Netanyahu’s Campaign Video Against Gadi Eizenkot Sparks Outrage Over Exploiting Fallen Soldier’s Image

Israel’s recent election campaigns have been marked by unprecedented lows, including personal attacks, phone hacking, and defamatory insinuations. However, a new nadir was reached when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a video targeting former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot. The video shows a young man wearing a white "Israel Unity" shirt running toward Eizenkot, who ignores him and embraces Mansour Abbas, leader of an Arab party. The imagery immediately evoked the memory of Eizenkot’s late son, Gal, a reservist killed at age 25 in the recent northern Gaza conflict. The video ends with a broadcaster’s voice stating, "Eizenkot cannot form a government without Yair Golan and the Arab parties." The young man’s apparent disappointment and the association with the bereaved son sparked widespread condemnation.

Eizenkot has become the latest political "demon" in Netanyahu’s campaign strategy, which relies on uniting his base through hatred of opponents. Previous targets included Tzipi Livni, Yair Lapid, Naftali Bennett, Isaac Herzog, and Benny Gantz, all labeled as "pro-Arab," weak, or dangerous. Eizenkot, despite his military credentials and personal losses, including two nephews also killed in the recent war, has faced fierce attacks. Yet, recent polls show his party gaining strength, surpassing Netanyahu’s Likud with 24 seats to 23, while Bennett’s party trails at 15.

The aggressive campaign against Eizenkot, including repeated claims that he depends on Arab parties to form a government and AI-generated videos depicting him embracing Arab politicians, reflects the escalating bitterness ahead of elections in about 100 days. The controversial video has intensified fears that this election cycle will be marked by unprecedented political degradation and personal exploitation, continuing a trend of deepening divisiveness in Israeli politics.