Eisenkot in a confrontation before the cameras: "Go serve in the army, and come back to me"
A right-wing activist tried to confront the former Chief of Staff over his criticism of Prime Minister Netanyahu, but was met with a sharp and unusual response that went viral within hours.
A video circulating on social media documents a tense confrontation on the beach between the former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot and right-wing activist Mordechai David. The unusual incident comes against the backdrop of sharp fluctuations in the polls and a close race against Benjamin Netanyahu for the leadership of the country.
David, arriving while filming on his mobile phone, tried to confront Eisenkot and ask him pointed questions regarding his sharp criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the management of the political and security campaign.
Eisenkot, who was accompanied by security guards and passersby, refused to be filmed or dragged into the planned confrontation. In an unequivocal and firm response, he replied to the activist:
"I only cooperate with those who served in the army. Go serve in the army, and come back to me."
Eisenkot's decisive answer, which represents his military and public worldview, sparked an immediate stir online and became one of the most talked-about videos.
The incident on the beach does not happen in a vacuum. Eisenkot, who served as the 21st Chief of Staff of the IDF and is perceived by the Israeli public as a statesmanlike, consistent, and security-oriented figure, has been marked since his entry into the political arena, and even more so after his tenure as a minister in the war cabinet, as one of the main threats to Benjamin Netanyahu's rule.
In public opinion polls on questions such as suitability for the premiership, Eisenkot shows strong figures and fights closely against Netanyahu, enjoying broad support in the center-left and even among the moderate right.
