDF, a ten-point plan on crime and governance, and a plan for soldiers with PTSD. [S2](#source-s2) [S4](#source-s4) [S6](#source-s6) [S8](#source-s8) The Economic Party's site has a platform page with about twenty chapters, from taxes to animal welfare, and a Russian translation. [S11](#source-s11) [S33](#source-s33) The list's own landing page has a slogan and a sign-up form. [S10](#source-s10) Zelekha's official Telegram channel has also posted policy under the joint name. [S27](#source-s27) [S28](#source-s28)

So as I go through the topics, I'll tell you which of the two parties wrote each position. One more note: the Economic Party's pages aren't dated, and a few chapters still mention things like COVID or a 2019 report, so parts of that text are older. [S14](#source-s14) [S18](#source-s18)

## What does The Reservists and the Economic Party say about security and foreign policy?

The Reservists' platform calls for an "aggressive" security policy that moves from "containment" to initiative and offense, and says they'll act to prevent a Palestinian state. [S2](#source-s2)

On Gaza, it lists full Israeli control of the perimeter, the high ridges, and the Philadelphi corridor, plus freedom of action, on what it calls the West Bank model, for arrests, destroying infrastructure, and stopping terror attacks. [S2](#source-s2) It says land in the perimeter, up to what it calls the yellow line, would be farmed by the Gaza border communities. [S2](#source-s2) And it proposes a directorate for what it calls "voluntary emigration," to let Gaza residents who want to leave move to other countries. [S2](#source-s2)

On Iran, the platform says Operation Rising Lion left Iran with offensive capabilities and "the mission is not finished." [S2](#source-s2) On Lebanon, it says that if Hezbollah isn't disarmed under the agreement, a campaign "will be opened" to disarm it and take the controlling ridges in Lebanon. [S2](#source-s2)

In the West Bank, the Reservists use the phrase "sovereignty through deeds": more settlement, and making the Jordan Valley a national settlement goal. [S2](#source-s2)

The Economic Party's security chapter says it will oppose any withdrawal "even the smallest" and oppose a Palestinian state. [S12](#source-s12) It says any arrangement in Gaza must first end what it calls incitement in Gaza's schools. [S12](#source-s12) And it wants to cancel entry permits for Palestinian workers from the West Bank entirely, and bring in more foreign workers instead. [S12](#source-s12)

I couldn't find a published position from either party on relations with the United States.

## What does The Reservists and the Economic Party say about accountability for October 7?

The Reservists list a commission of inquiry as one of three conditions for joining any government. [S3](#source-s3) Their platform page words it like this: "The word 'state' has become an excuse not to investigate. It's time to investigate." [S2](#source-s2) Their Q&A page, though, says the condition is "a state commission of inquiry into the failures of October 7." [S3](#source-s3) So you'll see both phrasings on their site.

I couldn't find a published position from the Economic Party on a commission of inquiry.

## What does The Reservists and the Economic Party say about the economy and the cost of living?

This is the Economic Party's core. Their platform says VAT goes from 18 percent to 17 in the first year, then down one point a year to 12 percent. [S11](#source-s11) The top income tax rate, including National Insurance and health tax, would drop from 50 to 40 percent over five years, and the combined corporate and dividend tax would do the same. [S11](#source-s11) They say this is paid for mainly by canceling subsidies and tax benefits for "tycoons" and big companies, and by making the state budget more efficient. [S11](#source-s11)

On prices, they want to cancel all customs duties and import quotas on food, dismantle the agricultural production boards "from the Dairy Board to the Honey Board," and declare every exclusive importer a monopoly. [S11](#source-s11) They want a new private bank, co-funded by the state and managed by a bank from abroad, and they want banks required to pay interest on checking accounts. [S11](#source-s11)

On September 29, Zelekha's Telegram channel posted that they'll permanently cut fuel excise and indirect taxes, and called it a "threshold condition." [S28](#source-s28) A September 17 post presented an insurance plan "together with the Reservists": new insurance companies, a ban on sending drivers only to the insurer's "arrangement garages," and no fines for choosing another garage. [S27](#source-s27)

The Reservists' platform has its own economic section: big tax breaks for tech companies that employ about 70 percent of their staff in the Negev, the Galilee, or the Jordan Valley, and three measurable reforms a year reported to the Knesset. [S2](#source-s2) It also says budgets should move "from the draft-evading public to the serving public." [S2](#source-s2)

## What does The Reservists and the Economic Party say about housing?

The Economic Party's goal is to bring an average apartment down from almost 170 average monthly salaries to about 120, by speeding up growth so investors put money elsewhere. [S11](#source-s11) They also want to transfer ownership of public housing apartments to the roughly 60,000 families who live in them. [S13](#source-s13)

The Reservists tie housing to service: service becomes a main criterion for mortgage discounts and the subsidized housing lottery, and reservists get land in national priority areas. [S2](#source-s2)

## What does The Reservists and the Economic Party say about religion and state?

The draft is the Reservists' central issue. Their platform says every citizen, "secular and religious, Jews and Arabs," serves at 18, in the military or in civilian service. [S2](#source-s2) Their plan treats not enlisting as "desertion," and says the only exemption would be medical. [S4](#source-s4) The listed sanctions for those who don't serve include losing the right to vote and to run for office, losing tax discounts and benefit payments, losing a driver's license, and a ban on leaving the country. [S2](#source-s2) Their slogan is "whoever gives, gets; whoever doesn't, doesn't." [S9](#source-s9)

The plan also proposes separate Haredi units, and seven yeshivas along the borders where 700 top Torah students would serve by studying, with basic guard duty. [S4](#source-s4)

The Economic Party also wants Haredim drafted the same way as everyone else, with exemptions capped at 2,000 yeshiva students and no state support for institutions where people who don't enlist study. [S12](#source-s12) Separately, they want to privatize kashrut supervision so any ordained rabbi can certify food, and they back state Haredi schools. [S11](#source-s11) [S16](#source-s16) Their women's chapter calls for ending gender-segregated public events and for solutions for women refused a religious divorce. [S22](#source-s22)

## What does The Reservists and the Economic Party say about the judiciary and governance?

The Reservists want judicial changes "under broad agreement," including independent outside oversight of the courts, splitting the attorney general's role, and a Basic Law on legislation that resets the relations between the branches of government. [S2](#source-s2) They also want an eight-year, or two-term, limit for prime minister. [S2](#source-s2)

Another of their conditions for joining a government is a "Zionist government," which their platform says means not relying on Haredi or Arab parties. [S2](#source-s2)

The Economic Party's site carries Zelekha's 2023 statement to a Knesset committee. [S25](#source-s25) He proposed that the Supreme Court could strike a law only with a full panel and a larger majority than the Knesset vote, and the Knesset could re-pass it with at least 61 votes and a larger majority again. [S25](#source-s25) He also opposed giving the government full control of judicial appointments. [S25](#source-s25)

## What does The Reservists and the Economic Party say about education?

The Economic Party wants fewer teaching hours with classes of 18 students, more autonomy for principals, and mandatory financial education starting in elementary school. [S14](#source-s14) The Reservists' platform says education budgets go only to institutions that take part in service. [S2](#source-s2)

## What does The Reservists and the Economic Party say about health?

The Economic Party wants national health spending raised to 8 percent of GDP, three new hospitals in the north and south, and a new medical school. [S15](#source-s15)

The Reservists published a plan for soldiers with PTSD. [S8](#source-s8) It calls for a fund of about one billion shekels a year, set by law outside the base budget so it can't be cut, a national emergency directorate for post-trauma, and a mentor assigned to each soldier who asks for help. [S8](#source-s8) Zelekha's channel said IDF wounded would be "the first thing" they'd handle at the Finance Ministry. [S31](#source-s31)

## What does The Reservists and the Economic Party say about social welfare, pensions and the elderly?

The Economic Party wants higher old-age allowances, especially for elderly people below the poverty line, and more funding for people with disabilities. [S13](#source-s13) On pensions, they want banks back in pension management and a cap on any one company's market share. [S21](#source-s21)

The Reservists' welfare items are about service: tax credits for reservists, and compensation for employers of anyone who does more than 15 reserve days a year. [S2](#source-s2)

## What does The Reservists and the Economic Party say about Arab citizens and minorities?

The Reservists say the same service duty and the same sanctions apply to Arab citizens, with new national service tracks. [S4](#source-s4) [S2](#source-s2) Their ten-point governance plan describes crime in Arab communities as an "eighth front." [S6](#source-s6) It proposes local police forces under mayors, a Shin Bet division to fight crime in Arab communities, and minimum sentences for shootings and illegal weapons. [S6](#source-s6) [S7](#source-s7) One heading in the same plan reads "restoring the Judaization of the Negev and the Galilee," and under it the plan calls Jewish settlement and a Jewish majority in those areas a priority national mission, alongside new Druze communities. [S6](#source-s6)

The Economic Party's one item here is training to bring more Arab citizens, Haredim, and women into high tech. [S23](#source-s23)

## What does The Reservists and the Economic Party say about immigration, absorption and the diaspora?

The Economic Party calls aliyah a first-rank Zionist value and proposes fast recognition of foreign professional licenses and a larger absorption basket. [S11](#source-s11) The Reservists' draft plan exempts immigrants who arrive after age 24. [S4](#source-s4) I couldn't find a published position from either party on diaspora relations.

## What does The Reservists and the Economic Party say about the environment, energy and transportation?

The Economic Party has a full environment chapter: renewable electricity at 30 percent by 2030 and 100 percent by 2050, a 10 billion shekel climate fund, closing the Haifa Bay refineries, and support for a bill to phase out live animal shipments over three years. [S17](#source-s17) On transport, they want a cabinet for transportation run by the finance minister. [S18](#source-s18)

I couldn't find a published position from the Reservists on energy, climate, or transport.

## What The Reservists and the Economic Party puts front and center

On their websites, the Reservists lead with eight principles, three of them conditions for joining a government: a Zionist unity government, a draft law for everyone, and a commission of inquiry. [S3](#source-s3) [S9](#source-s9) The Economic Party leads with the cost of living and monopolies. [S11](#source-s11) A September 30 post from Zelekha's channel puts the two together: "We came to lower the cost of living and to take care of a draft for everyone." [S32](#source-s32)

## What The Reservists and the Economic Party hasn't published

There's no joint platform for the list, so no document says which of these positions both parties have agreed to. I couldn't find anything from either party on relations with the United States or on the diaspora. I found no position from the Economic Party on an October 7 commission, and none from the Reservists on energy, transport, or pensions.

## Chapters

- 0:00 Intro
- 0:18 About this series
- 0:45 Who they are
- 0:59 What they've published
- 1:53 Security and foreign policy
- 3:29 October 7 accountability
- 4:00 Economy and cost of living
- 5:37 Housing
- 6:20 Religion and state
- 7:47 Judiciary and governance
- 8:38 Education
- 8:54 Health
- 9:27 Social welfare, pensions, and the elderly
- 9:54 Arab citizens and minorities
- 10:38 Immigration, absorption, and diaspora
- 10:58 Environment, energy, and transportation
- 11:26 What they put front and center
- 12:02 What's missing

## Sources

- <a id="source-s1"></a>S1: [Central Elections Committee page "המילואימניקים והכלכלית בראשות יועז הנדל וירון זליכה": candidate list submitted on behalf of מפלגת המילואימניקים and מפלגת הכלכלית החדשה, with each candidate's party of origin. bechirot.gov.il was in maintenance mode on 2026-09-30, so this is the printout of the CEC page that the Israel Democracy Institute hosts](https://www.idi.org.il/media/32315/%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%99%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%90%D7%99%D7%9E%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%A7%D7%99%D7%9D-%D7%95%D7%94%D7%9B%D7%9C%D7%9B%D7%9C%D7%99%D7%AA.pdf) (Official list page, Hebrew, published 2026-09-07)
- <a id="source-s2"></a>S2: [Reservists: "עקרונות" page with "עיקרי המצע" (platform highlights): three conditions for forming a government, "האזרח המשרת" (draft), security and Gaza, Iran and Hezbollah, governance, checks and balances, settlement and agriculture, economy](https://www.themiluimnikim.org.il/platform/) (Website page, Hebrew, published created 2025-12-02, modified 2026-06-07)
- <a id="source-s3"></a>S3: [Reservists: "מי אנחנו" (about) with the eight principles and a Q&A section ("שאלות ותשובות")](https://www.themiluimnikim.org.il/about/) (Website page, Hebrew, published created 2025-11-12, modified 2026-09-09)
- <a id="source-s4"></a>S4: [Reservists: "הרחבת שורות צבא העם: מתווה המילואימניקים" (the draft outline, full text, 11 pages: text on pages 1 to 10, page 11 blank; ends mid-sentence on page 10. Page count corrected in the 2026-10-01 audit)](https://www.themiluimnikim.org.il/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/הרחבת-שורות-צבא-העם-מתווה-המילואימניקים.pdf) (Platform PDF, Hebrew, published uploaded 2025-10-04)
- <a id="source-s5"></a>S5: [Reservists: "מתווה המילואימניקים" (draft outline summary page and petition)](https://www.themiluimnikim.org.il/מתווה-המילואימניקים/) (Website page, Hebrew, published created 2025-11-12, modified 2026-04-14)
- <a id="source-s6"></a>S6: [Reservists: "ביטחון ומשילות: תוכנית 10 הנקודות לחזית השמינית" (10-point plan on crime in Arab communities and governance)](https://www.themiluimnikim.org.il/תוכנית-המשילות/) (Website page, Hebrew, published created 2026-01-29, modified 2026-03-01)
- <a id="source-s7"></a>S7: [Reservists: "הקמת משטרות מקומיות" (local police plan, full text)](https://www.themiluimnikim.org.il/הקמת-משטרה-מקומית/) (Website page, Hebrew, published created 2026-01-29, modified 2026-03-01)
- <a id="source-s8"></a>S8: [Reservists: "חוזרים מהקרב" (PTSD and wounded soldiers plan)](https://www.themiluimnikim.org.il/חוזרים-מהקרב/) (Website page, Hebrew, published created 2026-05-20)
- <a id="source-s9"></a>S9: [Reservists: home page (eight principles, draft slogan)](https://www.themiluimnikim.org.il/) (Website page, Hebrew, published modified 2026-09-09)
- <a id="source-s10"></a>S10: [Joint list landing page "המילואימניקים והכלכלית" (slogan and sign-up form, no platform text)](https://www.themiluimnikim.org.il/המילואימניקים-והכלכלית/) (Website page, Hebrew, published created 2026-09-10, modified 2026-09-27)
- <a id="source-s11"></a>S11: [Economic Party: "מצע המפלגה" (platform): introduction, housing, taxes, state budget, self-employed, banks, cost of living, absorption and aliyah, plus short previews of the other chapters](https://www.hakalkalit.org/מצע-המפלגה-הכלכלית) (Website page, Hebrew, published not dated (2025 or later, see note))
- <a id="source-s12"></a>S12: [Economic Party platform chapter: "ביטחון" (security)](https://www.hakalkalit.org/ביטחון) (Website page, Hebrew, published not dated (mentions October 7))
- <a id="source-s13"></a>S13: [Economic Party platform chapter: "מדיניות הרווחה" (welfare)](https://www.hakalkalit.org/הרווחה) (Website page, Hebrew, published not dated)
- <a id="source-s14"></a>S14: [Economic Party platform chapter: "מדיניות החינוך" (education)](https://www.hakalkalit.org/חינוך) (Website page, Hebrew, published not dated (mentions the COVID-19 crisis))
- <a id="source-s15"></a>S15: [Economic Party platform chapter: "מדיניות הבריאות" (health)](https://www.hakalkalit.org/בריאות) (Website page, Hebrew, published not dated (mentions October 7))
- <a id="source-s16"></a>S16: [Economic Party platform chapter: "שילוב החרדים בכלכלה הישראלית" (Haredi integration in the economy)](https://www.hakalkalit.org/שילוב-חרדים) (Website page, Hebrew, published not dated)
- <a id="source-s17"></a>S17: [Economic Party platform chapter: "סביבה, קיימות ובעלי חיים" (environment, sustainability, animals)](https://www.hakalkalit.org/איכות-הסביבה-קיימות-וזכויות-בעלי-חיים) (Website page, Hebrew, published not dated)
- <a id="source-s18"></a>S18: [Economic Party platform chapter: "מדיניות התחבורה" (transportation)](https://www.hakalkalit.org/תחבורה) (Website page, Hebrew, published not dated)
- <a id="source-s19"></a>S19: [Economic Party platform chapter: "חקלאות וייצור מזון מקומי" (agriculture and local food production)](https://www.hakalkalit.org/חלקאות-וייצור-מזון-מקומי) (Website page, Hebrew, published not dated)
- <a id="source-s20"></a>S20: [Economic Party platform chapter: "מדיניות מחירי הרכב" (car prices)](https://www.hakalkalit.org/מחירי-הרכב) (Website page, Hebrew, published not dated)
- <a id="source-s21"></a>S21: [Economic Party platform chapter: "מדיניות פנסיה" (pensions)](https://www.hakalkalit.org/פנסיה) (Website page, Hebrew, published not dated)
- <a id="source-s22"></a>S22: [Economic Party platform chapter: "נשים ואלימות במשפחה" (women and domestic violence, gender equality)](https://www.hakalkalit.org/נשים-ואלימות-במשפחה) (Website page, Hebrew, published not dated)
- <a id="source-s23"></a>S23: [Economic Party platform chapter: "מדיניות התמיכה בענפי ההיי-טק" (high-tech)](https://www.hakalkalit.org/תמיכה-בענפי-ההיי-טק) (Website page, Hebrew, published not dated (refers to "recently" signed peace agreements))
- <a id="source-s24"></a>S24: [Economic Party platform chapter: "החינוך הבלתי פורמאלי" (informal education and youth movements)](https://www.hakalkalit.org/חינוך-בלתי-פורמאלי) (Website page, Hebrew, published not dated)
- <a id="source-s25"></a>S25: [Economic Party: "הרפורמה במערכת המשפטית": Zelekha's statement to the Knesset Constitution Committee on January 31, 2023, posted on the party site as the party's position](https://www.hakalkalit.org/רפורמה-במערכת-המשפט) (Website page, Hebrew, published statement dated 2023-01-31)
- <a id="source-s26"></a>S26: [Telegram @econo_ch post 3870: CEC approved ballot letters "די"](https://t.me/econo_ch/3870) (Social post, Hebrew, published 2026-09-27)
- <a id="source-s27"></a>S27: [Telegram @econo_ch post 3835: insurance and garages plan presented by the Economic Party "יחד עם מפלגת המילואימניקים"](https://t.me/econo_ch/3835) (Social post, Hebrew, published 2026-09-17)
- <a id="source-s28"></a>S28: [Telegram @econo_ch post 3874: cutting fuel excise and indirect taxes, signed "מצביעים למילואמניקים והכלכלית"](https://t.me/econo_ch/3874) (Social post, Hebrew, published 2026-09-29)
- <a id="source-s29"></a>S29: [Telegram @econo_ch post 3815: welfare measures (repeats S13)](https://t.me/econo_ch/3815) (Social post, Hebrew, published 2026-09-10)
- <a id="source-s30"></a>S30: [Telegram @econo_ch post 3816: health measures (repeats S15)](https://t.me/econo_ch/3816) (Social post, Hebrew, published 2026-09-10)
- <a id="source-s31"></a>S31: [Telegram @econo_ch post 3780: IDF wounded and PTSD "the first thing we will handle" at the Finance Ministry](https://t.me/econo_ch/3780) (Social post, Hebrew, published 2026-09-07)
- <a id="source-s32"></a>S32: [Telegram @econo_ch post 3879: "באנו להוריד את יוקר המחיה ולדאוג לגיוס לכולם"](https://t.me/econo_ch/3879) (Social post, Hebrew, published 2026-09-30)
- <a id="source-s33"></a>S33: [Economic Party platform in Russian, "Программа Экономической партии во главе с профессором Яроном Зелихой" (translation of the current Hebrew platform, includes the October 7 security chapter). Used only to confirm the Hebrew text is current](https://www.hakalkalit.org/_files/ugd/feb0f4_067d8fd97f9b40778298740918e4ca13.pdf) (Platform PDF, Russian, published PDF created 2026-08-15)
- <a id="source-s34"></a>S34: [Central Elections Committee index of all 38 lists for the 26th Knesset with ballot letters; this party's row gives the letters די. The page header still carries the standard note that lists are as submitted, but the index includes the committee's September 23 exclusion decisions, so it postdates the review. Used for ballot letters only. Copied on 2026-10-01 from the Joint List folder's saved copy](https://www.gov.il/he/pages/candidates-lists-26) (CEC record, Hebrew, published September 2026)