Full Breakdown
Gadi Eisenkot Emerges as Leading Opposition Candidate Ahead of Israel’s Oct 27 Election
By Drooid · · How we work
Background & Context
Former Israel Defense Forces chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot entered the Knesset in 2022 as Benny Gantz’s deputy in the National Unity Party and was drawn into a unity government after Hamas’s Oct 7, 2023 attacks. The war became personal when his son Gal was killed two months into the Gaza fighting, followed later by the deaths of two nephews. Citing these losses, Eisenkot left Netanyahu’s emergency coalition and founded the Yashar party (“Upright”) in September 2025.
Campaign Launch & Core Message
On June 30, 2026 Eisenkot opened his election campaign in Hod Hasharon, presenting a centrist platform built on “repairing, healing, and hope” for Israeli society. He pledged to create a state commission of inquiry into the Oct 7 failures and advocated a realistic plan to draft ultra-Orthodox (haredim) men into the IDF. The party’s name reflects his promise of an honest, “straight” path forward.
Official Statements & Responses
At a rally in Rosh Haayin, Eisenkot accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of prioritising personal political survival over national security. Unlike other opposition leaders, Eisenkot said he would sit in a post-election government with either the opposition bloc or parties from Netanyahu’s current coalition.
Poll Surge & Position in the Race
Recent surveys show Eisenkot overtaking former prime minister Naftali Bennett and Likud in voter support, positioning him as the main challenger for a post-Oct 27 government. Analysts note his military background makes him a viable alternative, while former partner Benny Gantz’s public backing has waned.
Verbatim Quotes
“In the face of the great rift that opened on October 7, and in the face of the immense challenges before the State of Israel, I believe we need a leadership that knows how to rise to the magnitude of the hour, that knows how to unite and bring unity around what we share, and to fundamentally restore the principles of stateliness and Zionism,” — Gadi Eisenkot