Netanyahu Ally and Former IDF Chief Gadi Eisenkot Meet Amid Shifting Political Winds in Dimona

At a recent Negev conference held in Dimona, Michal Almalem Abu, a Likud city council member and now head of the "Yashar" party in Dimona, highlighted a noticeable cooling in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's support within the city, traditionally a Likud stronghold. Almalem Abu, who has a history of municipal involvement and currently serves as deputy chair of the Negev region in the Histadrut and CEO of cultural centers in southern Israel, emphasized her commitment to Dimona's welfare over party allegiance. She explained her decision to join Gadi Eisenkot's party despite her ties to Likud, noting that Eisenkot had only five mandates when she joined and that her move was accepted by Dimona's mayor, Benny Biton, who respects Eisenkot and supports her choice.

Almalem Abu described Eisenkot as a caring leader, recalling his visits to Dimona during missile attacks. She organized a "Yashar" party conference in Dimona attended by over 300 people, signaling Eisenkot's growing influence in the city. Senior local figures believe Eisenkot is gaining significant traction, with some suggesting that while Likud loyalists vocally support Netanyahu, many voters might prefer Eisenkot in private ballots due to his local roots, military background, and traditional values.

Mayor Biton, who has a complex political past including affiliations with parties outside Likud before officially joining it in 2011, confirmed his meetings with Eisenkot. The political landscape in Dimona appears to be shifting, with Almalem Abu acknowledging that while a full transformation will take generations, the current changes mark the beginning of a new political era in the city.