Gadi Eisenkot's Moroccan Roots Shine in Israel's Political Landscape
As the Israeli elections approach, Gadi Eisenkot, the prominent candidate challenging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is strategically centering his campaign around his Moroccan heritage, a move that resonates deeply with voters in socio-economically marginalized regions. This approach targets towns traditionally aligned with Netanyahu's Likud party, particularly focusing on communities that have historically supported the ruling party.
Eisenkot leads the Yashar party, which has gained notable visibility in the southern city of Sderot, known for its significant Moroccan Jewish community. The party's campaign materials feature the slogan “Rosh Memshala Dialna,” effectively combining the Hebrew term for prime minister with a Moroccan Arabic phrase that translates to “of our own.” This clever linguistic fusion aims to create a sense of belonging and cultural pride among Moroccan Jews.
Sderot, nestled in the Negev desert just about 75 kilometers south of Tel Aviv and a mere kilometer from the Gaza border, has long been a stronghold for the Likud party, with over 40% of the vote going to Likud in the last elections. Eisenkot, who was raised in Eilat—a city known for its large North African Jewish population—has positioned his campaign against the backdrop of historical grievances that Mizrahi Jews have faced within Israeli society. Mizrahim, a term for Jews of Middle Eastern and North African descent, constitute approximately half of Israel's Jewish demographic, or around 4 million individuals. Historically, they have experienced systemic discrimination and neglect since the establishment of the state.
Following Israel's founding, policies enacted by the predominantly Ashkenazi leadership of the Mapai party marginalized Mizrahi culture, often requiring them to relinquish their Arabic language and heritage. Many Mizrahi Jews were placed in temporary transit camps, which subsequently developed into underfunded towns, with Sderot being one of the most notable examples. This historical context has fueled the Mizrahi connection to the Likud party, even though it has yet to see a Mizrahi leader emerge from its ranks.
The ongoing political discourse has also seen right-wing journalist Yinon Magal, a staunch Netanyahu supporter, make derogatory remarks about Eisenkot, suggesting he is under the influence of elitist Ashkenazi circles. Such comments have inadvertently galvanized Eisenkot's embrace of his Moroccan roots, highlighting a broader societal effort to acknowledge and celebrate the identities of North African Jews within Israel. Daniel Ben-Simon, a journalist and former parliament member of Moroccan descent, emphasized that Eisenkot's campaign slogan could foster a renewed sense of Israeli-Moroccan identity, countering historical attempts to suppress these narratives.
Since the devastating Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, which significantly impacted Sderot, the city has seen an influx of new residents, boosting its population by approximately 5,000 to a total of 40,000. This demographic shift includes many young families seeking refuge and stability in a challenging environment. Additionally, the growing influence of the national-religious community in Sderot complicates the political landscape, as this demographic tends to support far-right parties, including Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionism, which aligns with Netanyahu's coalition.
Regardless of the election's outcome on Tuesday, experts suggest that the cultural ties linking Sderot to its Moroccan heritage are likely to endure, reinforcing the city's identity as a center for Moroccan Jewish life in Israel. Eisenkot's campaign, with its focus on heritage and identity, may very well play a pivotal role in shaping the future political narrative of the region.
As reported by aroundprague.cz.
