Gen. Gadi Eisenkot, the former Israel Defense Forces (IDF) chief of staff and current leader of the opposition bloc, faces a complex political challenge following Israel’s tightly contested election on October 31, 2026. Eisenkot’s party, Yashar, secured 21 seats in the Knesset, trailing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud, which won 27 seats. With Netanyahu lacking a clear majority and opposition parties collectively approaching a potential coalition threshold, the task of forming a government now hinges on strategic alliances amid deep ideological divides.
Eisenkot, 66, whose military career includes formulating the Dahiya Doctrine during his tenure as head of the Northern Command, is recognized for both his hawkish security stance and his later emphasis on operational restraint and ethical conduct in warfare. As a political leader, he has advocated for accountability following the catastrophic Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which prompted a devastating war in Gaza and the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis.
In the wake of the election, Eisenkot has called for Netanyahu to step down, framing the vote as a public demand for change. “A leader worthy of the name would accept the people’s verdict and announce today that he is leaving political life,” Eisenkot stated, warning against any attempt by Netanyahu to leverage military operations for political gain. Despite his criticisms of Netanyahu’s claims of election fraud, Eisenkot has largely remained measured in public remarks since the vote.
The central issue Eisenkot faces is coalition-building. To secure the 61 Knesset seats needed for a majority, he could align with all Arab parties, which collectively won a historic 19 seats, but cooperation with the Arab bloc remains highly controversial among Israeli voters. Alternatively, he might attempt to form a minority government by partnering solely with the Arab party Ra’am or seek agreements with ultra-Orthodox factions, despite his vocal opposition to their demands for military exemptions.
Eisenkot’s stated conditions for coalition partners include upholding Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, accepting the principles of the Declaration of Independence, committing to compulsory military or civilian service, and recognizing Hamas as a terrorist organization. These requirements could limit potential partnerships, especially with ultra-Orthodox and some Arab parliamentarians.
Eisenkot’s personal narrative and security credentials have broadened his appeal beyond traditional political boundaries. The son of Moroccan immigrants and the first Mizrahi Jew poised to serve as Israel’s prime minister, he has campaigned on promises to dismantle Hamas’s control over Gaza within 18 months, reject West Bank annexation, and dismantle illegal settler outposts. His approach aims to balance security hawkishness with certain moderate and pragmatic positions on the conflict’s territorial dimensions.
His rise has been bolstered by shared grief with many Israelis; his youngest son, Gal, was killed during a hostage rescue mission in Gaza, underscoring his personal connection to the ongoing conflict. Eisenkot has pledged to investigate the failures leading to the October 2023 Hamas attack through a state commission of inquiry, an initiative that Netanyahu has resisted.
Israel’s President Isaac Herzog is expected soon to consult with party leaders to decide who will receive the mandate to form a government. Eisenkot’s ability to navigate the country’s polarized political landscape and assemble a stable coalition will be a critical test of his leadership following a rapid ascent from military command to the forefront of national politics.