Middle Israel: If Israel's opposition wants to govern, they should rally behind Eisenkot - opinion

In Israel's political landscape, the opposition must rally behind Gadi Eisenkot to secure a governing position. While polls remain uncertain, his popularity gap with Naftali Bennett suggests he could be nearly twice as favored in the upcoming election. This reality, particularly if it remains consistent over the next month, could prove decisive in the campaign.

Conceding to this fact may not be easy for the other opposition candidates, particularly Naftali Bennett who lacks Eisenkot's governance experience, and Yisrael Beytenu's Avigdor Liberman whose defense credentials surpass Eisenkot's.

Similarly, Yair Golan from The Democrats, though an equal in experience, does not bring any political expertise to the table. Nonetheless, all three must acknowledge that Eisenkot symbolizes both the country's pain and its hope. Overcoming personal loss and rising through the ranks of the IDF to command its troops, Eisenkot represents a connection to Israel's past and a source of pride for many Likud-voters.

This understanding makes it crucial for Bennett, Liberman, and Golan to join forces with Eisenkot rather than challenge his lead. The way to do this is to present a shadow cabinet, a team of ministers that embodies unity, cooperation, and ambition.

While shadow cabinets may not be a common occurrence in Israel, as seen in Britain's history with the shadow secretary of defense Enoch Powell and the resignation of Winston Churchill from his shadow role, the opposition could greatly benefit from adopting a similar approach. Similar to shadow ministers in Britain, who monitor and critique a minister's work, an Israeli shadow cabinet could provide a platform for candidates to display their competence and commitment to the cause.

Despite previous attempts, such as Tommy Lapid's in 2005, Israel has never established a functioning shadow cabinet.

For a shadow cabinet to be effective, it must focus on six senior ministries' hopeful ministers. Defense, foreign affairs, finance, education, justice, and internal security are the most critical areas to address. With Liberman's experience in defense, his systemic thinking, and his ability to work well with Eisenkot, he is an ideal candidate for the defense portfolio.

Bennett, with his awareness of Israel's image crisis and media savvy, is the best choice to lead foreign affairs. Finance should be assigned to a woman, with candidates like economist Karen Turner or lawyer Orit Farkash-Hacohen, both of whom have a strong background in their respective fields. Yair Lapid, a successful cultural entrepreneur and former cultural minister, should serve as the shadow education minister, bringing fresh ideas and innovative thinking to the education system.

Lastly, Yair Golan, as the deputy chief of General Staff, is an able manager who can address the issues plaguing the national security sector. By introducing this shadow cabinet, the opposition can demonstrate their competence and inspire voters to believe that Eisenkot will lead a team of experienced and purposeful individuals towards a better future.