MK Elazar Stern Leaves Yesh Atid, Eyes Joining Gadi Eizenkot's Party

Elazar Stern, a longtime member of the Yesh Atid party, announced his departure after 11 years, signaling a new political direction. In an interview on August 16, 2026, with "Meet the Press," Stern revealed that if he remains in politics, he intends to join the party led by former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot. Stern disclosed that he had previously attempted to recruit Eizenkot to Yesh Atid, but the effort was unsuccessful.

Stern described his split from Yesh Atid and leader Yair Lapid as respectful and amicable, despite occasional disagreements. He praised Eizenkot as a unifying figure with broad public support, contrasting him with current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom Stern blamed for social division and the security failures of October 7. Stern emphasized the need for a moderate, trustworthy leader whose words and actions align.

Addressing the contentious issue of ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) military conscription, Stern supported creating special service tracks similar to those for athletes and musicians, allowing a minority to continue studying while most serve. He also expressed openness to cooperating with the Ra'am party, led by Mansour Abbas, provided they recognize Israel as a Jewish and democratic state and support national service. Stern criticized Netanyahu for courting Abbas while refusing dialogue with other minority parties.

Stern’s departure comes as political alliances shift ahead of upcoming elections, with party lists closing soon. His move reflects a broader realignment in Israeli politics, highlighting Eizenkot’s rising profile as a potential prime ministerial candidate.