Eisenkot should keep quiet, Netanyahu needs a partner: The head-to-head battle in the elections

Three months before the elections, the race is open with a record number of new voters and many undecided. Gadi Eisenkot must shift from growth to retention and avoid communication mistakes, while Benjamin Netanyahu needs a new right-wing party to attract disillusioned Likud voters. The analysis examines the strategies required for the two leading candidates.

Three months before the elections for the 26th Knesset, the race between Gadi Eisenkot and Benjamin Netanyahu is completely open. A record number of new voters and a high rate of undecided leave the outcome unclear. Eisenkot, who until now has focused on increasing recognition, must move to a retention campaign and avoid problematic interviews like the comparison between Yosef Haddad and Mansour Abbas. Netanyahu, on the other hand, needs a new right-wing party that will gather votes from voters who want him but not the current coalition. The analysis notes that Netanyahu is working to thwart potential candidates like Vinter and Erdan, thereby pushing voters to the rival bloc. Additionally, Yair Golan is bringing back the right-left discourse and helping Netanyahu. The deep state, the High Court, and the media serve as mobilization tools for Netanyahu, who calls for rising up against them at the ballot box.