Gadi Eisenkot...a candidate of Moroccan origin who puts Netanyahu on the verge of losing power

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing one of the most serious political challenges he has faced in recent years, with the rise of his rival Gadi Eisenkot, who is ahead of him in the opinion polls before Tuesday's elections, despite his lack of political experience enjoyed by Netanyahu, who has the longest term as head of government in Israel's history.

According to a report published by the Axios website by journalist Barak Ravid, Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar Party, represents the most prominent threat to Netanyahu’s hold on power in years, while his party’s victory could bring about a major shift in the Israeli political scene and reset Israel’s tense relations with abroad.

The two candidates clearly differ; While Netanyahu has extensive political experience and the ability to maneuver, Eisenkot, a politician new to electoral competition, appears calmer and less inclined to media showmanship.

Eisenkot, the son of Jewish immigrants from Morocco, grew up in the southern Israeli city of Eilat. If he wins the elections, he will become the first Israeli prime minister of Moroccan origin in the country's history.

On the military level, Netanyahu served in the elite Sayeret Matkal unit of the Israeli army, before moving to the world of business and politics. As for Eisenkot, he joined the Golani Infantry Brigade, and rose through its ranks as a field commander, until he assumed the position of Chief of Staff of the Israeli Army.

During his last election festival, on Sunday, Eisenkot arrived to the tune of the Golani Brigade song issued in 1974, in reference to his military background, which constitutes one of the most prominent elements of his political image.

Netanyahu has extensive knowledge of American politics, and speaks fluent English, which makes him more capable of political communication in the United States than many politicians.

On the other hand, Eisenkot does not have the same experience in dealing with American politics, nor is he adept at making resonant media phrases, nor does he prefer to appear on television. He appeared confused during his last election festival, which was attended by about a thousand of his supporters, despite the chants of supporters.

But Netanyahu's most prominent weakness is the decline in his credibility among large sectors of Israelis, against the backdrop of his ongoing trial in corruption cases, his political methods, and his refusal to bear responsibility for the failures that preceded the October 7 attacks, in addition to accusations of evasion in his handling of the war on Iran.

As for Eisenkot, he is seen as a frank and direct person, even by a number of his political opponents.

The failure to prevent the October 7 attacks was one of the main reasons that prompted Eisenkot to challenge Netanyahu politically.

Eisenkot had joined the emergency government formed by Netanyahu after the attacks, but he lost his son during the war, and then lost two of his nephews in the same war.

The report indicates that this experience strengthened his motivation to confront the existing political leadership, at a time when the file of security and military failures that preceded the October attacks still represents a political burden on Netanyahu.

Over the course of nearly half a century, Netanyahu built a vast network of donors, lobbyists, and supporters within American circles of influence, until he became a widely known name in the United States, both among his supporters and his critics.

As for Eisenkot, he remains a limited figure in Washington, and only a small number of officials and influential figures know him personally, including within Jewish institutions and organizations.

However, Eisenkot spent a period in the United States during the 1990s, where he studied for a master's degree at the US Army War College. His American relations were also mainly linked to the military establishment, especially his relationship with General Joseph Dunford, former Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff. After retiring from the Israeli army in 2019, he spent a year as a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

Most opinion polls leading up to the elections show Eisenkot ahead of Netanyahu by a margin of between 8 and 10 percentage points.

While Netanyahu faces widespread rejection by at least half of voters, polls indicate that Eisenkot has high relative acceptance among different segments of the Israeli public. Netanyahu's attempts to distort his rival's image before public opinion have not succeeded so far, according to the report.

Eisenkot campaigned on a center-right platform, avoiding broad foreign policy commitments and being careful to stay away from positions that Netanyahu might exploit to portray him as weak.

Regarding the Palestinian issue, he declared his opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state under the current circumstances, and pledged to take strict measures to combat the terrorism of Jewish settlers against the Palestinians in the West Bank.

He also pledged to end Hamas' control of the Gaza Strip within 18 months of assuming office, whether through the diplomatic track or using military force. Regarding Iran, Eisenkot supported war on it and striking nuclear facilities, but he opposed Netanyahu’s attempt to use military force to bring about change in the Iranian regime, describing this goal as unrealistic. He also called for continuing economic pressure on Tehran, and building a regional alliance with Arab countries to limit Iranian influence.

Eisenkot assumed during his campaign that US President Donald Trump would announce his support for Netanyahu. He tried to take advantage of his good relationship with billionaire businesswoman and Republican donor Miriam Adelson to pressure Trump to remain neutral, but Trump announced his support for Netanyahu last week, and then renewed this support on Sunday.

Eisenkot did not attack the American president in response to his position, but rather praised his support for Israel, stressing in a post on the “X” platform, Monday, that he is convinced that Trump will work in full cooperation with any leader elected by the Israeli people.

This position reflects Eisenkot's attempt to avoid entering into a confrontation with the American administration, and to preserve his political opportunities if he is able to remove Netanyahu from power.