Yoaz Hendel (Hebrew: יועז הנדל) is an Israeli politician, former Minister of Communications, journalist, historian, and hi-tech businessman. Born in Petah Tikva, Israel, to Miriam and Yona Hendel (father immigrated from Romania in 1961), he grew up in the religious-nationalist settlement of Elkana in Samaria and became secular during high school, stopping the wearing of a kippah. His uncle is former MK Tzvi Hendel. He earned a PhD in History from Tel Aviv University in 2009 (thesis: 'Means of Intelligence in the Ancient World – From the Maccabean Revolt to the Bar Kokhba Revolt'), served as a research fellow at the Jaffe Center for Strategic Studies, and lectured in Political Science (terrorism and guerrilla warfare) at Bar-Ilan University from 2009-2013. Hendel enlisted in the IDF in 1993, serving in the elite Shayetet 13 naval commando unit as team and company commander (including Operation Grapes of Wrath), discharged after 6.5 years, and continued in security roles with Shin Bet during the Second Intifada until age 29. A lieutenant colonel in reserves, he participated in the Second Lebanon War, Cast Lead, Protective Edge, and Iron Swords War (commander of Battalion 8555 / 'Bari' / Maglan Bari, special reserve unit for veterans), and founded the Omer Unit in 2015 (elite reserves). Professionally, he has worked as a journalist and columnist for Yedioth Ahronoth and Makor Rishon, hosted radio and TV programs, headed the Institute for Zionist Strategies since 2012, founded and chaired the Miluimnikim (Reservists) Movement, led the National Information Division in the Prime Minister's Office from August 2011 to February 2012 (resigned over the Natan Eshel affair, awarded Knight of Good Government Medal), served as a negotiator with Palestinians in 2012, and co-founded the DFENSTEK defense tech fund. In politics, he served as a Member of Knesset from 2019-2022 with Telem / Blue and White (9th on list, 2019), as Derekh Eretz faction chair (2020), New Hope (2021), and Zionist Spirit (2022); he was Minister of Communications in the 35th Government (May-December 2020) and 36th Government (June 2021-December 2022), implementing reforms in fiber optics, postal service, SMS scams, landline rates (-40%), and the Rwanda agreement. He founded The Reservists party in September 2025 for the 2026 elections (platform: October 7 inquiry, judicial reform, universal conscription) and self-describes as a right-wing liberal nationalist (ימין ליברלי וממלכתי), supporting settlement annexation, Palestinian citizenship options, and surrogacy for homosexuals. Controversies include his 2012 resignation from the PM Office amid the Natan Eshel corruption scandal, for which he was praised for exposing it. Personally, he is married to Shiri Weinberg-Hendel (gynecologist), has four children, and resides in Nes Harim. Social media: X/Twitter @YoazHendel1, Instagram @yoazh, Facebook יועז הנדל Yoaz Hendel. Selected publications: Let the IDF Win (2010, with Z. Shalom), Israel vs. Iran (2011, with Y. Katz), Daddy Goes to Reserve Service (2011), In an Unsown Land (2016), Conversations on Israeli Hope (2018, with R. Rivlin).