Former army chief Gadi Eiseenkot has emerged as a big challenge for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israeli politics. His questions regarding military experience, government accountability and Gaza war strategy have made him one of the prominent faces of the opposition. The agenda of his Yashar Party and increasing political activism are making him a possible contender for the post of Prime Minister.
Gadi Eizenkott was born to Mizrahi Jewish parents who immigrated to Israel from Morocco. He was raised in Tiberias and Eilat. Eizenkott, who joined the Army after high school, served in the military for nearly four decades. He also earned a Bachelor's in History from Tel Aviv University and a Master's in Political Science from the University of Haifa.
Eiseenkot, who started his career as a general soldier of the Golani Brigade in 1978, was the chief of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from 2015 to 2019. He came into limelight for his military strategies while leading the Northern Command during the 2006 Lebanon War.
His son, Gal Meir Eiseenkot, was killed during a military operation in Gaza in December 2023. Two of his nephews were also killed in the war. Amidst this personal tragedy he raised questions about the government's war strategy and accountability.
After entering politics in 2022, he joined the National Unity coalition with Benny Gantz. Joined Netanyahu's emergency war cabinet following the 7 October 2023 Hamas attacks, but left it in June 2024 due to lack of a clear post-war plan and differences with government policies.
Eysencott calls for an independent investigation into the October 7 security crisis, military reform and government accountability. He also supports ending the exemption from mandatory military service for ultra-Orthodox Jews. In addition, they emphasize strengthening Israel's relations with Western countries and regional Arab countries.
However, his stance is also strict on the issue of Palestine and the use of military power. Their actual chances in the elections will depend on the alliance equations, voter inclination and election results. Therefore, he can be considered a serious rival of Netanyahu, but his victory as the next Prime Minister is not yet certain.
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