Netanyahu and Eisenkot Exchange Sharp Personal Attacks Over Military Refusal Issue

As Israel's election campaign intensifies, a heated personal confrontation erupted between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yisra party, on social media on July 6, 2026. Netanyahu posted a video criticizing Eisenkot's stance on the refusal to report for reserve duty before the October 7 attacks, highlighting statements from protest activists and "Brothers in Arms" leaders who denied the phenomenon was refusal. Netanyahu concluded the video with the message, "Eisenkot is not straight, he is left-wing."

Eisenkot responded by sharing a video that repurposed an old Likud campaign ad, incorporating footage from the October 7 attack and the Nova party event, blaming Netanyahu for the security failure. He wrote, "Everything he ever promised exploded in the worst way. No more, Israel must win. We need different leadership."

Netanyahu countered by sharing a screenshot of a tweet from Mansour Abbas, chairman of the Ra'am party, calling to secure seven Knesset seats to provide a safety net for a government replacing Netanyahu's. Netanyahu attached a photo of Eisenkot alongside Abbas with the caption "Don't be fooled," implying that an Eisenkot-led government would rely on Arab party support.

This exchange marks a significant escalation in the election campaign, with both leaders using the sensitive issue of military refusal and security failures to attack each other's credibility and leadership. The confrontation reflects broader political tensions as the election approaches.