Gadi Eisenkot emerges as Benjamin Netanyahu’s challenger in polls

Gadi Eisenkot Emerges as Benjamin Netanyahu’s Main Challenger in Israeli Polls

Gadi Eisenkot has risen in recent public opinion polls to challenge incumbent Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to reporting by nos.nl. Despite leading the Yashar party, which was founded only a year ago, Eisenkot now leads Netanyahu in voter preference amid widespread public dissatisfaction with the current leadership.

Eisenkot and Netanyahu share a long professional history. Eisenkot served for decades in the Israel Defense Forces, eventually rising to become the military’s chief of staff. Following the Hamas attacks in October 2023, Eisenkot joined Netanyahu’s war cabinet as a minister.

Personal Background and Public Perception

Bart Wallet, a professor of Jewish studies at the University of Amsterdam, told nos.nl that this personal connection weighs heavily on voters. Voters see him as someone they can trust who knows war victims firsthand, representing the current situation of Israel, Wallet explained.

Disillusionment with Netanyahu’s corruption trial and leadership has driven voters toward pragmatism. Erella Grassiani, an anthropologist at the University of Amsterdam, told nos.nl that voters view Eisenkot as a viable alternative simply because he supports enough people around him to come close to a victory, so they go for someone who gets close to winning.

Policy Positions and the Palestinian Conflict

Eisenkot campaigns heavily on accountability, criticizing Netanyahu’s war strategy and demanding a formal, comprehensive government investigation into the security failures surrounding the October 2023 Hamas attacks. Netanyahu has consistently resisted such an inquiry, even as more reports emerge indicating he was warned beforehand about the attack but did nothing. Additionally, Eisenkot supports mandatory military service for all Israeli citizens, including ultra-Orthodox Jews—a stance directly opposing Netanyahu’s efforts to secure exemptions for the ultra-Orthodox community.

On Palestinian policy, however, analysts note little divergence between the two figures. Eisenkot stated during a recent press conference that, if elected, he aims to dismantle Hamas’s military wing within 18 months. Grassiani noted to nos.nl that Eisenkot remains a military hawk who supports neither an end to the occupation nor the dismantling of settlements. Furthermore, Eisenkot has long been known not to shy away from excessive force as a military leader.

However, Wallet added that international bodies might find Eisenkot easier to negotiate with than Netanyahu’s current coalition, particularly if far-right ministers such as Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir are excluded from power.

Political Obstacles to Coalition Formation

Former politician Rob Oudkerk warned on NPO Radio 1 that a change in leadership may not fundamentally alter Israel’s political direction. Oudkerk noted that the electoral contest centers on whether Israel will remain a secular democracy or transform into a society dominated by religious orthodoxy. Oudkerk also observed that Netanyahu has always campaigned on providing security since 2009 and successfully blocked investigations into the October 7 failures. Oudkerk warned that Eisenkot is just as much of a hawk as Netanyahu regarding a two-state solution, and that opposition blocs currently lack a parliamentary majority and that forming coalitions with Arab political parties remains deeply divisive, raising the risk of prolonged gridlock and repeat elections, during which Netanyahu can remain in a caretaker capacity until a new government is formed.

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