Olmert Endorses Eisenkot in Israeli Election

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert endorsed Gadi Eisenkot and his Yashar Party on Tuesday, positioning the former Defense Minister as the strongest challenger to Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of the October 27 vote. Speaking in an interview with Al-Arabiya English, Olmert described Eisenkot as more mature and ready for leadership than other opposition figures. He also noted that Eisenkot currently enjoys higher popularity among voters than his rivals.

Olmert offered a specific forecast for the election results, citing current polling data. He stated that Netanyahu is expected to lose between one-third and 40% of his present political power. The former prime minister characterized this projected shift as considerable, indicating a substantial reduction in the governing coalition's strength if current trends continue through the final days of the campaign.

The endorsement came with sharp criticism of Netanyahu's recent campaign tactics. Olmert reacted to a social media post by the incumbent Prime Minister featuring an AI-generated image of a nuclear explosion over Tel Aviv. Netanyahu had used the image to argue that Israel faces an existential threat from Iran and that the election outcome is tied to national security. Olmert dismissed the move as a sign of desperation and a loss of genuine political judgment. He accused Netanyahu of creating an atmosphere of panic and fear, behavior he associated with dictators facing political destruction.

Olmert also challenged the narrative surrounding Israel's military operations against Iran. He rejected the claim that Iran possessed multiple atomic bombs during the attacks in June 2025 and early 2026. According to Olmert, Iran had nuclear material enriched to 60% stored in underground boxes, but it never possessed a finished bomb. He maintained that Israel never destroyed a bomb, calling the contrary statement an outright lie.

Context for the endorsement includes Olmert's broader assessment of the opposition field. While acknowledging that leaders Naftali Bennett, Yair Lapid, and Yair Golan differ from one another, Olmert grouped them with Eisenkot on the right side of history. He labeled the upcoming vote as potentially the most consequential in the modern history of the Jewish people. The former prime minister also urged Israel to pursue a two-state solution with the Palestinians, describing it as the best possible solution for the state. He held Netanyahu responsible for the pre-October 7 policies that favored an understanding with Hamas over negotiations with the Palestinian Authority.

Olmert concluded by warning Israeli leaders about settler violence in the West Bank. He stated that political, army, and police leaders would be held legally responsible for crimes committed there, potentially before the International Criminal Court. He appealed to voters to seek change, describing it as a step forward for Israel, the Palestinian people, and the region.