Gadi Eisenkot Criticizes Bennett and Lapid Over Failed Political Alliance and Smotrich's Views

Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yisra party, criticized Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid for rejecting his proposal to form a large unified political alliance ahead of the elections. Eisenkot said he suggested creating a "super party, a large aircraft carrier," with agreed principles and personnel, but faced opposition from Bennett and Lapid. Consequently, he decided to run independently. After their eventual alliance, Eisenkot expressed respect for their decision but called it a mistake, arguing a structured three-way coalition would have been better. He added that all research and polls indicate the current alliance actually reduces the party's and bloc's strength, noting the bloc previously held 60 seats but now only 58 or 59.

Eisenkot also sharply criticized Bezalel Smotrich, accusing him of holding an extreme worldview that involves dismantling the Palestinian Authority, taking control of the West Bank, and forcing 2.8 million Palestinians to relocate. He condemned Smotrich's proposal to grant voting rights and military conscription to Palestinians who refuse to emigrate as detached from reality. Eisenkot said he sees no partnership with Smotrich as long as he maintains these views, accusing him of leading efforts to destroy the Jewish majority and the Jewish-democratic character of Israel.

Concluding with irony, Eisenkot questioned how it would be possible to maintain a Jewish and democratic state while ruling over 7.5 million Muslims between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea and attempting to conscript them into the Israel Defense Forces. He described this scenario as absurd and suggested he might be missing something. Eisenkot's remarks came during a recent house event in Yavne and reflect ongoing tensions within Israel's right-wing political landscape.