Gadi Eizenkot Says 58 Seats Are Enough for a Zionist Majority to Replace Netanyahu Government

Gadi Eizenkot, chairman of the Yisra party, outlined his political stance ahead of upcoming elections during a conference at the North African Jewish Heritage House in Jerusalem. He argued that a coalition of Zionist parties securing 58 Knesset seats against Netanyahu's bloc holding 52 seats would constitute a clear majority sufficient to replace the current government. Eizenkot criticized Prime Minister Netanyahu's claim that only achieving 61 seats would represent a decisive political victory, accusing him of attempting to manipulate public perception and comparing his rhetoric to that of Hezbollah and Iran.

Eizenkot emphasized that Netanyahu's 52 seats should not set the standard for government formation and rejected the notion that a smaller majority is insufficient. Regarding outreach to Arab voters, Eizenkot stated he does not intend to engage with that electorate during the campaign, urging voters who desire change to support replacing Netanyahu's government.

Addressing criticism over his role in the October 7 events, Eizenkot noted he ended his tenure as Chief of Staff five years prior but acknowledged personal responsibility and the need for accountability. He recalled preparing a plan against Hamas that was improperly executed during Operation Guardian of the Walls and called for a state commission of inquiry. He rejected accusations of being complicit in the failure, stating that what is "engraved on his forehead" is a 7.62 caliber bullet wound, not the October 7 failure.