Israeli intelligence officer, former Shin Bet director (2021–2025)
The government has announced a new plan diverting hundreds of millions of shekels from Arab community development to fund enforcement, expanding Shin Bet’s role in combating organized crime alongside police. Protests and legal objections arise from rights groups amid criticism of deepened inequality.
Eisenkot has surged in polls as his Yashar party leads Likud in some surveys for the October 27 election, with calls for stronger security and universal service forming the core of his platform. Netanyahu faces a shifting coalition dynamic as security concerns and politics collide.
Haaretz reports that UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed warned Netanyahu a week before the Oct. 7 attack that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was planning a major operation. Netanyahu reportedly remained calm, saying Israel is prepared for any scenario; Sinwar later carried out a massive assault, intensifying Gaza conflict.