Uri Zaki quits the Democrats and backs Eisenkot

Uri Zaki, a senior former member of Meretz and the Democrats, announced on Tuesday that he is leaving Yair Golan’s party after decades of political activity. He said he is shifting his support to Gadi Eisenkot and the party Yashar!.

Zaki said the move ends 28 years in which he held senior roles in Labor, Meretz and the Democrats. In his statement, he argued that after the war and recent years Israel needs “values-based, experienced and serious leadership” to replace Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he accused of causing “enormous damage” to the country.

He described Eisenkot as “the opposite” of Netanyahu, calling him calm, level-headed, empathetic, strategically minded and someone who always puts the country’s interests first. Zaki also said he respects Golan and the Democrats’ lawmakers, and is proud of his role in uniting forces on the left.

At the same time, he said the gap between his positions and those of the left has widened, especially since October 7, 2023. He said he often found himself disagreeing with his colleagues and facing harsh criticism for his own views. Zaki said he will work fully to help Eisenkot win the next election, saying he believes Eisenkot can appeal to broad parts of Israeli society, including right-wing voters. He added that, as the son of a father who grew up in a ma’abara, it is time after 78 years for a Mizrahi prime minister, and said that should be Eisenkot.