In an extensive Hebrew interview with Yishai Cohen of Kikar HaShabbat, former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot addressed the ongoing political firestorm surrounding the draft law, the model he wants to promote, and how many yeshiva students he believes should receive an exemption. He also discussed his opposition to proposals to deny voting rights to those who do not serve, the U.S.–Saudi F-35 deal, the commission of inquiry he says must be formed, his public separation from Benny Gantz, the government he hopes to build after the elections, and whether he would run alongside Naftali Bennett or Yair Lapid.
Eisenkot recently resigned from the Knesset, parted ways with his close political partner Benny Gantz, and founded a new party, Yashar, with which he intends to compete in the upcoming elections.
In the wide-ranging interview, Eisenkot spoke about the U.S.–Saudi aircraft deal, Israel’s control of the Gaza Strip, the government’s proposed inquiry committee and his refusal to cooperate with it, the appointment of David Zini as head of the Shin Bet, the draft-law controversy and the future status of yeshiva students, his political plans, whether he would sit with Benjamin Netanyahu in the same coalition, and the uproar over the potential closure of Army Radio.
Eisenkot first addressed the reports of an American plan to sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia.
“This is a very serious development,” he said. “For years, we demanded that Israel’s qualitative military edge be preserved. Bringing F-35s into additional Middle Eastern countries is a blow to the Air Force’s superiority. It’s a very bad development.”
The commission of inquiry Israel needs
When asked what kind of investigative commission should be formed to examine the failures that led to the October 7 disaster, Eisenkot responded: “A state commission of inquiry according to law, in which the government sets the mandate and the president of the Supreme Court determines the composition. With wise and serious dialogue between the justice minister, the prime minister, and the president, it would have been possible to establish a commission headed by Justice Noam Sohlberg, or together with President Amit.”
He sharply criticized the committee the government is seeking to form: “In contrast to the committee the government established, which is a joke. The prime minister cannot appoint a committee headed by Levin, Smotrich, Ben Gvir, and Dichter. All of them were in the country’s top command center on the morning of the disaster. It’s a joke.”
Eisenkot made clear he will not appear before such a body: “Hundreds of thousands will take to the streets and will not allow a whitewashing committee. We will not allow a bluff committee to pass. I will not cooperate with a committee that is a bluff. I will cooperate with any serious committee.”
His draft-law model: exemptions for about 3% of each year’s cohort
On the contentious issue of the draft law and the status of yeshiva students, Eisenkot explained the model he wants to advance:
“Return responsibility to the State. Instead of a chareidi arriving at the induction center and receiving a one-year deferment and the rabbi giving a permanent exemption, a national authority should be created that is acceptable to all sides—and that authority would issue the exemption.”
He said the guiding principle must be that every citizen serves—military or civilian national service—including chareidim and Arabs. “The target I accept is that 3% of the annual recruitment cohort—out of 150,000 individuals—gives roughly the current number of yeshiva students. Even before the establishment of the state, 400 ‘outstanding scholars’ were approved. I’m not opposed; it’s important. Three percent would be approved as outstanding scholars. That’s between 4,300 and 4,700 who would continue learning Torah.”
He added: “Of course, the arrangement that Ben Gurion instituted in 1948, before the founding of the state, is something principled and correct to preserve with great respect for Torah learners—but it must be regulated.”
“A basic democratic right—untouchable”
Eisenkot rejected the proposal advanced by Avigdor Liberman with the backing of Yair Lapid to revoke voting rights from citizens who do not serve. “I opposed it immediately when they announced it. It is a basic right in a democracy; it must not be touched. It is not in the basket of sanctions that a democratic state can use against its citizens.”
The new party, future alliances, and Netanyahu
After separating politically from Benny Gantz, Eisenkot is now preparing to run with the new Yashar party, hoping to form a broader bloc. “My mistake when joining the National Unity party was coming in as ‘Gadi’s group.’ That’s why we need a party. I established a party to offer something new. I’m running within my own party.”
“My goal is to be the largest party, together with the understanding that in Israel’s political system, blocs ultimately win. I will push for a situation in which, before the elections, there will be no more than four parties—so we are most effective, do not waste votes, and can form the next government.”
When asked whether he would sit with Netanyahu if the election results end in a tie between blocs, Eisenkot replied: “Netanyahu was prime minister on October 7. He says he was the supreme commander. It cannot be that everyone else takes responsibility and he does not—he must resign. I am certain we will defeat him.”
He added: “I want to see you ask him, even once, whether he would sit under Bennett or under Eisenkot. He refused to call Bennett ‘prime minister.’ These questions only get directed at one side.”
{Matzav.com}
