Can political novice Eisenkot defeat Netanyahu in upcoming elections?
The former military chief of staff is emerging as the prime minister's strongest rival in upcoming elections, overtaking former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in recent polls.
JERUSALEM — Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot has overtaken former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leading election rival, according to a Channel 12 poll published June 4 that shows Eisenkot surpassing both men for the first time as the candidate considered most suitable for the premiership.
The poll may explain the campaign videos Netanyahu launched this week on his social media accounts portraying Eisenkot as weak on Iran and aligned with Arab parties.
Going it alone
Eisenkot, 66, entered politics after a long military career. Enlisting in 1978, he served in both Lebanon wars (1986, 2006), both intifadas (1987, 2000) and numerous other operations. In 2015, he was appointed chief of staff of the Israeli military, serving until 2019. Three years later, he joined Benny Gantz’s National Unity party and was elected to the Knesset on its list. Five days after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack in southern Israel, the party joined Netanyahu’s government to assist the country in wartime.
