Ex-IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot launches campaign to oust Netanyahu

Gadi Eisenkot, former commander of the Israel Defense Forces (2015‑2019) and founder of the Yashar party, began a pre‑election campaign on Tuesday, saying he intends to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and open a “new chapter” for Israel.

Eisenkot’s personal popularity rose after the 2023 Gaza war, during which his son Gal and two nephews were killed. Recent polls by Channel 12 and other surveys put Yashar at about 21–22 seats in the 120‑member Knesset, almost equal to Netanyahu’s Likud, which currently holds 23 seats. The election is set for late October.

Netanyahu’s Likud responded with a video on X that mocked Eisenkot’s English and portrayed him as dependent on Arab support, underscoring the growing political contest. Eisenkot has refused to join a joint opposition bloc with former prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, opting to run independently.