In the final hours before Tuesday’s elections, a political novice with a career defined by military service has emerged as the most significant threat to Benjamin Netanyahu’s political survival in years. Gadi Eisenkot, the leader of the Yashar party and former Israel Defense Forces (IDF) chief of staff, stands in stark contrast to the bombastic, media-savvy incumbent who has dominated Israeli politics for decades.
While Netanyahu is known for his polished English and deep connections within American power corridors, Eisenkot is an understated figure who speaks English with a heavy accent and avoids the limelight. At a final campaign rally on Sunday, Eisenkot appeared visibly uncomfortable in the spotlight, even as approximately 1,000 supporters cheered for a man they view as a “straight shooter.” This reputation for integrity has become a central pillar of his campaign, particularly as Netanyahu continues to navigate a long-running corruption trial and intense public scrutiny over the security failures of October 7.
The biographical differences between the two contenders are profound. Netanyahu, the son of a historian, served in the elite Sayeret Matkal special forces before moving into business and diplomacy. Eisenkot is the son of Moroccan Jewish immigrants and grew up in the southern port city of Eilat. If successful, he would become the first Israeli prime minister of Moroccan descent. His military trajectory was rooted in the Golani infantry brigade, where he rose through the ranks as a combat commander. At his Sunday rally, he was introduced to the melody of the brigade’s 1974 anthem, a nod to his deep ties to the IDF’s rank-and-file.
Personal tragedy has also defined Eisenkot’s recent involvement in the government. After the October 7 attacks, he joined Netanyahu’s emergency cabinet, but the war took a heavy toll on his family; Eisenkot lost his son in the fighting, followed shortly by the deaths of two of his nephews. These losses, combined with what he perceives as a lack of accountability from the prime minister regarding the initial intelligence failure, spurred his decision to challenge Netanyahu directly.
In Washington, the two men occupy very different spaces. Netanyahu is a household name among U.S. lawmakers and lobbyists, having cultivated those relationships over half a century. Eisenkot remains largely anonymous in the American capital, though he is well-respected in military circles. He attended the U.S. Army War College in the 1990s and maintains a strong professional relationship with former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford. He also spent a year as a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy following his retirement from the military in 2019.
Netanyahu’s campaign has sought to vilify Eisenkot, attempting to paint the former general as weak on security. However, Eisenkot has campaigned on a center-right platform that mirrors many of the security establishment’s traditional views. He has stated his opposition to a Palestinian state under current conditions and has pledged a crackdown on Jewish terrorism within the West Bank. On the issue of Gaza, he has committed to ending Hamas control within 18 months of taking office, through either diplomatic or military means.
Regarding Iran, Eisenkot supports military strikes on nuclear facilities but has criticized Netanyahu’s calls for forced regime change as “unrealistic.” Instead, Eisenkot advocates for a regional alliance involving the Arab world and sustained economic pressure to contain Iranian influence.
Polling heading into the vote shows Eisenkot maintaining an eight to ten-point lead over Netanyahu. While the prime minister retains a loyal base, he remains a polarizing figure for at least half of the electorate. Eisenkot, by contrast, enjoys high likability ratings across various demographic groups, suggesting his “straight shooter” persona is resonating with a public weary of political maneuvering.
A late-stage development in the race involved an endorsement from former President Donald Trump, who publicly backed Netanyahu twice in the last week. Eisenkot had reportedly attempted to use his relationship with Republican donor Miriam Adelson to keep Trump on the sidelines. Despite the endorsement, Eisenkot remained diplomatic, stating on Monday that he is convinced Trump would work in “full cooperation” with whichever leader the Israeli people choose.
