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Former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot. / Courtesy of Reuters, Yonhap News

With Israel's general election scheduled for this October, former Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot has emerged as a formidable challenger to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on July 5 (local time).

Recent opinion polls show that Yashar, the centrist party led by Eisenkot, is running neck and neck with Netanyahu’s ruling Likud party, creating a razor-thin race.

A survey by the public broadcaster projected that both figures would secure 23 seats each in the parliament. In a separate poll tracking prime ministerial suitability, Eisenkot locked in a tight statistical tie within the margin of error, posting 41% against Netanyahu's 40%.

Analysts point out that Eisenkot suffered a profound personal tragedy after losing his son in the Gaza war, an experience that has resonated deeply and built a powerful emotional bond with Israeli citizens who have children serving in the military.

Leveraging his military credibility as a former chief of staff alongside his personal sacrifice, Eisenkot is rallying voters by framing the upcoming vote as "an election for Israel's security, unity, and soul."

While Netanyahu has maintained a long-running grip on power for nearly 19 years since 2009, his approval ratings have been heavily shaken by recent conflicts with Iran and ongoing political instability.

The WSJ noted that signs point to a shifting political landscape in Israel, with a new brand of leadership increasingly coming to the fore within the opposition.

Eisenkot is well known as the strategist who formulated the "Dahiya Doctrine" during the 2006 Lebanon War, a military strategy centered on projecting overwhelming force against urban areas.

                                                                                                           Park Jin-sook