Gadi Eisenkot Emerges as Leading Challenger to Netanyahu Ahead of Israel Election

Former Israel Defense Forces chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot has become the main rival to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as Israel prepares for a parliamentary election on 27 October 2024. After serving in Netanyahu’s war cabinet, Eisenkot resigned in June 2024, accusing the government of failed strategy in Gaza and of deepening societal divisions. He founded the centrist Yashar party, presenting himself as a unifying figure.

Eisenkot’s personal loss – his 25‑year‑old son Gal was killed in combat in Gaza in December 2023 – has shaped his public image. The funeral, attended by senior officials, highlighted his stoic demeanor and reinforced his appeal to voters seeking honesty and cohesion. Recent opinion polls released by Israel Channel 13 show Yashar narrowly ahead of Netanyahu’s Likud party.

The upcoming election is seen as a pivotal moment for Israel. Netanyahu, who is under a corruption trial that could carry a ten‑year sentence, is pushing controversial for judicial reforms and draft‑exemption legislation for ultra‑Orthodox Jews. Analysts describe the vote as potentially the most decisive since Israel’s founding, with implications for the country’s domestic policy, security posture, and international relations.