Who is Gadi Eisenkot? Ex-army chief of Israel is Netanyahu's biggest challenger in PM race

Gadi Eisenkot, a former chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), is challenging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with a campaign centred on security, leadership and accountability for the failures surrounding Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack. Eisenkot, who founded the Yashar party in 2025, has emerged as a key challenger to Netanyahu ahead of Israel's October 27 election. Unlike Netanyahu, a veteran and combative politician, Eisenkot has cultivated an image of a reserved, straightforward leader with strong military credentials. His family has also suffered personal losses during the Gaza war, with his son and two nephews killed while fighting there.

From military chief to political challenger

The son of Moroccan immigrants, Eisenkot served in the Israeli military for 41 years, rising to become its chief of staff from 2015 to 2019. He commanded troops in the West Bank during the second intifada and served during Israel's 2006 war against Hezbollah in Lebanon. During the Lebanon conflict, he employed what became known as the “Dahiyeh doctrine”, a strategy involving overwhelming force against areas used by militant groups, including the destruction of civilian infrastructure. The approach drew criticism over its humanitarian consequences. Eisenkot entered frontline politics after the October 7 attacks, joining Netanyahu's war cabinet as an observer. He left after eight months, criticising the prime minister's leadership and arguing that Israel had failed to achieve its declared objective of destroying Hamas' military and governing capabilities. He has also argued that freeing the hostages taken by Hamas was the only war objective Israel had achieved.

Where he stands on security and Palestinians

Despite presenting an alternative to Netanyahu's leadership and far-right coalition partners, Eisenkot maintains a hardline position on security. He says Hamas' military wing must be destroyed or dismantled and that Israel must prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, either through military action or a diplomatic agreement backed by the United States. Eisenkot opposes Palestinian statehood, describing the idea of “two states for two peoples” as a mistake. He has argued that Israel must retain overriding security responsibility in the territory between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. He also supports Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, while saying they should serve Israeli national interests and be legal. He has criticised settler violence against Palestinians and opposed some of the Netanyahu government's settlement plans, including construction in the E1 area, which critics say would further divide the West Bank. Eisenkot has rejected partnering with parties representing Arab Israelis, saying they do not accept his core security principles. This position could complicate his efforts to assemble a parliamentary majority, even if his party performs strongly.

Can he replace Netanyahu?

Eisenkot's campaign offers voters an alternative to Netanyahu's leadership without a major shift away from Israel's hardline security outlook. His military background, personal losses during the Gaza war and criticism of the government's handling of the October 7 aftermath have shaped his public profile. Opinion polls cited by news agency Reuters show his party leading Netanyahu's Likud, although Israel's fragmented political landscape could make forming a government difficult for either leader. Eisenkot would need sufficient support from other parties to form a governing coalition, making alliances a crucial factor in the race.