Gadi Eisenkot, the former Israel Defense Forces Chief of the General Staff, has emerged as a top contender against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for Israel's premiership. Eisenkot's respected credentials have allowed him to unite a diverse range of parties in opposition to Netanyahu.
His coalition spans the entire political spectrum, with the common goal of ousting the prime minister. Eisenkot's campaign has focused on taking down Netanyahu, drafting ultra-Orthodox Jews, and opening a state inquiry into the surprise attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
As the leader of the Yashar party, Eisenkot has positioned himself as a viable alternative to Netanyahu, despite similarities between the two on security and defense matters. Eisenkot was born in 1960 to Moroccan Mizrahi Jewish immigrants and would be the first non-Ashkenazi Jewish prime minister since Israel's independence in 1948 if he wins the premiership.
His working-class background and ethnicity underscore the tension within Israeli society between Ashkenazi and non-Ashkenazi communities. Eisenkot's military career began in 1978, and he gradually climbed the ranks, becoming chief of the general staff in 2014, a position he held until his retirement in 2019.
Eisenkot's tenure as chief of the general staff was marked by an escalation of attacks against Israel's adversaries, including strikes against Iranian targets in Syria. He was also noted for his relative moderation on the issue of Palestinians, pursuing a policy of restraint during the "knife intifada" in 2015-2016.