Sandego.net – As Israel approaches its October 27 election, Gadi Eisenkot has become the opposition figure with the strongest chance of challenging Benjamin Netanyahu. His appeal rests partly on a stark political contrast: for voters seeking a change after years of Netanyahu’s leadership, Eisenkot represents an alternative with deep military credentials and a markedly different personal story.

Eisenkot, 66, is the son of Moroccan immigrants and grew up in Tiberias and Eilat, far from the political and social circles that shaped Netanyahu’s early life in Jerusalem. His background carries particular significance in a country where divisions between Mizrahi Jews, whose families came from the Middle East and North Africa, and Ashkenazi Jews of European origin have long influenced politics and public life.…