Avishai Ben Haim Warns Gadi Eizenkot That Left Uses Him to Suppress Mizrahi Influence

Israeli commentator Avishai Ben Haim issued a sharp warning to Gadi Eizenkot, chairman of the Yisrael party, accusing the left-wing camp of exploiting him. Ben Haim argued that the left is using Eizenkot, a Mizrahi leader, to undermine the historic 1977 political shift led by Menachem Begin that integrated Mizrahi Jews into mainstream Israeli society. He claimed the left's strategy involves marginalizing the central Mizrahi stream, particularly non-compliant Likud supporters who serve in the IDF, while favoring the Islamic Movement instead.

Ben Haim described this as a post-Zionist and anti-Mizrahi agenda, stating that Eizenkot's leadership role is intended to reverse the equality revolution initiated by Begin and to exclude Mizrahim from Israeli identity. He suggested that the left’s hegemonic forces appointed Eizenkot to help restore their control and alienate Mizrahim from the Israeli political alliance, replacing them with the Islamic Movement in government and identity.

He further noted that this pattern is consistent with the left’s recent support for other leaders like Naftali Bennett, who was previously labeled a dangerous right-wing messianic figure. Ben Haim concluded by referencing Italian theorist Antonio Gramsci’s concept of hegemony, explaining that dominant powers co-opt promising individuals from oppressed groups to neutralize their potential leadership in equality struggles and to advance the hegemonic agenda.

The article also briefly mentions a surprising defense of Supreme Court justices by a member of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, though this is not elaborated upon.

Ben Haim’s critique highlights ongoing tensions within Israeli politics over Mizrahi representation, identity, and the influence of left-wing and post-Zionist ideologies.