Netanyahu’s main challenger accuses Israeli PM of prioritising survival over security

The main challenger to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Gadi Eisenkot, asserted during a rally in central Israel on Monday that the current leader prioritizes his political survival over the nation's security. Eisenkot, unveiling the candidates of his Yashar party for the upcoming October 27 election, did not elaborate on his stance on key issues like the Palestinian conflict, Iran, and Lebanon, but focused on accusing Netanyahu of dodging responsibility since the Oct.

7 Hamas attack. Eisenkot, a political newcomer, his Yashar party has experienced a surge in polls recently due to his military background, positioning himself as a potential candidate to replace Netanyahu in the upcoming election. At the rally in Rosh Haayin, Eisenkot pledged to bridge the divisions that have plagued the country since the war in Gaza, where hundreds of Israeli hostages were held, and other fronts.

He emphasized the need for leadership that can unite and restore the principles of stateliness and Zionism. Eisenkot also addressed other contentious issues in the election, such as the exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jewish men. According to a recent poll, Yashar is projected to secure 23 seats in the Knesset, just ahead of Netanyahu's Likud at 20, while the anti-Netanyahu bloc is expected to win 51 seats.

The combined Likud and its coalition partners hold 52 seats, meaning neither bloc has the required 61-seat majority to form a government without support from other parties, including two Arab-majority lists that hold 13 seats. Eisenkot expressed confidence that his party could divert votes from Likud, traditionally the political home of the Israeli right, stating that many voters have been loyal to the same party for decades but now seem ready to make a courageous and right choice for Israel.