Likud Attacks Eisenkot Amid Election Race Over October 7th Documents

With Israeli elections approaching on October 27, the Likud party has intensified its attacks on Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party, accusing him of being in "political panic." This escalation follows Eisenkot's call for a criminal investigation into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding documents and information related to the failures preceding the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack. The intensified rhetoric reflects a tight electoral race, with polls showing both parties leading and uncertainty about forming the next government.

Likud's statement accused Eisenkot of acting out of political desperation, suggesting he recognizes his inability to form a government without the support of Arab parties and the Democrats, led by Yair Golan. The party asserted that Eisenkot's call for an investigation and his accusation of treason against Netanyahu demonstrate a lack of understanding of fundamental Israeli processes. Likud characterized Eisenkot as being "in a state of panic," framing his actions as politically motivated.

The dispute occurs amid heightened confrontation over responsibility for the failures before the October 7th attack. Likud specifically denied accusations that Netanyahu concealed documents from the State Comptroller, claiming Netanyahu submitted nearly a thousand documents, including intelligence from the IDF's Aman and the Shin Bet, without redaction. Likud stated that a publicly released 55-page document was only a limited portion of the materials provided and alleged that Netanyahu fully cooperated with the investigation, which was allegedly stalled by left-wing organizations, the Attorney General, and the Supreme Court.

Eisenkot, along with Opposition leader Yair Lapid, has called for a criminal investigation into the handling of documents and testimonies related to the events before the attack, and for an independent commission to examine political and security failures. Eisenkot accused Netanyahu of evading responsibility by presenting a partial account of events, particularly regarding intelligence warnings. The broader significance of this dispute lies in determining who will convince voters of their ability to provide answers regarding the October 7th failures.

Recent polls indicate a close race, with one poll from Kan on September 27 showing Yashar with 23 seats and Likud with 21, and another from Maariv on October 9 showing Yashar with 21 seats and Likud with 20. Both polls suggest a near tie between the Netanyahu bloc and the opposition at 52 seats each. These numbers highlight the Likud's challenge not only from Eisenkot's party but also in securing a majority coalition, as forming a government requires at least 61 Knesset seats. The Likud is leveraging potential alliances, including with Arab parties, to attack Eisenkot's coalition options.