Right-wing protesters gathered outside the home of Yashar Party chairman Gadi Eisenkot on Sunday, shouting "traitor" and accusing the former IDF chief of staff of killing his own son, prompting sharp condemnation from his party and political allies, who blamed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the atmosphere of incitement.
One protester used a megaphone to shout, "You murdered your son, traitor!" Other demonstrators at the scene joined in chants of "traitor."
Footage of the protest sparked widespread condemnation.
Eisenkot's party and political allies condemn protesters' remarks
Eisenkot's party issued a statement saying, "The despicable attack outside the home of party chairman Gadi Eisenkot is a direct result of rotten, unrestrained political leadership that has erased all red lines to remain in power. This is what losing one's way looks like. This is the spirit blowing from Netanyahu's office, and it is further proof of the urgent need to replace his government as soon as possible, for the sake of the State of Israel and Israeli society. At this stage, there is not even an expectation of condemnation. The shame is entirely yours."
Democrats Party chairman Maj.-Gen. (res.) Yair Golan issued a message of support for Yashar party head Gadi Eisenkot on Monday morning, after videos circulated on social media showing the crowd outside Eisenkot's home on Sunday evening.
"I support my friend Gadi Eisenkot in the face of this horrific attack," Golan wrote on Twitter/X. "Soon, we will form a new government [and] put an end to the regime of incitement."
"This is the poison that Netanyahu and his people are spreading," Golan added, and also condemned the remarks, criticizing Netanyahu and his associates, whom he accused of responsibility for the rhetoric that led to the verbal attacks.
"Last night, members of Netanyahu's poison machine came to the home of my partner, Gadi Eisenkot, and shouted at him that he murdered his son. His own son. This is the poison Netanyahu and his people spread. They will cross no line and sink to no depth. This is Netanyahu's legacy, the only policy he will be remembered for leaving behind."
Golan went on to express his support for Eisenkot and called for a change in Israeli public discourse: "Soon, we will establish a new government, put an end to the rule of incitement, and restore public discourse in Israel that has responsibility, boundaries, and human dignity."
Former prime minister and Yesh Atid chairman Yair Lapid also condemned the protest and sent support to Eisenkot and his family.
"Who are these people? What is Jewish about them? What is Israeli about them? How did sick leadership manage to make them hate like this? We must lead Israel on a new path, and that is what we will do," Lapid's statement read.
Journalist Ben Caspit also responded to the remarks heard during the demonstration, referring to Eisenkot's decades of military service and the devastating losses suffered by his family.
"How dark must the soul be of someone who shouts such a thing at a man who served in uniform for 41 years and then buried a son and two nephews? How dark."