Eisenkot Links National Service, Settlement to Security in Gush Etzion Visit

Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yishar! party, visited Gush Etzion on Thursday, emphasizing the importance of national service and strengthening settlements. He called for expanding the scope of service and fortifying settlements, stating, "There is no security without passing a national service law." Eisenkot argued that mandatory national service is integral to national security, enabling the military to increase its ranks, reinforce borders, and alleviate the burden on current service members. He framed the upcoming election as a choice between "Zionism and draft dodging," calling it the "core of our national security."

Eisenkot also highlighted settlements as a vital, ongoing mission for the younger generation, not merely a historical endeavor. He urged young people to settle in various regions of Israel, including the South, North, and Judea and Samaria, provided it aligns with national interests and is lawful. His remarks in Gush Etzion connected military service, border reinforcement, and settlement expansion with a broader sense of national responsibility.

Later that evening in Jerusalem, Eisenkot participated in a Torah study session held on Hoshana Rabbah. The event, hosted at the Shapira family's sukkah, commemorated the lives of Anar Shapira, Eyal Baruchowitz, and Gal Eisenkot, all of whom were deceased. The study session, led by Rabbi Benny Lau, focused on remembrance, personal memory, and collective commemoration, exploring the role of Torah study in preserving the legacy of the fallen and continuing their stories.

Eisenkot was joined in Gush Etzion by fellow Yishar! party members Hili Tropper, Matan Kahana, and Elazar Stern, as well as Yoav Horowitz, who leads the party's 100-day plan. They met with residents to discuss service obligations, strengthening settlements and the periphery, and reordering national priorities. The Jerusalem event included Rabbi Jonathan Reis, Shaul Meridor, Inbar Harush Giti, Elisef Peretz, and Orit Farkash Hacohen, alongside friends and colleagues of the deceased.