Gadi Eizenkot Calls for Opposition Bloc Leader to Be Prime Minister Candidate

Gadi Eizenkot, chairman of the Yisrael party, emphasized in a Channel 12 interview on Wednesday that the leader of the largest party in the opposition bloc should be the candidate for prime minister. With 76 days remaining until the elections, he stressed that this principle reflects the public's will and is the democratic approach. Eizenkot warned against attempts by smaller parties like those led by Naftali Bennett or Avigdor Lieberman to claim the premiership despite lower poll numbers, calling such moves risky and undemocratic.

Responding to Lieberman's claim that he is not ready for the role, Eizenkot dismissed it as unserious, citing his own extensive experience in senior military and political positions, including nearly nine years in the Knesset and security cabinet. He also criticized Netanyahu's leadership, especially in light of the events on October 7.

Regarding his party's military draft proposal, Eizenkot clarified that it does not grant a 30% exemption but rather a 3% quota annually, alongside canceling the longstanding 77-year status quo agreement. He pledged strict enforcement against draft evaders and stated he would not compromise on this issue, even if it leads to new elections.

Eizenkot dismissed Bennett's suggestion to declare Qatar an enemy state as a political gimmick, instead promising to reinstate the "Tzaltzal" unit within the Mossad on his first day as prime minister. This unit, originally established under Ariel Sharon, tracked terror financing but was controversially disbanded in 2018.

He opposed the idea of a minority government, advocating for a broad coalition but said if necessary to remove the current government, he would urge all 120 Knesset members to vote according to conscience and then seek alliances with Zionist parties, including the Likud post-Netanyahu.

On ethnic representation, Eizenkot stated that a candidate's origin, including his own Moroccan background, should not determine leadership; instead, ability, record, vision, and execution matter most. He also responded to criticism about his daughter's wedding, clarifying it was a kosher morning event and expressing pride in his four children, all of whom served in the military, with three as officers.