Israeli Journalist Slams Opposition's Election Strategy, Urges Focus on Eisenkot's Military Past

Journalist and commentator Raviv Drucker has sharply criticized the election strategy of Gadi Eisenkot and the broader opposition, arguing in a Haaretz op-ed that they are making a significant mistake by not highlighting Eisenkot's military background. Drucker contends that Eisenkot's past as a former IDF Chief of Staff, replete with achievements, battles, and injuries, is his strongest asset for voters, yet his campaign is surprisingly downplaying these credentials.

Drucker pointed to historical precedents where emphasizing military experience proved successful, citing Yitzhak Rabin's "Mr. Security" persona in 1992 and Ehud Barak's focus on his military service, including the Sayeret Matkal operation in the Sabena hijacking, in the 1999 elections, which countered Benjamin Netanyahu's attempts to portray him as weak.

The commentator questioned why Eisenkot's campaign isn't leveraging retired generals willing to publicly support him and praise his actions, nor incorporating them into promotional videos. Drucker described the current polling situation as a frustrating paradox, noting that Netanyahu, whom he holds responsible for a major security disaster, ongoing conflict, and damage to Israel's personal security and international standing, still leads in polls on who would better handle security matters, compared to a worthy leader like Eisenkot.

Despite the complex picture presented by current data, Drucker concluded his analysis with an optimistic outlook, suggesting that the prevailing poll results do not necessarily indicate an impending new round of elections or a prolonged transitional government.