:
Breaking News

World News: Who Is Gadi Eisenkot? The Former Army Chief Challenging Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel’s Election

top-news
https://maannews.acnoo.com/public/frontend/img/header-adds/adds.jpg

Alam Ki Khabar | Bihar News | Patna News | Samastipur News | Who is Gadi Eisenkot? Explore the former Israeli army chief’s Yashar party, views on Gaza and Palestinian statehood, and his challenge to Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of Israel’s election.

October 24, 2026 |  Jerusalem: Former Israeli military chief Gadi Eisenkot has emerged as a significant challenger to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of Israel’s October 27 general election. Eisenkot’s newly established Yashar party has performed strongly in several opinion polls, raising the prospect of a major shift in the country’s political landscape.


However, a strong polling position does not automatically translate into government formation. Israel’s parliamentary system requires a party or coalition to secure the support of at least 61 members in the 120-seat Knesset. With several political groups competing for influence, the final outcome will depend not only on the number of seats won but also on the alliances formed after the vote. Recent surveys have shown Yashar and Netanyahu’s Likud competing closely, with neither side having a guaranteed path to a majority. <Cite refs={["turn647826search0","turn647826search6","turn647826search5"]}/>


Who Is Gadi Eisenkot?


Gadi Eisenkot is a retired Israeli military officer who served as chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from 2015 to 2019. He spent approximately 41 years in military service, building a reputation around national security and military strategy.


Unlike Netanyahu, who has spent decades at the centre of Israeli politics, Eisenkot’s public profile was initially shaped by his military career. He is now using that experience to present himself as an alternative leader who can address Israel’s security challenges while demanding greater accountability from the government.


His rise does not necessarily signal a move towards a more moderate position on every issue. Eisenkot has maintained a firm security outlook, particularly regarding Hamas, Iran and Israel’s control of security arrangements in the region.


Why Is Netanyahu Facing a Strong Challenge?


The October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel remains a central issue in the election campaign. Around 1,200 people were killed in the attack, and 251 were taken hostage, according to widely reported figures. Israel subsequently launched a major military campaign in Gaza.


The attack raised serious questions about intelligence failures, border security and the government’s preparedness. Netanyahu’s critics have argued that his administration must be held accountable for the security breakdown and for the way the war has been conducted.


The future of the hostages, the military objectives in Gaza and the arrangements that could follow the conflict have also become major political issues.


Eisenkot has criticised the government’s strategy, arguing that its stated objectives for the war have not been matched by a sufficiently clear and achievable plan. He is attempting to turn these concerns into a broader argument for political change without abandoning Israel’s security priorities.


Netanyahu’s domestic political difficulties also include his ongoing corruption trial. He has denied wrongdoing. His supporters continue to view him as an experienced leader on security, while his opponents question his record and leadership after the October 7 attack. <Cite refs={["turn647826news24","turn647826search5"]}/>


Eisenkot and Netanyahu Have Worked Together Before


Their relationship has not always been one of direct political opposition. Following the October 7 attack, Eisenkot joined Netanyahu’s wartime decision-making framework as an observer in the war cabinet.


He left the arrangement after roughly eight months, amid disagreements over the direction of the war and the government’s strategy. Eisenkot called for a clearer plan to achieve the stated military objectives and raised questions about the gap between the government’s promises and the situation on the ground.


Those disagreements have since become part of his political case for change. He is presenting his experience inside the wartime leadership as evidence that Israel needs both strong security policies and greater accountability in decision-making.


What Is His Position on Hamas and Iran?


Eisenkot supports neutralising Hamas’s military capabilities and preventing the group from posing a continuing security threat to Israel. His differences with Netanyahu are less about the stated objective of protecting Israel and more about how the war should be conducted, what outcomes are realistic and how the government should plan for Gaza’s future.


Iran is another major concern. Eisenkot regards preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons as a central Israeli security priority and has not ruled out military options.


These positions indicate that a change in leadership would not necessarily mean a fundamental shift towards a more conciliatory security policy. His campaign combines criticism of Netanyahu’s performance with a firm approach to perceived threats.


What Does He Think About Palestinian Statehood?


Although Eisenkot is being presented as an alternative to Netanyahu, his views on Palestinian statehood remain hard-line. He opposes a conventional two-state arrangement and argues that Israel must retain overriding security responsibility in the territory between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.


He has also opposed the presence of foreign forces in that area. His position therefore differs from the idea that replacing Netanyahu would automatically lead to a more supportive Israeli policy towards Palestinian independence.


For Palestinians, the demand for an independent state has long centred on the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem. Eisenkot’s security approach suggests that major disagreements over the future political status of these territories would remain even if Israel’s leadership changed.


Personal Loss Has Shaped His Public Image


Eisenkot’s family has also suffered losses during the Gaza war. His son, Gal Meir Eisenkot, was killed while serving in Gaza in December 2023 at the age of 25. Two of his nephews also died in the conflict.


Military service and national security carry considerable weight in Israeli public life. For Eisenkot’s supporters, these losses reinforce the image of a leader who has experienced the personal consequences of war, rather than discussing its costs only in political terms.


His military background and family experience have become part of the public narrative surrounding his campaign, although neither alone determines how voters will assess his policies.


Could He Become Israel’s First Mizrahi Prime Minister?


Eisenkot’s family background has also drawn attention. His parents were Jewish immigrants from Morocco, and he belongs to Israel’s Mizrahi Jewish community, whose historical roots lie in the Middle East and North Africa.


Mizrahi Jews have become an important part of Israel’s electorate and political life. Historically, European-origin Ashkenazi Jews held significant influence in the country’s early institutions, although Israeli politics has evolved considerably over the decades.


If Eisenkot were to become prime minister, he could become Israel’s first prime minister from the Mizrahi community. That possibility is part of the wider discussion about representation and political change, but the election’s outcome remains uncertain.


What Is the Yashar Party?


Eisenkot established the Yashar party in 2025. The Hebrew word “Yashar” can mean “straight” or “honest,” reflecting the image the party seeks to project.


The party’s rise comes amid voter dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of security and the Gaza war. It is campaigning on Eisenkot’s military experience, a change in leadership and a different approach to government decision-making.


Yet Israel’s electoral system makes coalition-building essential. No party has ever won an outright majority of the Knesset’s 120 seats on its own. A government generally needs the backing of at least 61 lawmakers.


Eisenkot has spoken of forming a broad national government but has ruled out relying on Arab Israeli political parties, arguing that they do not accept his core security principles. That position could limit his options if the election produces a fragmented parliament.


Netanyahu’s Likud, meanwhile, has long experience in coalition negotiations and retains potential partners among right-wing and religious parties. Even if Yashar emerges as the largest party, Eisenkot would still need to assemble sufficient support to form a government.


What Happens Next?


Israel’s October 27 election is shaping up as a contest over security, leadership and responsibility for the failures surrounding the October 7 attack. Eisenkot’s military credentials and Yashar’s performance in recent polls have made him a serious contender, but the race remains open.


The decisive question will not simply be whether Eisenkot’s party wins more seats than Likud. It will be whether he can gather a workable parliamentary majority. Until the votes are counted and coalition negotiations take place, claims that he is certain to become prime minister would be premature.


Also Read: Read more international politics and world news on the Alam Ki Khabar website.

https://maannews.acnoo.com/public/frontend/img/header-adds/adds.jpg

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *