Story perspectives

Ex-IDF Chief Eisenkot’s Yashir Leads Poll, Beats Likud

7/24/2026

Summary

Yashar Overtakes

The Yashar Party, led by former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot, reached 25 seats in a Zaman Yisrael poll, overtaking Netanyahu’s Likud.
A Maariv poll on July 24 gave Yashar 23 seats and Likud 20 seats, a three-seat lead for Yashar.
The poll found Bennett preferred over Netanyahu as prime-minister (45% vs 42%) and that 57% of Zionist opposition voters want Yesodot Israel to join an existing party.

Summary

Eisenkot Challenges Netanyahu

IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot leverages his Gaza loss and military record to present an anti-establishment stance that contrasts with Benjamin Netanyahu.
According to Maoz Rosenthal and Eran Halperin, Eisenkot’s rise reflects wave that could keep a third of Netanyahu’s right-wing base home on Election Day.
Netanyahu has aired ads accusing Eisenkot of colluding with left-wing and Arab parties, which Eisenkot denies, saying he is neither leftist nor dovish.

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Yashar Overtakes

The Yashar Party, led by former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot, reached 25 seats in a Zaman Yisrael poll, overtaking Netanyahu’s Likud.
A Maariv poll on July 24 gave Yashar 23 seats and Likud 20 seats, a three-seat lead for Yashar.
The poll found Bennett preferred over Netanyahu as prime-minister (45% vs 42%) and that 57% of Zionist opposition voters want Yesodot Israel to join an existing party.

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