Why Gadi Eisenkot is rejecting the haredi political embrace that once helped Netanyahu win

In a significant shift in Israeli political dynamics, former chief rabbi and Shas spiritual leader Yitzhak Yosef publicly offered support to Gadi Eisenkot, head of the Yashar party, even suggesting Shas could back him for prime minister. This overture, which in past decades would have been a major electoral coup, was met with a swift and cold rejection by Eisenkot.

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Due to our many sins, we are in a secular, non-haredi state. We pray that everyone repents. There are those who will repent; there are those who won’t.

Yosef, whose party is a key component of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc, declared that Netanyahu could not be trusted, citing a controversial draft evasion law. In contrast, he praised Eisenkot as a "good person" and a "warm Jew," implying that Eisenkot might "repent" and align with religious values. This public signaling of potential support from a party projected to win eight seats could have been instrumental in forming a coalition.

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There is not a chance that Netanyahu might ‘repent.’ Of Eisenkot, however, he mused, ‘perhaps he will.’

However, Eisenkot, in a stark departure from historical political maneuvering, publicly distanced himself from Yosef's comments. He stated he had seen the remarks in the media and had not met Yosef in a decade. He further emphasized his lack of engagement with Shas officials, stating, "I am not flirting with them." This reaction underscores a profound change in Israeli politics, where endorsements from prominent religious figures, once a powerful electoral tool, have become a liability.

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Gadi Eisenkot is a good person, a warm Jew; he loves those who study Torah. His grandmother voted Shas and wanted him to be a rabbi; while that didn’t happen, you could trust him.

The article highlights how alliances and political strategies have evolved. While leaders in the 1990s actively sought blessings from haredi rabbis, Eisenkot's deliberate distancing suggests that appealing to a broader, more secular electorate now takes precedence. This move reflects a potential re-evaluation of the influence and appeal of the haredi bloc in contemporary Israeli politics.

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Netanyahu cheated us on the conscription law. He cannot be trusted; he’s a liar.