Model Eliana Zaks Joins Former IDF Chief Eisenkot’s Party to Drive Change After Family Tragedy

On June 24, 2025, during the final hours of Operation "With the Lion," a missile barrage struck Israel just before a ceasefire took effect. Model Eliana Zaks, who was awakened by sirens in Tel Aviv, soon learned that a missile had hit her family home in Beersheba, killing her mother Michal, brother Sergeant Eitan Zaks, his partner Noa Boguslavsky, and their neighbor Naomi Shanan. From this devastating loss, Zaks resolved to channel her pain into meaningful action.

About a month ago, Zaks joined the "Yashar!" party led by former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot as head of the youth division. In an interview with Walla Personal, she shared her life story: born to Soviet immigrant parents, raised in Beersheba, overcoming childhood bullying, completing a degree during high school, and balancing early modeling with legal internships and work in marketing and high-tech. Now 25, she is diving into Israeli politics with a mission to improve the country.

Zaks emphasized her desire to represent her generation authentically in politics, breaking stereotypes about politicians. She recounted the challenges of balancing modeling and demanding legal work, and how she sparked political discussions even among fashion industry peers. Despite facing sexist and dismissive online comments after announcing her political role, she remains determined to prove her critics wrong.

She described the traumatic day of the missile strike, her frantic search for family members, and the harrowing discovery of their deaths. Zaks detailed the ongoing grief and post-traumatic struggles she faces, including moments of intense emotion triggered by everyday reminders. She also spoke about her evolving self-confidence and optimism since the tragedy.

Looking ahead, Zaks aims to focus on mental health reform, support for bereaved families, and aid for victims of terror. She stressed the importance of bringing diverse voices into politics, including those from non-traditional backgrounds like herself and other public figures. While she has considered reality TV, she prefers to dedicate herself fully to public service. Zaks expressed hope for greater female leadership in Israel and dreams of leaving a positive legacy, possibly even interviewing a future prime minister.

Summary: After losing her mother, brother, and others in a missile attack on her family home in Beersheba during the 2025 conflict, model Eliana Zaks joined former IDF Chief Gadi Eisenkot’s party to lead its youth wing. At 25, she is committed to improving Israeli society through politics, focusing on mental health and support for bereaved families, while confronting personal grief and public skepticism.

Points: - Eliana Zaks lost close family members in a missile strike on June 24, 2025, in Beersheba. - She joined Gadi Eisenkot’s "Yashar!" party as head of the youth division about a month ago. - Zaks balances her modeling background with legal and high-tech experience. - She aims to improve mental health services and support for bereaved families in Israel. - Despite online criticism, she is determined to authentically represent her generation in politics. - Zaks hopes for increased female leadership and a lasting positive impact on Israeli society.

Topic: politics israel_relevant: true Entities: - People: ["Eliana Zaks", "Gadi Eisenkot", "Michal Zaks", "Eitan Zaks", "Noa Boguslavsky", "Maor Ben Harosh"] - Organizations: ["Yashar!", "IDF", "Walla Personal"] - Places: ["Beersheba", "Tel Aviv", "Israel"]