Eisenkot Emerges as Netanyahu’s Main Election Challenger

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is increasingly targeting former military chief Gadi Eisenkot as his main political rival ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for late October, reflecting the growing strength of Eisenkot’s newly formed party.

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On June 8, Netanyahu’s Likud party posted a message on X declaring, “There is no Gadi without Tibi,” alongside an AI-generated video depicting Eisenkot with Arab lawmaker Ahmad Tibi. The clip ended with a message claiming Eisenkot could not form a government without Arab parties.

The post highlighted two key themes of Likud’s campaign: its continued use of anti-Arab messaging and its recognition of Eisenkot as Netanyahu’s principal challenger.

Although Eisenkot is less well known internationally, his profile has risen sharply in Israel. An adviser to Netanyahu said the party has prepared hundreds of campaign videos targeting him.

Polls Show Rising Support

Eisenkot founded the Yashar party less than a year ago. Initially polling in the single digits, it has climbed rapidly and is now running close to Likud in several surveys.

He rejected efforts by former prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid to unite the anti-Netanyahu opposition, choosing instead to run independently.

A recent Channel 12 poll projected Yashar winning 21 seats in the 120-member Knesset, just behind Likud’s 23 seats and ahead of the Bennett-Lapid alliance on 18. The same survey found 38% of respondents preferred Eisenkot as prime minister, compared with 36% for Netanyahu. Other polls have shown a similar trend.

Likud has responded by shifting its campaign focus from Bennett to Eisenkot. Recent attacks have mocked Eisenkot’s accented English and contrasted it with Netanyahu’s polished international style, while also questioning whether Eisenkot would have ordered military action against Iran.

A Different Leadership Style

Political analysts say those differences may be contributing to Eisenkot’s appeal.

Netanyahu, 76, is known for his commanding public presence, political messaging and decades of campaigning. Eisenkot, 66, projects a quieter and more reserved image shaped by a career in military planning rather than politics.

Their backgrounds also differ significantly. Netanyahu, the son of a historian, grew up in Jerusalem and served in the elite Sayeret Matkal unit. Eisenkot, the second of nine children born to Moroccan immigrants, was raised in Tiberias and Eilat before rising through the Golani Brigade to become chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces from 2015 to 2019.

At Eisenkot’s retirement ceremony in 2019, Netanyahu praised his military service and leadership.

During his tenure, Eisenkot oversaw the prosecution of soldier Elor Azaria, who was convicted of killing a wounded Palestinian attacker in Hebron. Eisenkot supported the military’s legal process despite criticism from many on the political right, including Netanyahu.

War Experience Shapes Political Campaign

Eisenkot entered politics in 2022 under former military chief Benny Gantz. After the October 7 attack, both men joined Netanyahu’s emergency war cabinet before later leaving over disagreements about the government's strategy and the lack of a long-term plan for the war in Gaza.

In a February 2024 letter, Eisenkot argued that the conflict was producing tactical successes without achieving broader strategic goals.

The war also had a profound personal impact. His youngest son, Gal, was killed while fighting in Gaza two months after the conflict began, and two of his nephews later died in combat. Eisenkot said at his son's funeral that the family would strive to ensure his sacrifice was not in vain.

In 2025, Eisenkot split from Gantz to establish his own party, which has since gained momentum.

Commentators say his military credentials, personal loss and background as the son of Moroccan immigrants have broadened his appeal, particularly among Mizrahi voters, a demographic that has traditionally supported Likud. Israel has never had a Mizrahi prime minister.

Coalition Challenge Remains

Despite his recent rise, Eisenkot still faces significant obstacles.

Polls suggest no party is close to winning a parliamentary majority, meaning any government would require coalition partners. A potential anti-Netanyahu coalition would likely span parties from the left, centre, right and Arab political groups, making it difficult both to form and sustain.

Netanyahu, meanwhile, remains an experienced campaigner with an established political organisation. His allies have intensified criticism of Eisenkot, while Likud continues to argue that any government led by its rival would depend on Arab parties.

Journalist and Netanyahu biographer Anshel Pfeffer said many previous challengers had failed because they tried to emulate Netanyahu's political style.

According to Pfeffer, Eisenkot's strongest asset may be that he offers a distinctly different style of leadership, although he noted that the two men may differ more in personality than in policy, given Eisenkot's role in shaping Israel's military strategy over recent years.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 30 June 2026

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