Former Israeli General Gadi Eisenkot Leads Polls Before October 27 Election

Gadi Eisenkot, a former Israeli military chief who leads the Yashar party, is ranked first in recent polls ahead of Israel's general election on October 27. The 66-year-old heads the country's largest opposition party and is the main challenger to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

An N12 News poll published on October 22 ranked Yashar first with 23 seats, one fewer than in the previous poll. A Channel 12 News poll showed Eisenkot's bloc, the group of parties allied with his, at 55 seats, against 51 for Netanyahu's bloc. Neither bloc was shown with a majority of the 120 seats in the Knesset, Israel's parliament.

Eisenkot has called Netanyahu an "anti-leader" in a New York Times interview. He has also said he would not serve in a government led by Netanyahu.

On settlement policy, Eisenkot has said he is for settlement, the building of Jewish communities in the West Bank, a Palestinian territory, and against a Palestinian state. He has said he will act to strengthen Jewish settlement according to the law.

During the campaign, a pro-Netanyahu pundit called Eisenkot a "monkey," according to The Times of Israel.