Eisenkot’s Entry, Netanyahu’s Exit: Can They Bring Peace to the Region?

Benjamin Netanyahu enjoys the distinction of being Israel’s longest-serving prime minister. Over the years, he has pursued a policy of eliminating Israel’s perceived enemies, particularly Iran. The devastation in Gaza, where nearly 80,000 people have reportedly been killed, mostly women and children, has earned him widespread condemnation and allegations of war crimes. His decision to wage war on Iran in collaboration with the United States has further turned his perceived achievements into liabilities. The conflict has also exacted a political price in Washington, with the Iran war being cited as a major factor behind Donald Trump’s defeat in the midterm elections.

Removing Netanyahu from the political scene, at least temporarily, may be a prudent approach to prevent Israel from earning further condemnation. Having initiated the confrontation with Iran, Netanyahu is hardly the most credible figure to pursue meaningful negotiations. He should hand over the task of “washing the dirty linen” to someone capable of changing course.

Management teaches the importance of succession planning. Netanyahu, however, positioned himself as the indispensable “savior of Israel,” leaving little room for alternative leadership.

Gadi Eisenkot offers a potential alternative. Israel needs political courage to break the existing deadlock. Eisenkot should explore an arrangement with Arab parties to form a coalition government. Such cooperation would demonstrate that Israel’s political future need not depend on excluding its Arab citizens.

Eisenkot could then stand tall—not as another architect of an endless war, but as a leader willing to end it. His mandate should be to facilitate diplomacy, regional coexistence and a negotiated settlement, rather than perpetuate military escalation.

Israelis need peace and a congenial environment in their neighborhood. This requires abandoning the policy of keeping Palestinians subjugated and giving the two-state solution a genuine chance. Without addressing the Palestinian question, regional stability will remain elusive.

The war is approaching its ninth month. Netanyahu’s departure and Eisenkot’s emergence may not guarantee peace, but they could open a political and diplomatic door that remains firmly shut under the incumbent.

Eisenkot’s entry and Netanyahu’s exit could provide the political reset necessary to end the US-Israel war on Iran and begin rebuilding regional stability.