Yashar (political party)
Yashar! with Eisenkot ישר! עם איזנקוט Yashar! im Eisenkot | |
|---|---|
| Leader | Gadi Eisenkot |
| Founder | Gadi Eisenkot |
| Founded | 16 September 2025 |
| Split from | National Unity |
| Colours | Blue Light blue |
| Knesset | 0 / 120 |
| Website | |
| yasharwitheisenkot | |
Yashar (Hebrew: ישר, lit. 'straight' or 'upright' or 'honest'), styled as Yashar! with Eisenkot (Hebrew: ישר! עם איזנקוט), is a political party in Israel. It was founded in 2025 by Gadi Eisenkot, former IDF Chief of Staff and member of Knesset (MK) for National Unity from 2022 to 2025. The party will be contesting the 2026 election, which is scheduled to be held by 27 October 2026.
History
Eisenkot announced in June 2025 that he planned to resign from the National Unity Party and Knesset.[1] He later criticized National Unity for how it holds political primaries, with candidates chosen by the party assembly, which is "controlled by" party leader Benny Gantz. Eisenkot, in contrast, wanted to broaden the process to include all party members.[2]
He started a new political party in September and said the party will "repair, heal, and give hope" and put "security and national interests above all". He also said he would be open to merging with other parties to maintain Israel "as a Jewish, democratic and strong state".[3]
The party was founded with Shir Siegel, the daughter of former Gaza hostage Keith Siegel and Yoav Horowitz, former director general for prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. They are joined by former MKs Matan Kahana of National Unity, Tal Russo and Manuel Trajtenberg of Labor, as well as Nir Zohar, president of Wix, former general Yishai Beer, film producer Yariv Mozer, among others.[4]
According to Kahana, the party name comes from an interview with former hostage Eli Sharabi, who said that releasing the other hostages was "not about right or left, but straight".[5]
Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid and Democrats leader Yair Golan congratulated Eisenkot on the move.[2]
References
- ^ Breuer, Eliav (30 June 2025). "MK Gadi Eisenkot announces split from Gantz's National Unity party". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
- ^ a b Hauser Tov, Michael; Shpigel, Noa (16 September 2025). "Former IDF Chief Eisenkot Launches New Party After Leaving Gantz's Centrist Party". Haaretz. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
- ^ Neev, Keshet (16 September 2025). "'Yashar! With Eisenkot': Former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot establishes new political party". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
- ^ Azulay, Moran (16 September 2025). "Former IDF chief Eisenkot launches new party 'Yashar' with prominent Israeli figures". Ynetnews. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
- ^ Karmel, Ariela (16 September 2025). "Gadi Eisenkot founds new party, two months after resigning from Knesset". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 16 September 2025.