As Israel approaches its upcoming election on Tuesday, candidate Gadi Eisenkot used his final campaign rally on Sunday to emphasize a platform of national healing. Eisenkot argued that the country requires a change in leadership to move past the divisions that characterized the tenure of incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In response to the campaign rhetoric, Prime Minister Netanyahu has actively challenged Eisenkot’s security credentials. Netanyahu characterized Eisenkot as "soft" on Iran, a central issue in Israeli foreign policy. The Prime Minister’s campaign also received a boost from U.S. President Donald Trump, who offered public support for Netanyahu’s re-election bid. The election remains a focal point of regional interest, with the candidates presenting starkly different visions for the country's domestic cohesion and international security strategy.