Gadi Eisenkot Unveils "Honor Roll" Candidates for Knesset Election

Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the "Yashar!" party, has revealed the "honor roll" of candidates who will fill the final spots (110-120) on his party's list for the upcoming 26th Knesset elections. The symbolic placements aim to underscore the party's campaign messages of investigating the failures leading to the October 7th attacks, healing societal divisions, and restoring national values.

Securing the 120th position is Ohad Ben Ami from Kibbutz Be'eri, who was held captive by Hamas for 491 days. Alongside him in symbolic spots are parents of female soldiers abducted on October 7th, widows of IDF fallen soldiers, and prominent figures from Israel's security and political spheres.

Among those featured are the parents of abducted observer Noa Argamani, Shir and Eli Albag, and Yonni Levi, father of observer Naama Levi. Sapir Zohav Hamami, widow of Colonel Assaf Hamami, who fell on October 7th and whose body was taken to Gaza, is also included. Hallel Gershtein, widow of Brigadier General Erez Gershtein, who was killed in Lebanon in 1999, is also on the list.

Eisenkot has also enlisted retired Major General Gideon Sheffer, a fighter pilot and former POW from the Yom Kippur War, and retired Colonel Gideon Abbas, a senior officer from the Druze community whose grandson fell in the recent war. The list also includes veteran public figures such as Adina Bar-Shalom, daughter of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, Professor Manuel Trachtenberg, former head of the National Economic Council, and former minister Dan Meridor.

Eisenkot stated that these individuals "represent the Israeli spirit and the need to mend the country after difficult years," highlighting those who have borne security burdens and families who have fought for their loved ones.