Occupied Palestine – As the Zionist regime prepares for its upcoming October elections, internal political bickering has placed former Israeli military chief Gadi Eisenkot at the forefront as the primary challenger to Benjamin Netanyahu. However, beneath the veneer of this political rivalry lies a unified Zionist consensus: an unwavering commitment to aggression against the Palestinian people and extreme hostility toward the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Axis of Resistance.
The “Centrist” Illusion
Eisenkot, the 21st chief of staff of the Israeli occupation forces (2015–2019), recently founded his own political faction, the “Yashar” party. Recent polling suggests his bloc could emerge as the largest in the Knesset, with Eisenkot outperforming Netanyahu in direct comparisons for the premiership.
Yet, to view Eisenkot as a “moderate” or “centrist” alternative is a dangerous fallacy. His political platform is firmly rooted in apartheid ideology. He has explicitly declared his opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state, calling the idea an “illusion,” and continues to advocate for the expansion of illegal Zionist settlements in the West Bank.
Architect of the Dahiya Doctrine
Eisenkot’s most damning legacy—and the true measure of his threat to the region—is his authorship of the “Dahiya Doctrine.” Formulated during his tenure as the commander of the Northern Command, this military blueprint mandates the use of massive, disproportionate, and indiscriminate force against civilian infrastructure and population centres.
“We will apply disproportionate force and cause great damage and destruction... In our view, these are not civilian villages, but military bases,” Eisenkot declared in 2008.
This genocidal strategy was first unleashed on the Dahiya neighbourhood of Beirut during the 2006 war against Lebanon and later served as the operational framework for the massacres committed during the “Cast Lead” and “Protective Edge” offensives on the Gaza Strip. International human rights organisations have repeatedly condemned the doctrine as a blatant violation of international law and a clear war crime.
A War Criminal in the Cabinet
Following the outbreak of the Israeli genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023, Eisenkot joined the emergency war cabinet. Operating as one of the most influential ministers, he was a staunch advocate for relentless military offensives. His influence in the regime was further cemented after the death of his son and two nephews during the military operations in Gaza—a personal loss he has weaponised to consolidate his political capital among the settler population.
Furthermore, Eisenkot remains a staunch military hawk regarding the northern front. He has fiercely criticised ceasefire efforts in Lebanon as “unreasonable surrender,” insisting on maintaining a deeply entrenched Zionist buffer zone and demanding aggressive American and European intervention to neutralise the Lebanese resistance.
The Same Face of Occupation
While Eisenkot and his allies attempt to consolidate the anti-Netanyahu Zionist bloc to prevent vote wastage, the Resistance Front understands the reality on the ground. Whether the regime is led by Netanyahu or Eisenkot, the strategic objectives remain unchanged: Zionist expansionism, the subjugation of the Palestinian people, and the relentless targeting of Iran and the Axis of Resistance.
As the October elections approach, the rise of Eisenkot does not signal a shift toward peace or moderation, but rather the potential return of the very military commander who authored the blueprints for some of the most devastating civilian massacres in modern history.
Reference: PressTv