Who is Gadi Eisenkot? Ex-army chief of Israel is Netanyahu's biggest challenger
Former Israeli military chief Gadi Eisenkot has launched a political challenge against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of the October 27 election. His campaign focuses on security, accountability for the October 7 attacks, and criticism of the current government's war strategy.
Why it matters
The emergence of a high-profile military figure as a challenger reflects deep political instability and public dissatisfaction with Israel's current leadership during the ongoing conflict.
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 challengerThe son of Moroccan immigrants, Eisenkot served in the Israeli military for 41 years, rising to become its chief of staff from 2015 to 2019.
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Former Army Chief Challenges Netanyahu as Israeli Election Approaches
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