Ex-IDF Chief Eisenkot Warns Israel May Cease to Exist as Known

Gadi Eisenkot, head of the Yashar Party and former IDF Chief of Staff, issued a stark warning on Tuesday, October 6, stating that Israel will soon cease to be the country its citizens know if it continues on its current course. Speaking on the third anniversary of the October 7 attacks, Eisenkot called for urgent changes in national leadership.

He criticized the exemption of entire population groups from military and economic service, the ongoing conflict without a clear strategy, and repeated failures to achieve its objectives. Eisenkot asserted that without swift and decisive changes, Israel's security will be compromised. He accused the authorities of attempting to conceal the truth about the "greatest failure in the state's history" on October 7, by avoiding lessons and accountability.

Eisenkot also condemned the incitement and harassment directed at the families of fallen soldiers and former hostages. His remarks followed a strong statement by Channel 14 journalist Inon Magal, who demanded that surviving hostages and relatives of those killed in captivity apologize to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"We are all paying for such leadership, and the price is too high," Eisenkot stated, urging citizens to act before it is too late. He referenced footage of an ultra-Orthodox crowd in Modi'in shouting "The kidnappers have arrived" at soldiers, noting that neither Netanyahu nor Bezalel Smotrich had condemned the incident by the time of his speech, despite their roles in sending soldiers to battle.

Shira Shapira, tenth on the Yashar list, joined Eisenkot, sharing the story of her son, Aner Shapira, who died saving others during the October 7 attack on the Nova festival. Eisenkot announced he would visit affected kibbutzim, cities, and the Nova festival site on the anniversary to honor the fallen and those who acted before receiving orders. He specifically mentioned arriving at a shelter near Re'im at 6:29 AM.

Shapira explained her entry into politics was driven by a heightened sense of responsibility for the country's future following her personal loss. She emphasized the need to support bereaved families, aid returning hostages, rebuild southern and northern Israel, and help reservists reintegrate into civilian life. She also called for care for the wounded and those with invisible trauma, aiming to "prevent another failure, but to change and correct."

Shapira also mentioned that Eisenkot's son, Gal Meir, and his comrade-in-arms Eyal Meir Berkovich, both named Meir, died together. She expressed hope their memory would guide the nation, acknowledging the enduring pain of war but stressing the living must honor the fallen.