Gadi Eisenkot
Gadi Eisenkot is a former IDF Chief of Staff (2015–2019) and the chairman of the Yashar party. In late 2026, he emerged as a leading contender for Prime Minister, positioning himself as a pragmatic security-first leader focused on national unity, universal conscription, and the establishment of a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 failures.
Gadi Eisenkot, the 21st Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, has transitioned from a career defined by military strategy to becoming a central pillar of the Israeli political landscape. During his military tenure, he was the architect of the 'Campaign Between the Wars' (MABAM), a strategy aimed at degrading Iranian and Hezbollah capabilities without escalating to full-scale war. In the political arena, Eisenkot has positioned himself as a pragmatic, security-oriented leader, initially serving as an observer in the war cabinet during the multi-front conflict that began in October 2023.
By late 2026, Eisenkot's political standing underwent a dramatic surge. Following his departure from the National Unity party to lead the 'Yashar' party, he successfully consolidated a centrist-Zionist bloc. In September 2026, he finalized a joint run with Hili Tropper’s 'Beit Tzioni' party, bringing figures like Shira Shapira and Elissaf Peretz onto his list. His platform emphasizes national unity and a significant expansion of the IDF to alleviate the burden on reserve families, framing the election as a choice between a "draft-dodging government" and a "Zionist conscription coalition."
Recently, Eisenkot has become a sharp critic of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing the current leadership of fostering division and "inventing reality" regarding strategic threats. On Tuesday, September 8, 2026, Eisenkot intensified his rhetoric, accusing Netanyahu of ignoring dozens of warnings prior to the October 7 Hamas attack—including a reported explicit warning from the UAE president—and declaring the Prime Minister "unfit" to lead. He continues to demand a state commission of inquiry to investigate the decade of policy leading up to the disaster. On the northern front, Eisenkot maintains a hawkish stance, demanding the total demilitarization of southern Lebanon and the disarmament of Hezbollah as non-negotiable war objectives. Despite his high profile, he has faced internal security disputes, with the Shin Bet recently deciding to withdraw his personal security detail, a move criticized by both political allies and former security officials.