Netanyahu Criticizes Eisenkot’s Military Record and Seeks Key Portfolios for Likud

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot’s military leadership in a Radio North interview broadcast on October 25. Netanyahu characterized Eisenkot’s tenure as weak and unsuccessful. He said he wanted a strong right-wing government in which Likud would provide the main political strength and retain the central ministerial portfolios. He also urged supporters to vote and warned against backing small right-wing lists that he believed would fail to cross the electoral threshold.