Gadi Eisenkot poses the most serious challenge to Netanyahu in years on the eve of Israel's election

Summary

Israelis vote in a general election on Tuesday, and Axios reports that Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot, a political novice, is the most serious threat to Benjamin Netanyahu's hold on power in years. Axios says a win by Eisenkot would upend Israeli politics and could reset the country's strained relationships abroad. The two contenders differ sharply: Eisenkot, the son of Moroccan Jewish immigrants, grew up in Eilat and would be Israel's first prime minister of Moroccan descent. Netanyahu served in the elite special forces unit Sayeret Matkal before going into business and politics, while Eisenkot rose through the Golani infantry brigade to become IDF chief of staff. Axios reports that Netanyahu is more articulate in English, while Eisenkot speaks with a heavy Israeli accent, does not enjoy being on TV, and was visibly uncomfortable at his final rally. Axios says Netanyahu's credibility has been battered by his long-running corruption trial, his political tactics, his refusal to take responsibility for the failures that led to October 7, and accusations of duplicity over the Iran war. Eisenkot is seen as a straight shooter, even among many of his opponents.

Timeline

1. Axios

   26 Oct 2026, 17:11 UTCSource ↗

   Axios reports that Gadi Eisenkot, a low-key political novice, poses the most serious threat to Benjamin Netanyahu's hold on power in years on the eve of Tuesday's Israeli elections, and that his victory would upend Israeli politics.