Gadi Eisenkot Leads Polls Challenging Netanyahu Ahead of Israeli Election

Former Israel Defense Forces chief Gadi Eisenkot, a 66‑year‑old former chief of staff, is surging in opinion polls and is positioned as the leading challenger to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the upcoming election. Eisenkot’s new Yashar party is projected to win about 20‑23 Knesset seats, enough to finish second to Netanyahu’s Likud, while the governing coalition is expected to fall short of a majority. A Channel 13 poll published on 24 June 2026 showed 43 % of respondents preferring Eisenkot to Netanyahu’s 39 %, and projected Likud at 23 seats versus Yashar’s 20. An i24news poll released on 16 June 2026 similarly gave the opposition a majority of 62 seats against the coalition’s 58, with Eisenkot named the most suitable opposition leader by 40 % of voters.

Eisenkot’s appeal is bolstered by his modest background and personal losses – he lost a son and two nephews in the Gaza conflict – which resonate with Mizrahi voters, a demographic that traditionally supports Netanyahu. Analysts note his “Dahiyeh doctrine” of decisive force, his criticism of Netanyahu’s handling of ceasefires, and his outsider image as factors driving his popularity. The polls suggest that if elections were held now, the opposition bloc could command 67 Knesset seats, while Netanyahu’s coalition would hold only 53, indicating a potential shift in Israel’s political balance.