Gadi Eisenkot | |
|---|---|
| גדי איזנקוט | |
_(cropped).jpg) Eisenkot in 2020 | |
| Ministerial roles | |
| 2023–2024 | Minister without portfolio |
| 2023–2024 | Observer of thewar cabinet |
| Faction represented in theKnesset | |
| 2022–2025 | National Unity |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1960-05-19)19 May 1960 (age 65) Tiberias, Israel |
| Education | Tel Aviv University University of Haifa |
| Awards | Commander of the Legion of Merit (United States) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Israel |
| Branch/service | Operations Directorate,Northern Command |
| Years of service | 1978–2019 |
| Rank |  Rav Aluf (highest rank; Lieutenant general) |
| Commands | |
| Battles/wars | |
Gadi Eisenkot (Hebrew:גדי איזנקוט; born 19 May 1960), also speltEizenkot, is an Israeli general and politician. A member of theYashar party, he served from 2015 to 2019 as the 21st chief of staff of theIsrael Defense Forces and from 2023 to 2024 as a minister without portfolio in Israel'sunity government. Eisenkot, who grew up inEilat, pursued maritime studies and later served in the IDF'sGolani Brigade. He holds a B.A. in history fromTel Aviv University and a post-graduate degree in political science fromHaifa University. Married with five children, he resides inHerzliya. One of his sons, Gal, was killed in action during theGaza war.
Eisenkot has held various leadership roles in the Golani Brigade and other IDF divisions. He served as Prime MinisterEhud Barak's military secretary and later as the IDF's chief of staff. During his tenure as chief of staff, Eisenkot focused on strengthening IDF ground forces and implementing the "Gideon" multiyear plan, which emphasized force buildup and the formation of a cyber command.
Eisenkot advocates for a state rooted in national-Jewish values but with equal rights for all citizens. He supports atwo-state solution with the Palestinians, prioritizing theJordan Valley and settlement blocs, and advocates a long-term ceasefire and demilitarization in theGaza Strip. Eisenkot has emphasized the need for a robust security policy and internal unity in Israel, viewing domestic polarization as a significant threat. He advocates for reforms to strengthen theseparation of powers in theIsraeli government.
Gadi Eisenkot was born inTiberias, in northernIsrael. He is the second of four children[1] born to Meir and Esther Eisenkot,[2]Jewish Moroccan immigrants[3] from the town ofSafi. His mother was born inCasablanca, and his father was born inMarrakesh. It is thought that the family name was originally Azenkot and was changed to Eisenkot by a clerk after his father immigrated to Israel.[4] After his parents divorced, his father remarried and had four more children.[5]
Eisenkot grew up in the southern port city ofEilat, and studied at Goldwater High School, majoring in maritime studies. After high school he was drafted to theIsrael Defense Forces (IDF) and served in theGolani Brigade.
He graduated with a B.A. inhistory fromTel Aviv University and later completed a post-graduate degree atHaifa University inpolitical science.
Eisenkot is married and the father of five children. He currently resides inHerzliya.[6] One of his children, Master Sergeant Gal Meir Eisenkot, was killed in theGaza war in December 2023, at the age of 25.[7] Two of his nephews were also killed in the war. One, Sergeant Maor Cohen Eisenkot, was killed a day after his son.[8] The other nephew, Captain Yogev Pazy, was killed in November 2024.[9]
Eisenkot did his military service in theGolani Brigade,[10] of which he became commander in 1997–98. He served as a soldier, asquad leader and aplatoon leader. In theFirst Lebanon War he served as aCompany commander in the Golani brigade. During theSouth Lebanon conflict (1985–2000) he served as the brigade's Operations Officer and as the commander of the GolaniOrev Company.[11] Later, he served as Golani's 13thBattalion commander, the Deputy to the Commander of the Brigade and an operations officer of the Northern Command.[12] Afterwards he served asCarmeli Brigade's commander and as the commander of the Ephraim Brigade. In 1997 he replaced Col.Erez Gerstein and was appointed commander of the Golani Brigade.
In 1999 Eisenkot was selected to be the Military Secretary for the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense under then Prime MinisterEhud Barak. Since then he has commanded the366th Division and theJudea and Samaria Division, where he led the Campaign againstPalestinian political violence.[13] He was promoted to head ofIsraeli Operations Directorate in June 2005. After the conclusions exercise "joining of forces" Eisenkot led the formulation of the concept on which the IDF must severely damage the center of gravity of Hezbollah, theDahiya neighborhood, as a key component for creating deterrence against Hezbollah.[14]
After Maj. Gen.Udi Adam resigned in October 2006 amid criticism over his conduct in the2006 Lebanon War, Eisenkot replaced him as head of the Northern Command.[15] In his years as the head of the Northern Command he emphasizes the training of forces,[16][17] strengthening the capacities of command and creating an appropriate operational response to threats from Hezbollah and Syria.[18]
On 11 July 2011, the position was transferred to Maj. Gen.Yair Golan.[19] Afterwards he served as Deputy Chief of General Staff in place of Maj. Gen.Yair Naveh, assuming office on 14 January 2013.[20] On 28 November 2014, Defense MinisterMoshe Ya'alon and Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu chose Eisenkot as the successor to Gen.Benny Gantz as the Chief of Staff of the IDF.[21]
Eisenkot assumed the duties of IDF's Chief of the General Staff on 16 February 2015. Upon taking office, he began to promote measures to strengthen the ground forces, such as reinforcing the training of infantry and armored forces, especially the threat from enemy tunnels. Eisenkot led the formulation of the multi-year plan "Gideon" that was formed under his direction. "Gideon" was presented in July 2015 and approved by Israel's cabinet in April 2016. The plan addresses several issues, such as a buildup of forces to meet a range of threats, the strengthening and developing of the IDF's maneuvering capabilities, the elimination of redundant arrays, and the establishment of a cyber command.[22] At the heart of multi-year plan stands "The IDF Strategy".[23]
An essential element of the "Gideon" stance is the objective of ending a conflict in the shortest possible time. To achieve this, the IDF would utilize an immediate and simultaneous attack that combines maneuver and fire.[24] It integrates the strategic concept ofcampaigns between the wars (CBW), in which the IDF operates covertly in order to preserve and enhance the achievements of the previous campaigns, to weaken the enemy, and to postpone the next conflict.[25][26]
A 2017 study by military experts[n 1] denounced the presumed dominance of technology over the IDF's strategic posture, which led, among other shifts, to a decrease in doctrinal quality, and a significant increase in investments in "pinpoint fire," defects that ostensibly became "strikingly evident" during theSecond Lebanon War. The study attributes to Eisenkot the change in the IDF's doctrinal direction. He is cited as placing emphasis on ground maneuvers being the Armed Forces' main tool to fight and defeat the enemy.[27]
In August 2016, Eisenkot was presented byUS Marine Corps generalJoseph Dunford with theUnited States Armed Forces'Commander of the Legion of Merit award, on account of Eisenkot's "exceptionally meritorious service as chief of the General Staff of the IDF" and his "contribution to the strategic cooperation between the United States and Israel [that] will have a lasting effect on both countries".[28]
Eisenkot handed over the duties of the Chief of Staff to GeneralAviv Kohavi on 15 January 2019.[29]
Following his retirement as Chief of Staff, Israeli media outlets reported that Eisenkot considered entering politics ahead of the2020 election.[30][31] Ahead of the2022 election, Eisenkot joined theNational Unity alliance, and was elected to the Knesset.[32]
On 12 October 2023, he was sworn in as aminister without portfolio after his party joined the government following the outbreak of theGaza war.[33][32] Eisenkot left the government, along with the rest of National Unity, in June 2024.[34]
The party announced on 30 June 2025 that Eisenkot would leave the party and resign his seat in the Knesset.[35] He submitted his Knesset resignation on 2 July[36] and was replaced byEitan Ginzburg on 4 July.[37] Eisenkot explained his reasoning for leaving at a press conference on 1 July, remarking that National Unity needed a "deep democratization process", which he argued had not taken place.[38]
Eisenkot said in an interview withChannel 12 may put himself forward as a prime ministerial candidate if it would give the "anti-Netanyahu bloc" an advantage in the next election.[39]
On 16 September 2025, Eisenkot announced he would be founding a political party, "Yashar! with Eisenkot".[40]
Eisenkot holds a vision for Israel that balances national-Jewish values with equal rights for all citizens, regardless of religion, nationality, race, and gender. He views Syria, Lebanon, and Iran not as existential threats, but rather emphasizes the internal challenge of domestic polarization in Israel. Eisenkot advocates for atwo state solution with the Palestinians to maintain aJewish-democratic state and avoid a bi-national state, insisting on the permanent conservation of the Jordan Valley and settlement blocs.[41]
In dealing with the Gaza Strip, Eisenkot supports a long-term ceasefire agreement that includes the return of Israeli captives, demobilization of Hamas missile and rocket capabilities, and under these conditions, he agrees to rehabilitation measures for Gaza, including the opening of a seaport. He believes in a proactive and firm security policy to erode enemy capabilities and deter those who oppose Israel's existence.[41]
Eisenkot identifies domestic polarization as a more pressing threat than external enemies. He urges Israelis to bridge the divides between political camps and resist being led by divisive figures. Finally, Eisenkot calls for reforms to strengthen theseparation of powers within Israel's government, ensuring a balanced and functional political system.[41]
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| First Lebanon War | Second Lebanon War | Operation Protective Edge |
Media related toGadi Eisenkot at Wikimedia Commons
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