Eisenkot Launches Yashar! Knesset Campaign, Unveiling 1 Million Lobby's Alex Rif
Updated
Updated · The Jerusalem Post · Jul 1
Eisenkot Launches Yashar! Knesset Campaign, Unveiling 1 Million Lobby's Alex Rif
3 articles · Updated · The Jerusalem Post · Jul 1
Summary
Gadi Eisenkot formally opened Yashar!'s Knesset campaign Tuesday, casting the next election as a decisive test for Israel's security, unity and leadership while vowing to govern for all Israelis.
At the launch, the new party showcased a broader governing platform beyond security, with plans on the economy, education, immigration absorption, internal security and a National Service Law aimed at integrating haredi Jews into the army.
Alex Rif, who leads the One Million Lobby, was the headline recruit, joining to coordinate immigration-absorption policy as Yashar! also highlighted figures including former Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen, Matan Kahana and economist Shaul Meridor.
Recent polls have strengthened Eisenkot's timing, with some surveys putting him ahead of established parties and showing him outperforming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on suitability for the premiership.
That momentum is sharpening a parallel contest inside the opposition, where Eisenkot says his proposed anti-Netanyahu 'super party' was rejected and Bennett allies have begun publicly challenging his political experience.
Can Eisenkot's new political bloc succeed where others have failed and unify Israel's fractured opposition?
Can a general known for aggressive tactics truly become the national 'healer' Israel seeks after a devastating two-year war?
With Trump's peace plan stalled, what is Eisenkot's real strategy for Gaza's unresolved humanitarian crisis and future governance?
Yashar! Party’s Impact: Gadi Eisenkot’s Centrist Challenge, Ultra-Orthodox Draft, and Immigration Reform Ahead of Israel’s 2026 Elections
Overview
The launch of Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar! party has quickly reshaped Israel's political landscape by offering a centrist alternative ahead of the Knesset elections. Yashar! introduces a fresh dynamic to the multi-party system, with Eisenkot aiming to provide a distinct vision for the nation's future. A key part of the party's platform is its firm stance on mandatory military service for the ultra-Orthodox, setting it apart from others. This position, combined with Yashar!'s focus on national unity and pragmatic coalition-building, highlights its commitment to addressing Israel's challenges and signals its potential to influence future government formation.