Gadi Eizenkot Launches 'Yashar!' Party, Eyes Minority Government with Broad Support

Gadi Eizenkot, former IDF Chief of Staff, has officially launched his new political party "Yashar!" amid rising poll numbers positioning him as a leading contender for Israel's prime ministership. The party's launch event featured a new campaign, including a song created with artificial intelligence, and attracted supporters from diverse political backgrounds, including former Labor and Likud voters. Despite the surge, Eizenkot's party currently lacks a clear majority, with polls showing little shift between the main political blocs.

Party members, including former Shin Bet head Yoram Cohen and ex-MK Tal Russo, emphasize their goal of assembling a coalition of 61 Zionist Knesset members to form a stable government. They acknowledge the challenge of attracting younger voters and bridging political divides but remain optimistic about increasing turnout, especially among youth. Eizenkot's team stresses his "clean hands" and unifying leadership style as key assets against incumbent Netanyahu.

Behind the scenes, Eizenkot's camp is negotiating with ultra-Orthodox parties, proposing a military and national service framework that would require up to 3% of yeshiva students to serve, a significant policy shift. While not ruling out cooperation with Arab parties, Eizenkot insists on adherence to three principles: Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, acceptance of the Declaration of Independence's values, and commitment to military or national service.

The party rejects Netanyahu's calls for unity, criticizing his divisive policies and expressing skepticism about his intentions. However, they do not exclude dialogue with individual Likud members, aiming to build a broad coalition based on shared values rather than party lines. Eizenkot pledged to bring "unifying leadership" and serve all Israeli citizens, acknowledging that forming a government may initially require a minority coalition that others would join later.

Supporters highlight Eizenkot's rapid political learning curve and contrast his approach with Netanyahu's, emphasizing his ability to surround himself with capable advisors. While Eizenkot is not the first military leader to seek the premiership, his campaign marks a significant new chapter in Israeli politics as the election approaches in four months.