Eisenkot Vows to Form Government Even Without Majority

With less than three weeks until the elections, Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yishar party, expressed confidence in his ability to form the next government, despite current poll results favoring the incumbent bloc. Eisenkot stated his aim to secure 61 Knesset members from his coalition, which includes Yishar, Yisrael Beiteinu, HaDemocratim, and BeYachad, and believes he can attract soft-right voters and religious Zionist supporters. He dismissed poll discrepancies, attributing potential gains to the expected failure of smaller parties like those of Ofer Winter and Yaron Zeilikha to pass the electoral threshold, which he believes will bring his bloc closer to the 61-seat mark.

Eisenkot articulated his ambition to break the traditional left-right political divide and establish a "state camp," a concept he previously pursued with the Blue and White party. He criticized the current government as being led by "extremists" and a "liberal national minority," and suggested Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu benefits from a lack of decisive election results. Eisenkot asserted that if his bloc does not achieve a majority, he would still bring his government to a Knesset vote, relying on the conscience of all 120 members, without seeking support from Haredi or Arab parties.

He further criticized Netanyahu's political strategies, including his claims about security, his past statements on Palestinians, and his rhetoric against Arab citizens of Israel. Eisenkot outlined four core principles for his party: Israel as a Jewish, democratic, and liberal state; adherence to the Declaration of Independence; mandatory IDF or national service; and recognition of Hamas as a terror organization. He noted that no Arab party currently meets these criteria.

Eisenkot warned of severe consequences if the current coalition, which he described as potentially including Itamar Ben-Gvir as Defense Minister and Bezalel Smotrich as Foreign Minister, continues. He expressed concern about potential "criminal actions" by Netanyahu's associates and suggested that political considerations, rather than national security, guide the Prime Minister's decisions. Eisenkot cited instances where he believes Netanyahu prioritized political survival over hostage rescue deals and strategic decisions, leading to his resignation from the war cabinet in June 2024.

Eisenkot also addressed the issue of security for himself and Yair Golan, suggesting that Netanyahu might be influencing the decision to deny them official protection. He recounted personal threats, including one left at his son's grave, but stated he is not easily intimidated. Regarding potential coalition partners, Eisenkot expressed willingness to work with Ofer Winter, provided he adheres to his principles, while also noting Winter's party's perceived immaturity and lack of focus. He also predicted Benny Gantz would rationally withdraw from the election race due to low poll numbers.