Former Israeli Chief Gadi Aizenkot Emerges as Leading Challenger to Netanyahu Ahead of Oct 27 Election

Gadi Aizenkot, a former chief of the Israeli armed forces, has positioned himself as the main rival to long‑time Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the upcoming Israeli parliamentary election on 27 October. Aizenkot founded the new Yashar party, whose poll numbers now exceed those of Netanyahu’s Likud bloc, and he is campaigning on a ten‑point platform that includes creating an independent commission to investigate intelligence failures surrounding the 7 October Hamas attack and instituting universal mandatory military service, ending the current religious‑exemption for ultra‑Orthodox Jews.

Aizenkot’s personal story – the loss of his 25‑year‑old son and two nephews in the Gaza war – is central to his appeal, portraying him as a figure of collective mourning and a promise of security and social unity. His proposals contrast sharply with Netanyahu’s established leadership style, setting up a high‑stakes contest that could reshape Israel’s security policy and domestic politics.