Weekly Commentary: Eisenkot Candidacy Neuters Haredi Issue?
Dr. Aaron Lerner 21 May 2026

When the Israeli experts on the popular American "Call Me Back" program were
asked why candidate Gadi Eisenkot is popular they explained:

#1. His son died in combat.

#2. His nephew died in combat.

They then petered off in their remarks because as IDF Chief of Staff,
Eisenkot was involved in building the wrong army and pursuing the wrong
policies for the challenges which we ultimately faced when our enemies
decided to attack, rather than continue to prepare to attack.

Yes.

Gadi Eisenkot is popular.

There are right wing taking heads who praise him because they think he will
suck away enough votes from the opposition that Netanyahu will be able to
make a new coalition with his Yashar party and the Haredis.

The left-wing talking heads opt to ignore this outcome but instead focus on
their hatred for Bennett.

Bennett, after all, is a right winger stealing left wing votes.

And the more sophisticated talking heads recall that Bennett sacrificed his
coalition for the sake of Judea and Samaria.

The "Emergency Regulations (Judea and Samaria - Adjudication of Offenses and
Legal Aid), 5727-1967 extends Israeli civilian law (criminal and civil
jurisdiction) to Israeli citizens and communities living in Judea and
Samaria. It has been in force since right after the 1967 Six-Day War and is
renewed by the Knesset every five years because it is technically an
"emergency regulation" with temporary legal status.

The extension was due to expire on 30 June 2022 and then Opposition Leader
Binyamin Netanyahu decided to do a "Judgment of Solomon" on Bennett by
refusing to vote in favor of the extension.

This left Bennett with the choice between remaining in power with a
catastrophe for the Jewish community in Judea and Samaria or dissolving the
Knesset to go to elections, thus automatically extending the validity of
these specific emergency regulations until the new Knesset was sworn in.

Bennett, in their eyes, betrayed his coalition partners by choosing the
Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria rather than staying in power.

So the talking heads are easy on Eisenkot.

Netanyahu's campaign won't say a word because Eisenkot will help form his
coalition.

Bennett won't criticize Eisenkot's record because he also wants to keep the
door open for him.

Avigdor Lieberman also can't rule out working out something with Eisenkot.

The result may very well be that an election which had the potential to
focus on the Haredi issue leads instead to a Netanyahu-Eisenkot-Haredi
coalition.

But what about the draft?

The coalition will mark October 2028 on their calendars. That's when
Supreme Court President Yitzhak Amit celebrates his 70th birthday and leaves
the bench.

Until then it will be a bumpy road.

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IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis

Since 1992 providing news and analysis on the Middle East with a focus on
Arab-Israeli relations

Website: www.imra.org.il