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Former IDF Chief Eisenkot Tops Polls, Son Killed in Gaza

8/8/2026

27 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Gadi Eisenkot (former IDF chief of staff) is now the leading opposition candidate, with his Yashar party topping opinion polls.
Gadi Eisenkot’s son Gal was killed in a Gaza tunnel while retrieving hostages’ bodies.
Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid repeatedly attack Gadi Eisenkot while Haim Ramon urges all opposition parties to back him as prime minister to prevent rotation deals.

History

Historical Context

May 1999 former IDF chief Ehud Barak won Israel’s direct prime-ministerial election; his One Israel list secured 26 Knesset seats and built a coalition with Shas and Meretz. The alliance fell apart during the Second Intifada, and Barak lost the 2001 election to Ariel Sharon. Now former chief Gadi Eisenkot leads the Yashar party, reviving the military-to-politics trend.

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Story summary

Gadi Eisenkot (former IDF chief of staff) is now the leading opposition candidate, with his Yashar party topping opinion polls.
Gadi Eisenkot’s son Gal was killed in a Gaza tunnel while retrieving hostages’ bodies.
Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid repeatedly attack Gadi Eisenkot while Haim Ramon urges all opposition parties to back him as prime minister to prevent rotation deals.

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