Gadi Eisenkot facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gadi Eisenkot
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| גדי איזנקוט | |
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Eisenkot in 2020
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| Ministerial roles | |
| 2023–2024 | Minister without portfolio |
| Faction represented in the Knesset | |
| 2022– | National Unity |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 19 May 1960 Tiberias, Israel |
| Education | Tel Aviv University University of Haifa |
| Awards | Commander of the Legion of Merit (United States) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Israel |
| Branch/service | Operations Directorate, Northern Command |
| Years of service | 1978–2019 |
| Rank |  Rav Aluf (highest rank; Lieutenant general) |
| Commands |
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Gadi Eisenkot (Hebrew: גדי איזנקוט; born 19 May 1960) is an Israeli general and politician. He is a member of the National Unity party. From 2015 to 2019, he was the 21st Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). This is the highest military position in Israel. Later, from 2023 to 2024, he served as a minister in Israel's government without a specific department.
Eisenkot grew up in Eilat and studied maritime topics. He then joined the IDF's Golani Brigade. He has a history degree from Tel Aviv University and a political science degree from Haifa University. He is married with five children and lives in Herzliya. Sadly, one of his sons, Gal, passed away while serving in the military in 2023.
During his time in the military, Eisenkot held many important leadership jobs. As Chief of Staff, he worked to make the IDF's ground forces stronger. He also started a big plan called "Gideon" to improve the military and create a special cyber command unit.
Eisenkot believes Israel should be a country with strong Jewish values but also offer equal rights to everyone. He supports a two-state solution for peace with the Palestinians. He also thinks it's important for Israel to have strong security and for its people to be united.
About Gadi Eisenkot
Gadi Eisenkot was born in Tiberias, a city in northern Israel. He is the second of four children. His parents, Meir and Esther Eisenkot, were Jewish immigrants from Morocco. His mother was born in Casablanca, and his father was born in Marrakesh.
It is believed that his family's original name was Azenkot. It might have been changed to Eisenkot by a clerk when his father moved to Israel. After his parents divorced, his father remarried and had four more children.
Eisenkot grew up in Eilat, a port city in southern Israel. He went to Goldwater High School, where he focused on maritime studies. After high school, he joined the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). He served in the Golani Brigade, a famous infantry unit.
He earned a bachelor's degree in History from Tel Aviv University. Later, he completed a master's degree in Political science at Haifa University.
Gadi Eisenkot is married and has five children. He currently lives in Herzliya, a city near Tel Aviv.
On 12 October 2023, he became a minister without portfolio. This means he was a minister in the government but without a specific department to lead. His party joined the government after the 2023 Israel–Hamas war began.
In December 2023, his son, Master Sergeant Gal Meir Eisenkot, passed away at age 25. He was serving in the war in Gaza. Eisenkot left the government in June 2024.
Military Service
Eisenkot began his military service in the Golani Brigade. He held various roles, including soldier, squad leader, and platoon leader. In the 1982 Lebanon War, he was a Company commander in the Golani Brigade.
He later became the commander of the Golani Brigade in 1997. In 1999, he was chosen to be the Military Secretary for the Prime Minister, Ehud Barak. This role involves advising the Prime Minister on military matters.
After this, he commanded different IDF divisions. He led efforts against Palestinian political violence in the Judea and Samaria Division. In 2005, he became the head of the Israeli Operations Directorate. Here, he helped create strategies to deal with threats from groups like Hezbollah.
In 2006, Eisenkot became the head of the Northern Command. This command is responsible for Israel's northern borders with Lebanon and Syria. He focused on training soldiers and improving defenses against threats.
In 2013, he became the Deputy Chief of General Staff. This is the second-highest position in the IDF. In November 2014, he was chosen to be the next Chief of Staff of the IDF.
Leading the IDF
Gadi Eisenkot became the Chief of Staff of the IDF on 16 February 2015. As Chief of Staff, he worked to make the ground forces stronger. This included improving infantry training and armored units.
He also started a multi-year plan called "Gideon." This plan was approved in 2016. It focused on several important areas:
- Building up forces to handle different threats.
- Improving the IDF's ability to move and fight.
- Creating a new cyber command unit.
A key part of "Gideon" was "The IDF Strategy." This strategy aimed to end conflicts quickly. It involved using immediate and combined attacks with both ground forces and air power. The strategy also included "campaigns between the wars." This means the IDF would act secretly to weaken enemies and prevent future conflicts.
In August 2016, Eisenkot received the Commander of the Legion of Merit award from the United States. This award recognized his excellent service as Chief of Staff. It also honored his work in strengthening cooperation between the United States and Israel.
Political Ideas
Eisenkot has clear ideas for Israel's future. He believes Israel should be a country based on national-Jewish values. At the same time, he thinks it must ensure equal rights for all its citizens. This includes people of all religions, nationalities, and genders.
He sees internal disagreements in Israel as a bigger threat than outside enemies. He encourages Israelis to overcome political differences and work together.
Eisenkot supports a two-state solution with the Palestinians. This means creating two separate states, one for Israelis and one for Palestinians. He believes this is important to keep Israel as a Jewish and democratic country. He also insists on keeping control of the Jordan Valley and certain settlement areas.
Regarding the Gaza Strip, Eisenkot supports a long-term ceasefire. This agreement would include the return of Israeli captives. It would also involve removing Hamas's missile and rocket abilities. If these conditions are met, he agrees to help rebuild Gaza, including opening a seaport.
He believes Israel needs a strong security policy. This policy should weaken enemies and stop those who threaten Israel's existence. Finally, Eisenkot calls for changes to strengthen the separation of powers in Israel's government. This would help create a balanced and effective political system.
Military Awards
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| First Lebanon War | Second Lebanon War | Operation Protective Edge |
