Gadi Eizenkot Urges Bennett and Lieberman to Back Largest Party to Replace Netanyahu

With 76 days remaining until Israel's elections, Gadi Eizenkot, chairman of the Yisrael party, emphasized in an interview his stance on key issues including Haredi conscription, education reform, and military control over Gaza. Eizenkot, whose party is rising in polls, insisted that the leader of the largest party in the opposition bloc should be the prime minister candidate, warning that failure to unite behind this principle risks allowing Benjamin Netanyahu to remain in power. He called on Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Lieberman to commit to this rule, stating that a prime minister with only six to ten mandates cannot lead effectively and that such fragmentation endangers government change.

Eizenkot rejected Lieberman's claim that he is unfit for prime minister, citing his extensive military and political experience, including his role in founding the Mossad's "Tzaltzal" unit that tracked terror financing. He criticized the unexplained closure of this unit in 2018 and pledged to reinstate it if elected. On security, Eizenkot opposed any Israeli withdrawal from Gaza before dismantling Hamas's military capabilities and stressed the need for a broad national consensus government, though he would accept a minority government as a last resort.

Regarding education, Eizenkot proposed unifying Israel's diverse school systems under a single state standard within four years, including integrating the Haredi education system. On Haredi conscription, he advocated abolishing the 77-year exemption agreement and establishing a management body to decide who serves, while rewarding service and penalizing draft evasion. He dismissed criticisms that his plan grants excessive exemptions, clarifying that only about 3% of each cohort would be exempted.

Eizenkot also addressed political attacks on his family, expressing pride in his children's achievements and urging opponents not to use them as political leverage. He described his recent meeting with Bennett as constructive and expressed confidence that key opposition leaders would unite to replace Netanyahu. He rejected Bennett's call to declare Qatar an enemy as a political gimmick but acknowledged Qatar's negative role in funding Gaza terror. Eizenkot called for transparency about past government decisions on Gaza and demanded a state inquiry into the handling of the war and hostages.

Overall, Eizenkot positioned himself as a pragmatic leader focused on security, unity, and reform, warning that political games could undermine efforts to end Netanyahu's tenure.