Full Breakdown
Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar Party Submits Final 40-Candidate Slate Ahead of 2026 Election
9/8/2026, 10:53:01 AM
Core Event: Final List Filed with the Knesset
One day before the legal deadline, former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party lodged its final electoral roster of 40 names, satisfying the Central Elections Committee requirement.
Background & Context: From Military Leader to Political Challenger
Eisenkot, born May 19, 1960 in Tiberias, served as the 21st IDF chief of staff (2015-2019) and later founded the Yashar party in 2025. The party’s name, Hebrew for “straight,” reflects his call for a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 events after his son, M. Gal Eisenkot, was killed on December 7, 2023.
Key Figures on the Slate
- Yoram Cohen – former Shin Bet head, second on the list.
- Hili Tropper – former Blue and White minister, sixth.
- Shira Shapira – architect, former Heritage Ministry deputy director, tenth.
- Kamil Abu Rokan – retired IDF Aluf and former COGAT head, thirteenth, representing the Druze community.
- Orit Farkash-Hacohen – former minister and Blue and White MK, third.
- Adi Altschuler – Israel Prize winner, fourth.
- Matan Kahana – former minister and Blue and White MK, fifth.
- Shaul Meridor – economist, seventh.
- Tair Ifergan – former Labor Ministry director-general, eighth.
- Osherat Ganei Gonen – ninth.
Data & Statistics
- 40 candidates on the final list.
- ? 50 % female representation, including Altschuler and Farkash-Hacohen.
- Recent polls project Yashir to win about 23 seats in the 120-member Knesset.
Official Statements & Responses
Eisenkot framed the campaign around “healing and hope,” using the slogan “Israel must win.”
Why It Matters / Impact
The slate’s security focus and diverse representation aim to attract center-right voters dissatisfied with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud. The inclusion of a high-profile Druze candidate seeks to shift the traditionally Likud-aligned Druze vote. If poll projections hold, Yashir could become the principal challenger to Netanyahu, influencing coalition dynamics.
What’s Next
Israel’s national election is scheduled for October 27. Yashir’s campaign will continue to promote its security-centric yet socially inclusive platform as it competes with Likud and the opposition alliance led by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid.
