Ex-IDF Chief Eisenkot Defends Joining Netanyahu Government Post-Oct. 7
Translated & summarized from Srugim by baba
Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of Yisrael Beiteinu and former IDF Chief of Staff, defended his decision to join Prime Minister Netanyahu's government after the October 7th attacks, citing a need to save Israel and foster unity. He claimed their participation made a significant contribution despite criticism. Eisenkot also criticized the war's progress as a failure and questioned Netanyahu's messaging, stating his role is to win, not just to avoid surrender.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Gadi Eisenkot does not regret joining Prime Minister Netanyahu's government after the October 7th attacks.
- Eisenkot stated his decision was to save Israel and foster unity, not for political reasons.
- He claimed his and Benny Gantz's participation significantly contributed to the government.
- Eisenkot pledged to establish a state inquiry into the October 7th events in any future government he joins.
- He criticized the war's progress as an unacceptable failure three years after the attacks.
- Eisenkot questioned Netanyahu's messaging, stating his role is to win, not to avoid surrender.
Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party and former IDF Chief of Staff, stated Wednesday that he does not regret his decision to join Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government after the October 7th Hamas attacks. Speaking on Kan News, Eisenkot explained that his primary motivation was to save the State of Israel and foster unity, not political considerations. He described the leadership he encountered upon joining the government as "out of balance and in great helplessness."
Eisenkot asserted that his and Benny Gantz's decision to join the government made a significant contribution that will become known, despite what he called "slander and a culture of lies" he hears daily. He pledged that any future government he is part of would immediately establish a state commission of inquiry into the events of October 7th and the decade preceding them.
However, Eisenkot also criticized the war's outcomes, stating that its objectives have not been achieved three years after the massacre, calling it an "unacceptable failure." He also attacked Prime Minister Netanyahu's messaging, contrasting Netanyahu's initial calls for "absolute victory" with his current emphasis on "not surrendering." Eisenkot questioned this framing, stating, "Your job is to win, not to not surrender."
