Erdan Unveils New Right-Wing Party, Vows Universal National Service Law

Former Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan announced the launch of a new right-wing political party on Thursday, stating it would advocate for universal national service and seek to build a broad Zionist coalition government.

Yuli Edelstein, the former Knesset Speaker and former chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, appeared alongside Erdan at the announcement.

Erdan outlined his ideological foundation, saying "My entire life, I have been a right-winger. I never zig-zagged. I believe in the land of Israel, in settlement, and in governance, and I fiercely oppose the creation of a Palestinian state." He stated the party would decline participation in a narrow coalition.

Erdan said he aims to restore values within Israel's right-wing camp, declaring that he "believes that the time has come to return to the right what it lost in recent years, responsibility, the glory of the Beitar movement, and mutual respect. I vehemently oppose the left's views. But I never hated those who thought differently from me. I never spoke about their ethnicity, family, or lifestyle. Since a political opponent is not an enemy. Our enemies are in Tehran, Gaza, and Lebanon."

A key policy priority for the party is mandatory military or national service for all Israeli citizens. Erdan pledged to advance legislation called "Basic Law: Service," Which would require universal participation in either military or civilian service. He characterized the current system as creating unequal obligations among different sectors of Israeli society, stating that "every citizen will serve in military or national service. It can not be that a young man from Umm al-Fahm can begin academic studies at the age of 18, while a young man from Ofakim can only do so after three years of IDF service. It can't be that a Torah and mitzvah observant young man from Bnei Brak would not shoulder the load while a Torah and mitzvah observant young man from Ofra risks his life in Lebanon."

Erdan rejected what he described as a false choice between nationalist governance and equal service obligations. "For years, they tried to convince you that you have to choose; that if you want a nationalist government, you need to give up on the equal share in the burden of service. That if you want settlements, you have to give up on service for all. And I tell you this evening: this is a false choice, this is not right-wing or equal service, the true right is enlistment and sharing the burden of service."

He concluded that strengthening Jewish communities and requiring service from all citizens are compatible goals. "It is not settlements or service for everyone. It is settlements and service for everyone. Anyone who tells you that you have to choose between these values is trapped in yesterday's politics. Anyone stuck in the politics of the two blocs is tearing the country apart. If you want solutions to the enormous challenges facing Israel, we are your home."