Eisenkot Challenges Netanyahu in High-Stakes Israeli Knesset Vote

Gadi Eisenkot, a former Israel Defense Forces chief of staff, is leading the opposition bid to displace Benjamin Netanyahu in the Israeli election held on Tuesday. The contest is defined less by traditional left-right ideological splits and more by a direct referendum on the current prime minister, who has held office for 19 of the past 30 years. Polls indicate the pro-Netanyahu and anti-Netanyahu blocs are running within a narrow margin, making the outcome uncertain.

Eisenkot, who entered politics four years ago and comes from a working-class Moroccan Jewish background, campaigns on a platform of directness. His party, Yashar, translates to straight or direct, and he advocates for US-style term limits for prime ministers, arguing that power corrupts. At a rally in Modi'in this week, supporters praised his plain speaking style. Noa Sadeh, 56, told reporters she is weary of politicians who focus on rhetoric and wants a leader who focuses on action.

The opposition coalition includes former prime minister Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Lieberman, both former allies of Netanyahu who have since broken with him. On the far right, Yishai Fleisher of Otzma Yehudit argues that Netanyahu has drifted left and needs to be pulled rightward. Fleisher is pushing for more settlements in the West Bank and Gaza, a ministry to facilitate the voluntary departure of Palestinians, the death penalty, and expanded armament for Jewish civilians.

Netanyahu has framed the election as a choice between Yamin, or the right, and Falastin, or Palestine. His campaign materials place opposition leaders alongside heads of parties representing Palestinian citizens of Israel, who constitute about a fifth of the population. Pro-Netanyahu media outlets, particularly Channel 14, have kept pressure on the opposition. One exception occurred this week when Channel 14 anchor Yinon Magal called Eisenkot a Moroccan monkey. Eisenkot did not repeat the slur at rallies, a move admirers viewed as restraint and skeptics viewed as a lack of understanding of his opponent.

The close polling confuses many observers given the events of the past few years. The 7 October 2023 attacks, the deadliest in Israel's history, occurred under Netanyahu's leadership. His subsequent war in Gaza resulted in more than 70,000 Palestinian deaths, though Israel states a third were Hamas combatants. The war did not eliminate Hamas, and Iran's nuclear threat remains intact. Netanyahu also faces legal challenges from his corruption trial and the Qatargate affair involving close aides.

Netanyahu's resilience relies on a loyal base established over three decades. His allies claim that army and intelligence chiefs withheld warnings of the October attack, a claim observers note is unfounded. He is widely regarded as a skilled coalition builder, and many expect him to outmaneuver rivals in post-election negotiations. The Knesset has 120 seats, and the margin of victory may hinge on a single seat.

Opposition hopes are bolstered by liberal and secular expatriate Israelis returning home to vote. Pollsters do not capture this demographic, but their turnout could be decisive. On Thursday, a state ceremony marked the 1995 assassination of Yitzhak Rabin. Netanyahu sent a low-ranking minister in his place. Yair Golan, leader of the Democrats and a former general, expressed optimism about forming a regional strategic process for long-term security, though he avoided using the term peace process.

The concept of peace remains complicated for many Israelis, but it has not disappeared. A video circulated widely this week showed young Israelis at a Negev music festival singing Shir LaShalom, the song Rabin performed before his assassination 31 years ago. For some voters, this cultural moment and the influx of returning expatriates suggest that the era of Netanyahu's dominance may be coming to a close.