Former Israeli defence chief Gadi Eisenkot is emerging as the main rival to incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, months ahead of the nation's parliamentary elections.
Eisenkot's new centrist party, Yashar! (Hebrew for "Straight!"), is rapidly gaining popularity in opinion polls. It is currently second behind Netanyahu's right-wing Likud.
Israelis must elect a new parliament by October 27 at the latest, although the vote is most likely to be held on October 20. Opinion polls suggest it could prove difficult for both Netanyahu's camp and the opposition to secure a majority. Israeli coalitions are usually composed of several parties.
Eisenkot positioning as alternative to Netanyahu
Eisenkot, 66, served as defence chief from 2015 to 2019, then entered politics. He studied political science in Haifa and is seen as an expert on Lebanese militia Hezbollah.
The son of Moroccans, he was born in Tiberias in northern Israel. He is the father of 5 and is seen as being a down-to-earth character.
Eisenkot's son and two of his nephews were killed in the Gaza war. Many Israelis sympathize with his losses which stand in contrast to Netanyahu's experience: the prime minister's son Yair has been living abroad since the war began in October 2023 and did not serve in a combat unit.
Eisenkot has also been highly critical of efforts by Netanyahu's right-wing religious government to exempt ultra-Orthodox men from conscription.
Politically, Eisenkot is seen as moderate. He has spoken out against Israeli resettlement of the Gaza Strip, though he called the idea of a two-state solution "irrelevant" after the attacks launched by Hamas on October 7.
Media reports say Eisenkot had also spoken out in the past against Israel carrying out military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, saying this would only be conceivable if Israel faced an immediate existential threat from Tehran.
