Gadi Eisenkot doesn't speak like a politician. The former Israeli army chief explains his plans with the calmness of a commander giving orders to soldiers. He doesn't give fiery speeches or try to excite crowds.
But this is precisely the man who seeks to oust Benjamin Netanyahu from power.
Eisenkot, 66, is one of the Israeli prime minister's main rivals in Tuesday's election. He says he is running to "save Israel," accusing Netanyahu of dragging the country into endless wars, damaging its international reputation and deepening divisions in society.
His biggest criticism relates to the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. According to Eisenkot, Netanyahu has not taken responsibility for the security failures that preceded the attack.
"When things go well, bring forward the people who made the success possible. When things go badly, come forward yourself and take responsibility. Netanyahu does exactly the opposite," he declared.
Eisenkot calls the prime minister an "anti-leader" and describes the elections as a showdown between responsibility and its avoidance.
The general who lost his son in Gaza
Behind Eisenkot's long military career lies a personal tragedy.
In December 2023, his youngest son, Gal, 25, was killed in Gaza during a tunnel explosion. He was serving as a reservist in the Israeli army.
Thousands of people attended his funeral, while many more watched on television as Eisenkot, his voice trembling, bid farewell to his son.
That same day, another of his nephews was killed, while another lost his life 11 months later.
Eisenkot says he wants to be worthy of the extraordinary price his son paid and build a better future for Israeli children.
A soldier who didn't always obey Netanyahu
Unlike Netanyahu, who grew up among the Jerusalem elite, Eisenkot comes from a family of Moroccan immigrants and grew up in the city of Eilat, in southern Israel.
He spent most of his life in the military, rising to the post of Chief of the General Staff in 2015.
During his career, he established a reputation as a disciplined commander who did not hesitate to oppose politicians.
In 2017, when Netanyahu demanded a halt to the evacuation of an illegal Israeli settlement in the West Bank, Eisenkot asked for a written order and the attorney general's approval. The prime minister backed down.
He also opposed collective punishment of the Palestinians, although he was a supporter of harsh military operations against Hezbollah and the drafter of the so-called "Dahiya Doctrine."
From the war government to the confrontation with Netanyahu
After the Hamas attack on October 7, Eisenkot joined Netanyahu's emergency government, but only stayed for eight months.
He left in June 2024, unhappy with the prime minister's strategy, particularly his insistence on a "total victory" in Gaza, rather than a deal to release the hostages.
He then founded the Yashar party, which in Hebrew means "righteous" or "honest."
In his program, Eisenkot promises a state investigation into the failures of October 7, limiting the prime minister's terms, including ultra-Orthodox Jews in military service, and constitutional changes.
He opposes the annexation of the West Bank and calls for measures against violence by Jewish extremists against Palestinians.
Can he defeat Netanyahu?
Despite his military experience, Eisenkot has one obvious political weakness: he is not a candidate who electrifies crowds.
While Netanyahu is known for his ability to mobilize supporters and wage fierce political battles, Eisenkot prefers quiet meetings and direct conversations with citizens.
His lead in the polls over Netanyahu has narrowed, and some supporters worry that the campaign lacks the necessary aggressiveness.
"I think his campaign is too quiet. He needs to pick up the pace," says a 73-year-old supporter in Haifa.
But her husband thinks differently:
"We shouldn't compare him to Bibi. We need someone serious, honest, fair, brave and intelligent. I think he's exactly the man we need."
This is the dilemma of Eisenkot's candidacy. Whether a general who promises responsibility and calm can defeat a politician who has dominated Israeli politics for decades. /NY Times, prepared in Albanian ©LAPSI.AL
