Netanyahu Criticizes Ex-General Gadi Eisenkot's Communication Skills

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a wide-ranging interview with the Makor Rishon newspaper's "Diyun" supplement, offered his perspective on the right-wing's strategy, the events of October 7th, and directly criticized former IDF Chief of Staff and political rival Gadi Eisenkot.

Regarding the situation in Gaza, Netanyahu stated that while Hamas has been significantly weakened, it still poses a potential threat, capable of launching rockets or drones, possibly to disrupt upcoming elections. "Gaza is no longer a real threat to the State of Israel," he declared, "but that doesn't mean they can't launch rockets or drones... They can do it even on the eve of the elections... a momentary show of this or that attack to disrupt the elections."

On the northern front, Netanyahu explained his decision not to inform the United States in advance about the potential assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. He recounted being told, "We are for it, but we need to update the Americans first." Netanyahu refused, stating, "If I had done that, Nasrallah would have immediately received an update and fled the place... You would have found it in Thomas Friedman's column in the New York Times within five minutes."

Netanyahu emphasized the importance of international experience and a leader's ability to communicate, particularly on the Iranian nuclear issue, stressing the need to do so "also on UN and Congressional platforms, in English." When asked if this was a jab at Eisenkot's perceived lack of English proficiency, Netanyahu confirmed, "Correct... and this is certainly a problem for someone who wants to be Prime Minister of Israel, because they need to be a leading figure on the world stage." He further criticized Eisenkot's general capabilities, saying, "He struggles, in my opinion, to express his ideas at all... His way has always been a way of escaping big decisions."

These remarks on the necessity of strong international diplomacy and rhetorical skills come amid recent events at the UN General Assembly, which has become a focal point for diplomatic discourse surrounding the Gaza war and Israeli-Palestinian relations. Leaders and representatives in New York have addressed the war, the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and the two-state solution, with criticism of Israel alongside acknowledgments of the October 7th attacks and Hamas's actions.