The Global Story: The challenger to Netanyahu, with New Yorker editor David Remnick

Gadi Eisenkot's son killed in Gaza mission3:51

Gadi Eisenkot's son, an army medic, was killed while retrieving the bodies of two hostages in Gaza, a high-profile loss that has become central to his public image and election campaign.

Eisenkot's background and political persona5:53

Eisenkot is a former IDF chief of staff of Moroccan descent who lacks Netanyahu's charisma and fluent English, but carries military credibility and a reputation as an unthreatening, straightforward figure.

Eisenkot's Dahia doctrine and military stance6:42

Eisenkot originated the Dahia doctrine, which advocates ferocious strikes on civilian infrastructure in response to attacks, marking him as a military tough guy rather than a bleeding heart.

Eisenkot's role in the post-October 7 war cabinet11:14

• David Remnickassertion

  Eisenkot prioritized hostage returns over total vengeance and left the war cabinet when Netanyahu and others favored a complete defeat of Hamas even at the cost of hostages.

Israeli coalition politics and Eisenkot's platform15:04

Eisenkot's party Yeshar advocates universal national service, ending judicial reform, and strengthening democracy, contrasting with Netanyahu's reliance on ultra-Orthodox exemptions and coalition concessions.

Eisenkot versus Netanyahu on character and democracy16:45

• David Remnickassertion

  Eisenkot differs from Netanyahu on character, corruption, willingness to fight settler violence, and commitment to internal democracy, though both avoid specific Palestinian state rhetoric.

Counterfactual: Eisenkot as prime minister after October 719:23

• David Remnickspeculation

  Eisenkot might have avoided the scale of destruction in Gaza, but a war would still have happened and would not have been met with a passive response.

Netanyahu's electoral strategy and polling position22:24

• David Remnickassertion

  Netanyahu is behind in the polls but remains a crafty campaigner who must project strength to his right-wing base despite a weakening security narrative.

Shifting U.S.-Israel relations and Eisenkot's approach23:45

• David Remnickassertion

  Netanyahu's loss of automatic U.S. support is a catastrophic shift that Eisenkot must confront, requiring recognition that criticism of Israel is not inherently anti-Semitic.