Change Bloc Criticizes Gadi Eizenkot for Prioritizing Personal Campaign Over Coalition Unity

Senior figures within Israel's Change Bloc have sharply criticized former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot, accusing him of focusing excessively on securing his own candidacy for prime minister at the expense of the bloc's broader electoral preparations. They claim that Eizenkot's personal campaign efforts are undermining coordinated work among the bloc's parties ahead of the 2026 elections, particularly regarding readiness for potential defections and joint efforts to uphold electoral integrity.

The critics highlight a lack of sufficient coordination between parties on election day strategies and express concern about the risk of bloc members switching allegiances after the vote, which could alter the balance of power. Another point of contention is the perceived insufficient defense of the Democratic Party against attempts to delegitimize it as a future coalition partner.

The criticism is directly linked to Eizenkot's push to lead the bloc, with calls for him to assume greater responsibility for fostering cooperation among the parties. However, bloc leaders caution against pressuring other party heads to publicly endorse Eizenkot prematurely, arguing that such demands harm internal collaboration. Avigdor Lieberman emphasized the need to avoid internal conflicts and focus on securing a majority, stating that the prime ministerial candidate should be decided only after the public votes. He also mentioned having a formula to achieve consensus among bloc leaders.

The "Yashar!" party responded by reaffirming its focus on defeating the Netanyahu government and expects all future partners to concentrate solely on that goal.