Israel to hold parliamentary elections on October 27; Gadi Eisenkot emerges as key challenger to Netanyahu

Israel will hold parliamentary elections on October 27, the Knesset announced, marking the first vote since the unprecedented Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. The election is widely viewed as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership amid ongoing conflict.

While the election date adheres to Israeli law, political dynamics remain fluid. Polls suggest that securing a parliamentary majority will be challenging for both Netanyahu's bloc and the opposition. Israeli governments typically form coalitions with multiple parties, complicating the establishment of stable administrations.

Gadi Eisenkot, a former chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces, has emerged as Netanyahu's primary challenger. His new centrist party, "Yarash!" (meaning "straight" or "honestly" in Hebrew), has seen a rapid rise in popularity, recently surpassing Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party in polls. Eisenkot, 66, served as IDF chief from 2015 to 2019 before entering politics. He holds a degree in political science and is considered an expert on Hezbollah.

Eisenkot, born in Tiberias to Moroccan immigrant parents, has five children. His son and two nephews were killed in the Gaza war. In contrast, Netanyahu's son, Yair, has been living abroad since the war began in October 2023 and has not served in a combat unit.