Gadi Eisenkot: The Unlikely Challenger to Netanyahu

Former Israeli Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot is posing the most significant threat to Benjamin Netanyahu's 76-year-old reign. Eisenkot, a 66-year-old retired general, is making waves with his newly formed Yashar (Right) Party, which is either just behind or ahead of Likud in the polls ahead of the October elections. According to a recent Channel 12 poll, Eisenkot's party is projected to win 21 seats, while Likud is expected to take 23 and the Bennett-Lapid alliance 18. When asked who is better suited for the role of prime minister, 38% of respondents chose Eisenkot, while 36% opted for Netanyahu. Eisenkot grew up in Tiberias and Eilat as the second of nine children to a family of Moroccan immigrants. His background is in stark contrast to Netanyahu's, who hails from Jerusalem's 'elite circles' and the Sayeret Matkal commando unit. Eisenkot rose through the ranks of the Golani Brigade and served as Chief of Staff from 2015 to 2019. He was appointed by Netanyahu, who praised him at his farewell ceremony in 2019, saying, "Under your command, the IDF has achieved great things." However, Eisenkot's military career has not been without controversy. He was one of the architects of the 'Dahiyeh doctrine', a hardline approach developed after the 2006 Lebanon War. Following the October 7 events, Eisenkot joined Netanyahu's emergency war cabinet alongside Benny Gantz. But he soon became a vocal critic of the government's strategy and handling of the hostage situation. In a letter to Netanyahu in February 2024, he wrote, "The war is being waged with tactical gains, but there are no strategic objectives." Two months after the Gaza attacks began, Eisenkot's youngest son, Gal, was killed in Gaza. Two of his nephews also lost their lives. At the funeral, Eisenkot said, "Your family will continue to be happy and united. Your sacrifice will not be in vain." This has drawn comparisons with Netanyahu's son Yair, who did not serve in the military and lives in Miami. Eisenkot left the cabinet in June 2024 and went on to form his own party in 2025. He has rapidly risen through the ranks, from single-digit poll numbers to the top of the polls. His decision to reject a united bloc offer from former prime ministers and go it alone is seen as a sign of his determination. According to Anshel Pfeffer, The Economist's Israel correspondent, Eisenkot is in a unique position in the "long selection process" of the Israeli electorate, which has been searching for an alternative to Netanyahu since 1996. Pfeffer says, "Those who are fundamentally different, like Barak and Sharon, have won. Those who try to emulate Netanyahu have lost. Eisenkot is not emulating him, and he is winning with the opposite approach."