Gadi Eisenkot Slams Netanyahu, Opposes Rotation, Cites UAE Warning

Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the National Unity party, declared his strong opposition to any rotation agreement with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling such arrangements "tricks and schemes." In a wide-ranging interview, Eisenkot also accused Netanyahu of being an "unreliable person" who uses "the culture of lies and manipulation as a political tool," and stated that Netanyahu, along with other cabinet members from October 7, is "unfit to lead."

Eisenkot further revealed that a warning regarding the events of October 7 was transferred from the United Arab Emirates to the Prime Minister's Office, but no action was taken. "According to my information, information was passed from the UAE, not necessarily by an Emirati, but from a very senior source that can be trusted. The Prime Minister's Office received it and did nothing with it," Eisenkot stated, adding that this intelligence should have triggered an immediate response.

Criticizing his own "change bloc" partners, former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Liberman, Eisenkot argued that their reluctance to establish clear rules for selecting a prime ministerial candidate harms their chances of winning. He specifically criticized the previous "change government" formed by Bennett and Yair Lapid as a "manipulation," asserting that Lapid, with 24 mandates, should have been prime minister then.

Former Prime Minister Bennett echoed concerns about rotation, stating, "We will not allow rotation. Netanyahu bears direct responsibility for October 7 and must go home. Talk of rotation worries me." Liberman also called for unity within the change bloc, urging an end to discussions about who would be first or second in a future government, and emphasizing the need to clarify coalition partners to the public.

A senior figure in the change bloc, commenting on Eisenkot's remarks, cryptically stated, "Eisenkot is against firing on the APC, unless he is the one firing."