Archive · 8 Sep 2026
Eisenkot Challenges Netanyahu, Citing Political Survival Over Israel's Security
Gadi Eisenkot is running against Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel's upcoming election.
He says Netanyahu is more focused on staying in power than on keeping Israel safe.
Eisenkot spoke at a rally while introducing candidates from his Yashar party.
He said Israel has been deeply divided since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
He promised to bring people together and restore what he called responsible national leadership.
He also criticized special benefits and military-service exemptions for some ultra-Orthodox Jewish men.
A poll suggests Yashar could win slightly more seats than Netanyahu's Likud party.
However, neither side is expected to have enough seats to govern alone.
Support from other parties may be needed to form a government.
Gadi Eisenkot accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of prioritizing political survival over Israel's security.
Eisenkot made the criticism Monday while presenting Yashar party candidates for the October 27 election.
He promised to reduce divisions that emerged after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack.
Eisenkot criticized government benefits and exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jewish men who neither serve nor work.
A Kan poll projected Yashar with 23 Knesset seats and Likud with 20, leaving neither bloc a majority.
- Who
- Gadi Eisenkot, a former military commander and leader of Yashar, criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
- What
- Eisenkot accused Netanyahu of prioritizing political survival and presented Yashar's candidates for the election.
- When
- Monday; the election is scheduled for October 27.
- Where
- At a rally in Rosh Haayin, central Israel.
- Why
- Eisenkot was campaigning for Yashar and addressing Israel's security, political divisions, and ultra-Orthodox service exemptions.
Eisenkot's Position
Netanyahu's Political Camp
Political priorities
Eisenkot's Position
Eisenkot said Netanyahu is focused on political survival rather than Israel's security and accused his government of avoiding responsibility since the Hamas attack.
Netanyahu's Political Camp
The article does not provide a response from Netanyahu or a statement defending his priorities.
National unity
Eisenkot's Position
Eisenkot said Israel needs leadership that can end divisions and restore unity, stateliness, and Zionism.
Netanyahu's Political Camp
Netanyahu's position on Eisenkot's proposed approach to national unity is not given in the article.
Ultra-Orthodox exemptions and benefits
Eisenkot's Position
Eisenkot criticized a government that grants billions of shekels to people who neither serve nor work and promotes what he called evasion of duty.
Netanyahu's Political Camp
The article does not state Netanyahu's or his coalition's response to this criticism.
- Election date
- October 27
- Yashar projection
- 23 of 120 Knesset seats, according to a Kan poll
- Likud projection
- 20 Knesset seats, according to the same poll
- Anti-Netanyahu bloc
- Projected to win 51 seats
- Netanyahu coalition
- Likud and coalition partners projected to win 52 seats
- Majority threshold
- 61 of 120 Knesset seats
- Arab-majority lists
- Two unaligned lists together projected to hold 13 seats