Gadi Eizenkot’s Moroccan Heritage Should Not Define His Political Leadership

In a recent opinion piece, Gaula Even-Saar argues against reducing Gadi Eizenkot’s political identity to his Moroccan heritage. The article critiques the current trend of emphasizing Eizenkot’s ethnic background, particularly through a viral video featuring his mother Esther Eizenkot, as a political asset to garner support. Even-Saar stresses that such focus on origin distracts from more critical discussions about his political views, leadership qualities, decision-making, and vision for Israel’s future.

The piece highlights a longstanding issue in Israeli politics where voters’ ethnic origins are used to explain their political choices rather than engaging with their actual beliefs and values. This approach, the author contends, perpetuates harmful stereotypes and undermines genuine political discourse. Even-Saar references historical patterns since the 1977 political shift when Mizrahi voters’ support for the Likud party was often dismissed or stereotyped instead of understood.

Even-Saar condemns the racist undertones in some political rhetoric that categorizes Mizrahi voters who support right-wing parties as manipulated or less intelligent, contrasting them with those who vote left-wing as enlightened. She calls for evaluating Eizenkot on his merits, experience, and policy positions rather than his family background or ethnicity. The article concludes that Eizenkot’s Moroccan roots are part of his personal story but should not substitute for a substantive political agenda or leadership capabilities.

The discussion comes ahead of the 2026 elections, emphasizing the need for voters and commentators to focus on candidates’ qualifications and platforms rather than ethnic identity. Even-Saar’s critique serves as a call to move beyond ethnic stereotypes in Israeli political discourse and to engage in more meaningful debates about leadership and governance.