Gadi Eisenkot
Gadi Eisenkot, also spelt Eizenkot, is an Israeli general, politician and leader of the Yashar party. He served from 2015 to 2019 as the 21st chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces and from 2023 to 2024 as a minister without portfolio in Israel's unity government. Eisenkot, who grew up in Eilat, pursued maritime studies and later served in the IDF's Golani Brigade. He holds a B.A. in history from Tel Aviv University and a post-graduate degree in political science from Haifa University. Married with five children, he resides in Herzliya. One of his sons, Gal, was killed in action during the Gaza war.
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Aug 15, 2026
Far Right
He is the stated political destination for Elazar Stern, adding weight to merger reports within the center-left.
RZ sees another generals' party as a stale centrist project, not a threat to the Netanyahu coalition's religious-right identity.
Aug 13, 2026
Lean Left
National Unity MK Eisenkot publicly demands a state inquiry and criticizes the cabinet's handling of Syria and Gaza.
The left respects his security credibility and his call to investigate October 7, though his criticisms stay within the security establishment.
Aug 6, 2026
Far Right
The Yashar! party chairman attacked Naftali Bennett's Qatar enemy-state proposal as election slogans that need a professional policy review.
Religious Zionists respect his military record but distrust his centrist caution when it is used to blunt a hard line against Qatar's funding of Hamas.
Aug 6, 2026
Center
Eisenkot, heading the leading bloc in polls, refused to back Bennett's Qatar declaration and dodged whether Yair Golan would be defense minister.
His cautious, security-first stance matches Yesh Atid's preference for serious statecraft over campaign theatrics, though his bloc's rise threatens Lapid's path to power.
Aug 6, 2026
Lean Left
Eisenkot, a rival to Netanyahu, promised to create a state inquiry into the October 7 events at his first post-election cabinet meeting.
Moderates worry that any Israeli leadership change will bring accountability politics that could harden or unpredictably shift military policy toward Iran.
Jul 30, 2026
Far Right
He was attacked by Ben Gvir for delaying the elimination of Hezbollah's secretary-general.
Religious Zionists criticize Eisenkot for lacking resolve and for a hesitant approach that they believe endangers Israel against Hezbollah.
Jul 30, 2026
Center
Targeted by Netanyahu's mocking video that appeared to exploit his son's death, and is a key figure in National Unity party.
Yesh Atid respects Eisenkot as a former IDF chief and condemns Netanyahu's disrespectful behavior, seeing it as a low point in political discourse.
Jul 28, 2026
Center
Former Israeli military chief emerging as principal challenger to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the October 27 general election.
Pragmatists see his candidacy as a potential shift in Israeli politics, focusing on security and governance rather than Netanyahu's legal troubles.
Jul 28, 2026
Center
Eisenkot warned of a loss of control in the West Bank and said the IDF may need to shift forces from Gaza and Lebanon.
Yesh Atid respects Eisenkot's security warnings and sees them as proof that the government's settlement policy is dangerous.
Jul 28, 2026
Center
Former Israeli army chief emerges as main challenger to Netanyahu ahead of October elections.
Viewed with cautious interest as a potential partner for France's centrist diplomacy in the Middle East if he wins.