Gadi Eisenkot, a former Israeli military chief, is the leading challenger to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel’s closely watched election scheduled for Tuesday. At 66, Eisenkot positions himself as a straight-talking alternative focused on what he describes as responsibility and national unity amid ongoing security and social crises.
Eisenkot’s campaign contrasts sharply with Netanyahu’s style. Where Netanyahu is known for political maneuvering and often delayed decision-making, Eisenkot, a career military officer, adopts a direct, mission-driven approach. He emphasizes strategic planning over short-term gains, presenting himself as a pragmatist willing to confront Israel’s challenges head-on. His supporters cite his military discipline, insisting Eisenkot is the kind of leader needed for difficult decisions.
Born in Tiberias to Moroccan immigrant parents and raised in working-class Eilat, Eisenkot is the first Mizrahi Jew to contend seriously for Israel’s premiership—an important factor in appealing to Mizrahi voters who constitute about half of Israel’s Jewish population and form a significant portion of Netanyahu’s base. Eisenkot’s background in the periphery of Israeli society sets him apart from Netanyahu, who grew up in Jerusalem’s Ashkenazi elite.
Throughout his military career, Eisenkot developed a reputation for both toughness and pragmatism. He commanded the Golani Brigade, suppressed parts of the Second Intifada in the West Bank, and served as chief of staff from 2015. He is known for adhering strictly to military discipline, prosecuting a controversial soldier accused of an extrajudicial killing despite public pressure, and resisting political interference in military operations. Eisenkot also articulated the “Dahiya doctrine,” advocating for strong military retaliation against enemies like Hezbollah.
Following the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack, which exposed serious security failures, Eisenkot joined Netanyahu’s emergency war cabinet but resigned after eight months due to strategic disagreements, particularly over the handling of ultra-Orthodox draft exemptions and approaches in the West Bank. His youngest son, Gal, a reservist, was killed in Gaza in December 2023, deepening Eisenkot’s personal commitment to his campaign message of national repair and security.
Eisenkot criticizes Netanyahu for what he calls a lack of accountability, especially regarding the October attack, and accuses him of fostering divisions within Israeli society, including rising extremist settler violence and organized crime against Arab citizens. Netanyahu, for his part, portrays Eisenkot as a security risk and a left-leaning figure who would endanger Israel’s control over the West Bank, seeking to link him to Israel’s Arab political parties — a claim Eisenkot’s camp disputes. Eisenkot supports settlements in the West Bank but opposes annexation plans and advocates for restoring work permits to Palestinians and lifting some restrictions.
Despite leading in several polls, Eisenkot’s low-key and matter-of-fact campaigning style has raised concerns among some supporters about his ability to energize voters. Additionally, neither his bloc nor Netanyahu’s is projected to win an outright majority, with coalition-building likely to be complex and possibly dependent on parties that some opposition figures have rejected working with.
Eisenkot’s platform also includes institutional reforms such as limiting prime ministerial terms, drafting ultra-Orthodox Israelis, standardizing education requirements, and drafting a constitution, aiming to bring long-term stability to Israeli politics and society.
As the election approaches, the choice for many Israelis may come down to contrasting leadership styles and visions for how to navigate a country facing ongoing conflict, internal divisions, and international scrutiny. Eisenkot casts the vote as a choice between “responsibility and running away from responsibility,” while Netanyahu emphasizes his experience and international backing, including from the United States. The election’s outcome will shape Israel’s political and security trajectory in a highly uncertain regional context.