Peloni: A disturbing and revealing record for the man who would lead Israel in the next govt.
The former IDF chief running for prime minister commands respect, but his security concept and political alliances deserve tough scrutiny from voters
Eitan Chikli | TOI Blogs | Aug 11, 2026
Gadi Eisenkot. Screengrab via Youtube.
As Israel approaches the October 27, 2026 elections, Gadi Eisenkot possesses an advantage that few of his rivals can match: he is reassuring.
A former IDF chief of staff, sober in manner and largely averse to political theatrics and grandstanding, he projects a down-to-earth decency that naturally inspires sympathy and trust. Added to this is a family tragedy that has deeply touched Israelis: his son Gal was killed in Gaza in December 2023, his nephew Maor Cohen Eisenkot the following day, and another nephew, Yogev Pazy, in November 2024.
Such personal loss, combined with a lifetime of service to the country, commands respect.
But an election is not a contest of personal virtues. Israel will be choosing a prime minister. It is therefore necessary to look beyond the reassuring man and examine the doctrine he represents.
When several episodes from Eisenkot’s career are considered together, a pattern emerges: he has often seemed to approach Israel’s security primarily in terms of managing, limiting and accommodating threats rather than fundamentally altering the balance of power.
What may be presented as realism can, under certain circumstances, become a doctrine of resignation. And that is where the problem begins.
The gamble of a smaller army
The first issue concerns Eisenkot’s tenure as IDF chief of staff from 2015 to 2019.
The multi-year Gideon Plan reduced personnel, restructured units and significantly cut the number of reservists as part of a concept favoring a smaller, more technological and more precise military.
It was during this period that reserve Maj.-Gen. Yitzhak Brik issued some of his gravest warnings. He criticized the state of logistics, emergency stockpiles, maintenance, technical manpower and, above all, the actual ability of Israel’s ground forces to sustain a prolonged war.
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