Columnist Ariel Kahana (Israel Hayom) reviews evidence that opposition leadership candidate Gadi Eisenkot opposed military action against Iran's nuclear program as Northern Command chief in 2011-12 and later as IDF Chief of Staff, citing a 2018 essay where Eisenkot argued Israel must learn to live with regional nuclear weapons. Kahana calls on Eisenkot to clarify his current stance.
Israel Hayom columnist Ariel Kahana published an op-ed Saturday evening challenging opposition leadership candidate Gadi Eisenkot to clarify his position on striking Iran's nuclear program, citing what he describes as a consistent record of opposition to military action at two critical junctures.
Kahana cites a 2018 essay in the IDF's 'Ma'arachot' journal in which Eisenkot, then Chief of Staff, wrote: "Israel will not be able to completely thwart the nuclear efforts of countries in the region, and therefore must get used to living alongside weapons of mass destruction." According to Kahana, military commentator Yossi Yehoshua corroborated that this was the position Eisenkot presented in privileged briefings to reporters.
Kahana further alleges that as Northern Command chief in 2011-12, Eisenkot aligned with then-IDF chief Gabi Ashkenazi, Mossad chief Meir Dagan, and President Shimon Peres in opposing then-PM Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak's plan to strike Iran's nuclear infrastructure. Kahana contrasts this with what he calls the successful 2024 and 2025 Israeli strikes on Iran, which he says set back the nuclear program significantly.
As The Zioneer reported, Eisenkot has previously accused Netanyahu of "inventing reality" on Iran (July 1), while Netanyahu has consistently framed prevention of an Iranian nuclear weapon as a personal 30-year mission, threatening a third strike if needed.
Kahana's article does not present new factual reporting but draws a domestic-political contrast ahead of potential elections, asking whether Eisenkot — currently the leading opposition candidate — would adopt a 'not in my watch' approach or one of "learning to live" with a nuclear Iran.
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