Editor's Notes: Gadi Eisenkot rises in polls, emerging as Netanyahu’s nightmare opponent

Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party, is patiently navigating Israeli politics, with his party now leading the opposition and polling neck-and-neck with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud. This surge is attributed to Eisenkot's personal gravitas, stemming from the loss of his son and nephew in the Gaza war, which led him to resign from the war cabinet, stating the government was unworthy of their sacrifice. This profound experience offers a stark contrast to Netanyahu, whose government Eisenkot deems unfit to lead.

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His son Gal was killed in Gaza in December 2023, while Eisenkot sat in the war cabinet; his nephew was killed in the same war.

For a year, the movement to oust Netanyahu lacked a clear figurehead. While Bennett saw initial gains, his support waned, with voters shifting towards Eisenkot. Recent polls show Yashar matching Likud, and more Israelis now view Eisenkot as a more suitable leader. However, leading the opposition does not automatically translate to power. The opposition bloc struggles to reach the 61-seat majority required for governance, often needing the support of Arab parties, which Bennett opposes.

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He quit that cabinet and said the government was not worthy of his son, of the fallen, or of the hostages who died in captivity.

The key to forming a government lies in attracting voters from Netanyahu's own base. These are described as "homeless Right" voters, national-religious and traditional Israelis who have served in the military and experienced wartime losses, yet feel alienated by the Likud party's coalition dynamics, particularly its efforts to exempt ultra-Orthodox men from military service. They are also unwilling to follow Bennett due to his past political alliances.

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That is not a biography you can manufacture, and it is the one credential Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cannot answer.

Eisenkot, himself from a traditional background with immigrant roots, is uniquely positioned to appeal to these voters. Efforts to brand him as a leftist by right-wing media are seen as an attempt to prevent these voters from coalescing around him. The party's name, Yashar, meaning "straight," was reportedly inspired by a freed hostage, emphasizing a non-partisan approach to national issues. Despite this, the composition of Eisenkot's team presents challenges he has yet to fully resolve.

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For a year, the camp that wants Netanyahu gone had no address.