Why Gadi Eisenkot Could Beat Benjamin Netanyahu in a TV Debate
After Likud released a video attacking him, Gadi Eisenkot challenged Benjamin Netanyahu to a public televised debate, saying, "Forget the videos, set a date and place. Come to a public debate, and we will answer the public's questions." Netanyahu has not responded, and the article argues he has good reason not to.
The piece looks back at Netanyahu's famous 1996 TV debate with Shimon Peres, which became a media legend and, in large part, helped decide the election. Labor campaign chief Haim Ramon said he expected Peres to win 51 percent to 49 percent, but, in his words, "the television debate killed us." Netanyahu entered that debate prepared with the TV techniques he had learned in the United States during his time as Israel's ambassador to the UN, including direct eye contact with viewers, strong body language, and punchy lines. Reporters present at the morning taping noticed him placing cue notes with prepared one-liners on the edge of the table.
Peres, by contrast, looked like an old-style politician, speaking as if delivering a campaign speech, remaining rigid in his chair and facing the moderator rather than the audience. The article says he was also hurt by the context, coming after deadly terror attacks in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, which raised doubts about his suitability for security challenges. An internal Labor document said Peres led Netanyahu on most issues except one, "his suitability for dealing with security problems."
In a possible debate between Netanyahu and Eisenkot, the article says the roles would reverse. Netanyahu, now 77, is portrayed as the old political figure, burdened by age, illness, and his long tenure as prime minister. Eisenkot, 66, is framed as the new politician, despite having no ministerial past and no political baggage. According to the article, his lack of TV tricks may help rather than hurt him, because he projects strength, stability, and a straight-line message. The author concludes that Eisenkot would beat Netanyahu in a televised debate, unless it were conducted in English.
