Even if Eisenkot leads: the scenario that would leave Netanyahu facing Iran

A Wall Street Journal editorial presents a scenario for the 2026 elections: even if Gadi Eisenkot's party gains strength, coalition difficulties could leave Netanyahu in office for months, in the midst of the campaign against Iran.

A Wall Street Journal editorial presents a political scenario for the 2026 elections in Israel, according to which even if Gadi Eisenkot's party gains strength, the difficulty of forming a coalition could leave Benjamin Netanyahu in the role of prime minister for many months, while the campaign against Iran may reach a decisive juncture. The article presents the elections as a referendum on Netanyahu's responsibility for the October 7 failure versus the credit for the military achievements since then, which have reduced the threat from Hezbollah and the Iranian nuclear program. Eisenkot, according to the article, blames Netanyahu for the failure and for diplomatic isolation, promises to dismantle illegal outposts in Judea and Samaria while opposing the establishment of a Palestinian state, and positions the conscription of Haredim into the IDF as a central electoral driver. The election results may depend on two small parties struggling to pass the electoral threshold.