Eisenkot wants a new direction. His Palestinian policy has a problem - opinion

Gadi Eisenkot, head of the Yashar Party, proposes a middle path on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: opposing full annexation and settler violence, but rejecting a fully sovereign Palestinian state in favor of a "minus state" with Israeli security control. The article questions whether this vision offers a genuine path to settlement or merely manages the conflict more efficiently without addressing its root causes, particularly regarding settlements, Palestinian sovereignty, and the future of the Palestinian Authority.

Gadi Eisenkot, head of the Yashar Party, presents a political alternative on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that seeks a middle ground between the far Right and the two-state solution. He opposes full annexation of the West Bank and criticizes settler violence, yet rejects a fully sovereign Palestinian state, proposing instead a "minus state" with no Palestinian army and no large-scale evacuation of settlements, while insisting on overriding Israeli security control. The article, written by Nabil Kukali, examines whether Eisenkot's vision can lead to a lasting political settlement or merely manage the conflict more efficiently without addressing its underlying causes. Key questions raised include: whether his proposed self-government is a transitional arrangement or a permanent condition of limited sovereignty; whether he will halt settlement projects that undermine Palestinian geographic continuity; and what powers he would grant Palestinians under his model. The article notes that a change of government in Israel should not automatically be taken as a change in policy toward the Palestinians, citing heightened security concerns since October 7, 2023, and survey data showing divided Israeli Jewish opinion on annexation versus partition. The analysis concludes that the real test for Eisenkot is whether his policies create new political possibilities or simply manage the status quo differently.