Moshe Gafni Signals Support for Gadi Eizenkot as Prime Minister Candidate

About two months before the upcoming elections, Moshe Gafni, chairman of the United Torah Judaism party, hinted at a closed-door conference that he intends to recommend Gadi Eizenkot, leader of the Yisrael party, for the position of prime minister. Gafni stated, "It might be easier for us there," referring to Eizenkot, and his close associates confirmed to Channel 12 that he has already decided to support Eizenkot.

Gafni criticized the right-wing, saying it has proven to be worse than the left regarding issues affecting their children. He questioned whether the left would agree to grant his party the exemption from military conscription law, emphasizing the dilemma as a generational question. This move marks a shift from previous years when Gafni threatened Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with alternative options but refrained from naming a specific candidate until now.

The hint follows months of tension between Gafni's party and Netanyahu. In May, Rabbi Dov Lando, leader of Degel HaTorah, sent a sharp message to his party's Knesset members stating there was no longer trust in Netanyahu and advocating for early elections. Lando's letter expressed a clear disassociation from Netanyahu, emphasizing the party's commitment solely to what they believe benefits the ultra-Orthodox community.

Gafni's remarks and the party's stance suggest a potential realignment in the right-wing bloc ahead of the elections, with Eizenkot emerging as a preferred alternative to Netanyahu among some religious factions. The coming weeks will reveal how this endorsement influences coalition negotiations and voter dynamics.