Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing a new challenger in the upcoming election. Gadi Eisenkot, a former military chief, has been gaining momentum in the polls and is now seen as the main threat to Netanyahu’s leadership.

Eisenkot’s Rise to Prominence

Eisenkot’s Yashar party, which translates to “straight” or “honest” in Hebrew, was founded less than a year ago and had been languishing in the single digits in most polls until recently. However, his popularity has been increasing, and he is now running close to Likud and ahead of the joint list formed by former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and another former prime minister, Yair Lapid.

The latest Channel 12 poll projects that Eisenkot’s party would take 21 seats in Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, just behind Likud’s 23 and ahead of Bennett-Lapid’s 18. When asked who was better suited to serve as prime minister, 38% of respondents named Eisenkot, while 36% said Netanyahu.

Contrasting Styles

Netanyahu and Eisenkot have distinct styles and public personas. Netanyahu, 76, has spent decades mastering political theater, sharp messaging, and grand performances. In contrast, Eisenkot is soft-spoken, understated, and undramatic. Their biographies also reflect their differences, with Netanyahu growing up in Jerusalem’s elite circles and Eisenkot being raised in Tiberias and Eilat, outside Israel’s traditional centers of power and influence.

Eisenkot’s background may carry political significance, as he is the son of Moroccan immigrants and could potentially become Israel’s first Mizrahi prime minister. Mizrahi voters, who are traditionally a core Likud constituency, may be drawn to Eisenkot’s unique perspective and experience.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.