Eisenkot's Campaign Warns Largest Party Strategy is Vital to Oust Netanyahu
Gadi Eisenkot's campaign manager warned that failing to secure the largest party mandate risks handing power back to Benjamin Netanyahu, sparking debate within the opposition bloc.
Ronen Manelis, campaign manager for Gadi Eisenkot, addressed criticism from opposition partners over the weekend regarding the strategy to build a leading party, warning that failing to secure a decisive mandate advantage could hand power back to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Speaking during a Zoom call with regional headquarters chiefs for the "Yashar" party, Manelis argued that if Yashar fails to emerge as the largest faction in the upcoming Knesset elections, President Isaac Herzog is more likely to task Netanyahu with forming the government. He emphasized that maintaining a significant margin over Likud is vital to counter attempts at delegitimizing a coalition shift and to prevent unilateral military decisions.
"People argue that the size of the individual party does not matter because the race is decided by ideological blocs," Manelis stated. He noted that while the primary goal remains securing a stable 61-seat majority, current polling uncertainty means the bloc might fall short. According to Manelis, without a commanding lead of six to eight mandates over Likud, the legitimacy of an alternative government would be severely compromised, especially given hesitation among some bloc leaders regarding their formal recommendations to the president.
Addressing friction with other parties in the change camp, Manelis suggested that rival leaders prioritize their own parliamentary representation over bloc victory. "If there is a tie between Netanyahu and Eisenkot, we cannot guarantee the replacement of Netanyahu," he warned, adding that historical precedent shows the mandate is awarded to the largest party in the vast majority of cases.
