Gadi Eisenkot...the reserved general seeking to end the Netanyahu era

Gadi Eisenkot won on points over outgoing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with President Isaac Herzog announcing Saturday that he would task him with forming a new government. But the reserved general, whose calmness some voters see as what distinguishes him from his rival, still needs allies to gain the confidence of the Knesset.

The opposition bloc, led by former Chief of Staff Eisenkot (66 years old), won 48 seats out of 120 in the October 27 elections, compared to 53 seats for Netanyahu’s camp. The two Arab lists, “unified” and “joint,” won 19 seats in an unprecedented result. Both of them recommended appointing Eisenkot, which raised the number of representatives supporting his appointment to 67 deputies. It remains to be determined whether his bloc will accept relying on the votes of the two lists to gain confidence.

Some voters who are tired of Netanyahu's controversial statements see Eisenkot's lack of "charisma" as one of his most prominent strengths. Eisenkot speaks English with difficulty, and is keen to appear serious and humble. As for Netanyahu, who served as prime minister for a longer period than any of his predecessors, he speaks fluent English with an American accent, and is skilled at making phrases that make the headlines on American television and spread on social media networks.

Eisenkot, who served as chief of staff of the army between 2015 and 2019, pledged to unite Israelis after years of Netanyahu’s rule during which divisions deepened and the base of the extreme right expanded. He also promised to improve Israel's image abroad after it was damaged by three years of war in the Gaza Strip, and acts of violence committed by settlers in the occupied West Bank, in addition to the war and widespread destruction in southern Lebanon, and military incursions into southern Syria. He described recent attacks carried out by settlers as “Jewish terrorism,” accusing Netanyahu’s government of colluding with their perpetrators. But Eisenkot sought to compete with Netanyahu for right-wing votes by pledging to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state. He showed an old video recording in which Netanyahu, under American pressure, expressed his openness to the idea.

Eisenkot was head of the Operations Division in the Israeli army during the 2006 war with Hezbollah. In 2008, when he was commander of the northern region, he explained what was known as the “Dahiya Doctrine,” in reference to the southern suburb of Beirut, the stronghold of the Lebanese Hezbollah. This doctrine calls for the use of disproportionate force against areas from which fire is fired into Israel, including targeting civilian infrastructure. Israel returned to applying this doctrine in Gaza, where the war left destruction and tens of thousands dead, which, according to the International Criminal Court, may amount to crimes against humanity and war crimes.

Eisenkot received widespread sympathy among Israelis after his son, Gal, and two of his relatives were killed in the Gaza War. His image with voters derives some of its appeal from his labor roots; He is the son of immigrants from Morocco. He was born in Tiberias and grew up in Eilat, far from the elite from which Netanyahu, the son of a prominent university professor in the United States, hails. If Eisenkot assumes prime minister, he will be the first Sephardic Jew, or Mizrahim, whose family origins go back to the Middle East and North Africa.

During his election campaign, he sought to address voters from different backgrounds. He defended, before an audience of religious Jews, the continued Israeli control over the occupied West Bank.

On the other hand, he announced his rejection of the annexation of Palestinian lands and the establishment of settlement outposts without a permit. The Netanyahu government tolerated the establishment of these outposts, which contributed to the escalation of violence against the Palestinians.

In Gaza, Eisenkot pledged to end Hamas’ rule within 18 months. He said that this is possible either by implementing the ceasefire plan proposed by US President Donald Trump, which stipulates the gradual disarmament of the movement and the transfer of power, or through “innovative military operations” aimed at destroying its military wing.

In an issue that raises widespread dissatisfaction among Israelis after three years of war, Eisenkot pledged to limit the exemption of students from Jewish religious institutes from military service. He promised to approve a “law for comprehensive national service” that obliges ultra-Orthodox Jews (Haredim) and Arab citizens to perform military or civil service.

He also sought to win over centrist and liberal voters with his pledge to “protect judicial independence, the rule of law, minority rights, and a free press.”

Eisenkot presents himself as a center-right candidate, at a time when many Israelis fear that the years of Netanyahu's rule have weakened the country's democratic institutions.

This morning (Sunday), the Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced that fires broke out in two oil tankers after they collided with mines in the Strait of Hormuz, according to what was reported by the Iranian “IRNA” agency.

Since the outbreak of the Iranian war in late February, Tehran has imposed strict restrictions on traffic through the strategic waterway, forcing ships to sail on its approved routes.

In response, the United States imposed a blockade on Iranian ports and provided assistance to oil tankers to cross the strait, which before the outbreak of war was a passage for about a fifth of global oil consumption.

The Revolutionary Guards' naval forces said in a statement that "two violating oil tankers, one within the eastern Strait of Hormuz and the other inside it, were intending to cross via an unauthorized route. They were subjected to a collision with a sea mine, and very intense fire is currently breaking out in them."

The statement added: “These two tankers had committed multiple violations and turned off their navigation and positioning systems with the intention of crossing the unauthorized route.”

The statement did not specify the name or nationality of the two carriers.

In recent weeks, Tehran reported fires on several ships inside the Strait of Hormuz.

IRNA reported in a separate report late Saturday that explosions were heard in various parts of the country.

She added that “sounds resembling explosions were heard in Qeshm, Sirik, Jask and Bandar Abbas,” noting that “the cause of these sounds is still unknown.”

The agency reported that officials confirmed an “impact” in the coastal city of Jask.

Trump had talked about the possibility of resuming intense attacks against Iran, but he later backed down from this idea.

However, the US military announced that it carried out limited strikes from time to time.