TEL AVIV — A former military chief has overtaken Benjamin Netanyahu in an election-season poll for the first time, signaling a potential end to the prime minister’s 15-year rule.
Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party now leads Netanyahu’s Likud, according to a Haaretz survey published July 9. This is the first time the centrist party has exceeded the incumbent’s in a poll conducted during an active election campaign. The shift marks a seismic realignment in Israeli politics.
Yet the Jewish opposition remains three seats short of the 61 needed to form a government. The coalition math is tight. Netanyahu clings to power by a thread.
A separate Times of Israel poll found 60% of Israelis do not consider Netanyahu trustworthy. A majority trusts Eisenkot. The trust deficit is the core driver of this electoral shock.
Corruption allegations, the October 7 security failure, and the judicial overhaul protests have eroded Netanyahu’s standing. Voters seek a leader perceived as clean and decisive. Eisenkot, a former IDF chief, offers military credibility and a promise of national unity.
His rise as Netanyahu’s chief rival was reported by the Wall Street Journal, which called him the former general who could topple the longest-serving PM in Israeli history. The military man versus the political survivor: the contrast is stark.
The Haaretz poll tracker shows Eisenkot’s Yashar party outpacing Likud. Yet the opposition bloc still falls short. Right-wing and settler support for Netanyahu remains resilient. The anti-incumbent wave has not yet crested.
Voter pain points are clear: Netanyahu’s ongoing corruption trial, the security lapses of October 7, economic instability, and deep social division. Eisenkot’s platform emphasizes transparency, security reform, and ending the political paralysis.
Can a general oust a prime minister? The electoral math says it is possible but not certain. Likud’s base is loyal. Eisenkot’s coalition potential is unproven. The race is narrow.
What the Netanyahu vs Eisenkot race means for Israel’s future is a binary choice: a new era of leadership or a narrow win for the old guard. The polls signal a hunger for change. The outcome remains in the balance.
💡 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q: Who is Gadi Eisenkot?
- A: Gadi Eisenkot is a former chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and leader of the centrist Yashar party. He is now Benjamin Netanyahu’s chief rival in the 2024 election.
- Q: Why is Benjamin Netanyahu losing support?
- A: Netanyahu’s support has eroded due to corruption allegations, the October 7 security failure, and public backlash over the judicial overhaul protests. A majority of Israelis now trust Eisenkot over Netanyahu.
- Q: Can Eisenkot actually defeat Netanyahu?
- A: While Eisenkot’s Yashar party leads Likud in polls, the opposition bloc remains three seats short of the 61 needed to form a government. Right-wing and settler support for Netanyahu is still resilient, making the outcome uncertain.
Extended Reading
For further context, the Haaretz poll data (July 9, 2026) shows Eisenkot’s Yashar exceeding Likud for the first time in an election-season survey. The Times of Israel poll (undated) records 60% distrust in Netanyahu. The Wall Street Journal (undated) profiles Eisenkot as Netanyahu’s chief rival. All sources confirm the shifting voter sentiment.