Left-Leaning Israeli Media Launches Coordinated Campaign Boosting Gadi Eizenkot While Criticizing Netanyahu

Over the past weekend, Israel's three major left-leaning TV channels, Kan 11, Channel 12, and Channel 13, collectively devoted extensive prime-time coverage to promoting former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot. This media surge, totaling approximately 65 minutes across the channels, presented Eizenkot in a highly favorable light while simultaneously criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Yoav Horowitz, a former Netanyahu aide, was highlighted as orchestrating this media strategy, which involved providing exclusive insights and soft interviews that avoided challenging questions. Horowitz's approach, described as trading negative coverage of Netanyahu for uncritical promotion of Eizenkot, was evident in the interviews where Eizenkot was praised for his leadership and intelligence without substantive ideological discussion or rigorous scrutiny.

The campaign included repeated messaging that Netanyahu fears Eizenkot, a claim often used in Israeli political media but historically proven inaccurate. Critics argue that this coordinated media effort represents a departure from journalistic independence, turning news outlets into political campaign operatives. The article suggests that the media's role has shifted from critical reporting to active electioneering, with the left-wing channels acting as campaign headquarters for Eizenkot's political ambitions.

This development comes amid ongoing political tensions in Israel, with Netanyahu facing persistent opposition. The media's alignment with Eizenkot raises questions about impartiality and the influence of media narratives on voter perceptions ahead of upcoming elections.