Gadi Eisenkot, the 66-year-old former head of the Israeli military, has emerged as the primary challenger to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel’s upcoming general election, scheduled for October 27. According to reports, Eisenkot’s Yashar party has seen a significant surge in popularity; while polling in single digits a year ago, current projections indicate the party could secure 20 to 23 of the 120 seats in the Knesset. This performance would place the party ahead of Netanyahu’s Likud, though experts note that securing the highest number of seats does not automatically guarantee the ability to form a government.
The electoral landscape remains fractured, with projections suggesting that neither Netanyahu’s bloc nor the opposition coalition is currently on track to reach the 61-seat threshold required for a parliamentary majority. If successful, the son of Moroccan immigrants would become Israel's first Mizrahi prime minister. Eisenkot, who served as chief of staff from 2015 to 2019 under Netanyahu, is a father of five and spent four decades in the military, having joined the Golani Brigade in 1978.
His political career began in 2022 alongside Benny Gantz. Following the October 7, 2023, attack, both men joined Netanyahu’s war cabinet but resigned in June 2024, citing the absence of a comprehensive post-war strategy. The conflict has deeply impacted Eisenkot personally; his youngest son, 25-year-old Gal, was killed in Gaza in December 2023, and two of his nephews also died in combat. Eisenkot stated in April 2026 that he made a personal vow to ensure his son's sacrifice was not in vain.
The mechanics of forming a government in Israel grant the president the authority to task the lawmaker most capable of building a viable coalition with the responsibility, rather than strictly adhering to the leader of the largest party. Eisenkot has indicated he is willing to attempt to govern even without a 61-seat majority, potentially exploring a minority government supported from the outside by Arab parties. However, analysts suggest that right-wing factions may block such an arrangement.
The platforms of the two candidates reflect significant policy differences. Eisenkot has campaigned on the promise of a state inquiry into the failures surrounding the events of October 7, an investigation that Netanyahu has resisted. Furthermore, Eisenkot advocates for mandatory national service for all citizens, including ultra-Orthodox Jews who currently benefit from broad exemptions. His campaign branding labels him as a "warrior, a leader, a unifier."
On security matters, Eisenkot maintains a hawkish stance, having supported Israeli operations in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran. While he shares Netanyahu’s objective of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear capabilities, he emphasizes that military action must be complemented by diplomatic efforts. Regarding the future of Gaza, he has stated a goal of removing Hamas from power within an 18-month timeframe. While he has criticized proponents of a two-state solution, he also maintains opposition to the formal annexation of the West Bank and has pledged to take measures against settler violence.
The international implications of the election remain a focal point. While Donald Trump has offered a "complete and total endorsement" of Netanyahu, CNN reported that an Eisenkot-led government, free from far-right partners like Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, might be viewed as more moderate. Such a shift could provide the U.S. with greater flexibility in regional diplomacy, including potential engagements with Saudi Arabia.
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