Gadi Eisenkot announced only yesterday (Sunday) about joining a joint list with Benny Gantz that will be called "The State Camp".
The two former chiefs of staff will compete together in the political field after years of service at the top of the IDF command.
But what about their function as chiefs of staff and commanders in general, and who is considered a more successful general? The paratrooper from Kfar Ahim or the Golanchik from Tiberias.
As I recall, Gantz commanded as Chief of Staff Operation Tzuk Eitan, which lasted about 50 days and was designed, among other things, to destroy Hamas's offensive terrorist tunnels. During the days of the operation, thousands of rockets were fired at Israel and in the battles against the terrorist organizations, the martyrs Lt. Hadar Goldin and Sgt. Oron Shaul were kidnapped.
However, in the operation more than 30 penetrating tunnels were destroyed and Hamas suffered a severe blow: hundreds of terrorists were killed and thousands of targets were attacked.
Gantz during brigade training, photo: IDF spokesman
On the other hand, during Eisenkot's time, no large-scale operation was conducted in the Gaza Strip, except for relatively limited rounds of fighting and the riots on the border fence.
The focus of attention was on the northern sector.
There, Eisenkot commanded Operation "Northern Shield" to neutralize the threat of Hezbollah's tunnels.
The operation lasted 41 days, during which six tunnels of the Lebanese terrorist organization were exposed that penetrated into Israeli territory.
The operation was preceded by four years of preparations.
On top of that, the fear of Iranian entrenchment in southern Syria grew.
"There are several fundamentally different things between the two personalities. It would be intriguing to see them together in the same party," a source familiar with Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot told Israel Hayom.
The source notes that it is difficult to compare their operational activities as Chiefs of Staff. "Ganz was responsible for managing Operation Protective Edge, while Gadi Eisenkot led the fight in Syria against Iran within the framework of the war between the wars; AG."
Here it is still difficult to compare their actions.
Everyone has a different field of activity as Chief of Staff, and if we judge - then history will show who managed his part better."
Eisenkot during a naval combat exercise,
According to the source, the difference between Gantz and Eisenkot is mainly evident in the course of their military service.
"Ganz was the commander of the YKL (Lebanon Liaison Unit; AG) during the withdrawal from Lebanon. Officials who worked with him do not forgive him for not preparing the unit for the withdrawal. They say that Gantz did not perform well there, compared to the 91st Division which operated much better during the withdrawal and prepared To her," the expert notes.
Gantz with a tour of the Gaza Strip in 2014, photo: IDF spokesman
"On the other hand, after the Magen Wall operation, Gadi Eisenkot did a good job in IOSH.
He lowered the number of tanks because there was security on the ground," says the source. In this sense, he believes, Eisenkot was much more successful than Gantz.
There is also a difference in character between the two personalities.
The source mentions that Gantz was called in the army in the past "Benny Banchat" while Gadi Eisenkot is considered quick and sharp thinking.
"Gadi Eisenkot is seen as a cute bear, but that's not true. He's sharp and very sharp, much more than Benny Gantz."
Izenkot in Operation Northern Shield, photo: IDF spokesman
However, he says that "you should know that, for example, in the field of tradition, Gantz was better for the religious, while Eisenkot actually promoted women and was constantly in conflict with religious parties."
Eisenkot in a statement against Netanyahu // Photo: Moshe Ben Simhon
It should be mentioned that Eisenkot was also offered the position of Chief of Staff in 2011, but he refused despite decades of service. In fact, it was thanks to him that Gantz was appointed to the position after he retired from the IDF following the cancellation of Yoav Galant's appointment.
"In terms of promotion, there is a huge gap between the two. Gantz was a meteoric advance," says the source, "he was a necessary minimum in every position and was also a relatively young Chief of Staff.
In contrast, Gadi Eisenkot was already a significant general in the Second Lebanon War and it took him another nine years to become the Chief of Staff. In other words, he progressed slowly. It is rare for a general to stay in the army for so long."
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