Senior officer suspended from IDF on his way to Erdan's new party

Gilad Erdan is considering adding reserve Colonel Hezi Nechama to the new party he is contemplating establishing. Nechama, who was suspended from active reserve duty after criticizing the management of the war, may serve as a key security figure in the political move. Erdan has not yet officially announced the formation of the party.

Gilad Erdan, former Minister of Public Security and Israel's ambassador to the UN and the United States, is considering adding reserve Colonel Hezi Nechama to the new party he is contemplating establishing. Erdan has not yet officially announced the formation of the party, but recently he has been holding talks with other political figures, including former Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein. Nechama, considered one of the prominent voices among reservists who criticized the management of the war, served in the IDF in senior command roles, including commander of the Alexandroni Brigade, commander of the Menashe Brigade, and deputy commander of the Givati Brigade. After the outbreak of the Swords of Iron war, he served in reserves as chief of staff of a brigade fighting in the Gaza Strip. During the war, he voiced public criticism of the IDF's conduct and the concept of force activation, arguing for a return to a concept of decisive victory against the enemy. Following his remarks, his reserve service was frozen, and later it was reported that he was suspended from active reserve duty by a decision of military authorities. Nechama's name also came up after a security incident in which he neutralized a terrorist in a ramming attack on the Tunnel Road. In the political system, assessments suggest that Erdan seeks to build a new right-wing, statesmanlike framework that will appeal to publics not currently identified with existing parties.