Eisenkot’s Yashar Party Climbs to 21 Seats, Challenging Netanyahu’s 23 Ahead of October Vote
Updated
Updated · CNN · Jun 29
Eisenkot’s Yashar Party Climbs to 21 Seats, Challenging Netanyahu’s 23 Ahead of October Vote
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Jun 29
Summary
Channel 12’s latest poll puts Gadi Eisenkot’s year-old Yashar party at 21 Knesset seats, just behind Likud’s 23 and ahead of the Bennett-Lapid list’s 18.
A separate prime-minister survey gave Eisenkot 38% support versus Netanyahu’s 36%, reflecting how the former army chief has displaced Bennett as Netanyahu’s main rival.
Likud has already shifted its campaign toward Eisenkot, circulating attack videos and reviving claims that any anti-Netanyahu coalition would depend on Arab parties; an adviser said 400 more clips are ready.
Eisenkot’s rise is tied to his stark contrast with Netanyahu — a soft-spoken ex-IDF chief, bereaved father and Mizrahi outsider who criticized the Gaza war’s lack of strategy and later quit the emergency war cabinet.
Still, with about four months until the late-October election, coalition math remains Eisenkot’s biggest hurdle because any anti-Netanyahu bloc would have to bridge left, center, right and Arab factions.
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Overview
Gadi Eisenkot, after weeks of consultations with key opposition leaders like Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennett, chose to launch his own Yashar party instead of joining existing parties. He officially started Yashar’s election campaign with the goal of opening a new and better chapter for Israel. Eisenkot pledged to be a unifying leader and committed to serving all Israeli citizens as prime minister. This strategic move and his inclusive vision have quickly made Yashar a significant force in Israeli politics, reflecting public desire for unity and new leadership amid ongoing national challenges.