Unpolished, anti-Bibi, but evasive on peace: who is the Israeli opposition candidate Gadi Eisenkot?
Gadi Eisenkot, a former Israeli general and leader of the Yashar party, is presented as a 'straight' and 'menschy' alternative to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Despite his reputation for integrity, he remains ambiguous on major policy issues like the two-state solution.
Why it matters
Understanding the political profile of key opposition figures is essential for analyzing the potential shifts in Israeli foreign and domestic policy.
Eisenkot is leader of the Yashar (‘Straight’) party. Eisenkot is leader of the Yashar (‘Straight’) party. Israel Profile Unpolished, anti-Bibi, but evasive on peace: who is the Israeli opposition candidate Gadi Eisenkot? The ‘menschy’ former general contrasts with the current PM when it comes to style and character – yet on key policy points retains a studied ambiguity
Prefer the Guardian on Google He has been called the man who is everything the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu , is not.
Gadi Eisenkot, a former general and the main opposition candidate in Israel’s elections this month , is unpolished where Netanyahu is slick.
To Israelis he is both menschy (decent) and schlumpy (unkempt), his crumpled appearance contrasting with Netanyahu’s hair rinse, makeup and obsessive need to control his media depiction.
In the Israeli commentator Anshel Pfeffer’s framing, he is the anti-Bibi among a roster of wanna-Bibis.
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