US Secretary of Defense Hegseth meets Netanyahu on unannounced Israel visit: Axios

In the upcoming Israeli election, the choice for national security will hinge on two contrasting visions: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's approach and that of Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot. Both leaders face pressure from the right, but Eisenkot also contends with opposition from the left, while Netanyahu grapples with criticism from the right.

When it comes to confronting Iran, Netanyahu and Eisenkot share a common ground in opposing a "bad deal" if the Trump administration opts for such an agreement. However, Netanyahu is likely to be more vocal in opposing the deal to influence American public opinion, even if it means attempting to improve the deal behind the scenes. Eisenkot, on the other hand, would likely keep his opposition private, focusing on quietly improving the deal while acknowledging that American public opinion is beyond his control.

Both leaders are prepared to attack Iran if the nuclear or ballistic missile threat becomes too severe. However, Netanyahu is more willing to take on greater risks and might interpret the point of no return as occurring earlier than Eisenkot. Netanyahu has had three years to achieve a goal in Gaza, but despite Israel's removal of Hamas from 80-90% of the territory, Hamas remains in power and continues to pose a threat.

Netanyahu's strategy involves keeping Gaza in ruins until Hamas disarms completely, even if this means sacrificing international relations with Europe and possibly the US. In contrast, Eisenkot supports Trump's cease-fire plan, which includes empowering Palestinian Authority-linked leaders and international peacekeepers in Gaza and allowing partial rebuilding in exchange for partial disarmament.

While this approach may not eliminate Hamas, it could weaken the group politically, potentially paving the way for other factions to challenge it in the long term.