Who they are
Born in 1976 to former minister Dan Meridor and economist Liora Meridor, he read philosophy, economics and political science at the Hebrew University. He joined the Treasury's budget division in 2002, was director-general of the Energy Ministry from 2015, and headed the budget division from 2017 until he resigned in August 2020, accusing the finance minister of distorting the budget. He is chief financial officer of Lightricks.
Positions and record
Budgets: A real multi-year budget, not coalition funds.
Civil service: Professional appointments over political ones.
Growth: Productivity, competition, infrastructure.
Service-linked benefits: Proposes tying state benefits directly to military and national-service tier: full benefits for combat service, less for other service, and none for non-service, a sharper economic-incentive mechanism than the party's prosecution-based enforcement.
Where they stand
Holds the party line on every issue.
Judea & Samariaparty lineNo Palestinian state. Eisenkot has never supported establishing one, and opposition is the only line he has taken on the question.
Two states / withdrawalSovereignty / annexation
Gaza & Securityparty lineA new security doctrine, and an alternative government in Gaza on Israel's terms. Eisenkot pressed for the Rafah operation as leverage for a hostage deal.
Deal & disengagementFull military control
Haredi Enlistmentparty lineEveryone is summoned, the army first and civilian service otherwise, with prosecution for evaders. Up to 3 per cent of each intake may defer a year for Torah study.
Universal draftPreserve exemptions
Judiciaryparty lineA judiciary that is strong, independent and accountable, a Knesset that is sovereign, and a Basic Law: Legislation strengthening the Knesset's own authority.
Court can strike lawsKnesset can override
Economyparty lineWork should always pay more than a benefit, and benefits should follow need rather than sector. Break the concentration groups and open parallel imports.
Social spendingFree market
Educationparty lineCore studies are the condition for full public funding, with a national council setting the core, while budget and authority devolve to town halls and to heads.
State runs the schoolsParents and communities
Religion & Stateparty lineCivil union institutionalised in Israel, Shabbat in the public space left to each locality, and women seated on religious councils and on the assemblies that elect rabbis.
Civil / pluralistReligious authority
Nation & Citizenshipparty lineA solid Jewish majority for generations, set beside equal rights, equal duties and equal opportunity for every Israeli, with minority rights named explicitly.
Equal citizenshipJewish national state