Eisenkot calls for backup cash plan

Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar party, released a campaign video on Saturday accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of planning to replace Israel's traditional financial system with a digital alternative. Eisenkot argued that this shift exposes 150 billion shekels in state reserves to potential loss. The former IDF chief described the proposal as an admission that the government has damaged the economy.

The video opened with the warning that all national money is at risk. It then cut to footage from a recent Channel 10 interview where Netanyahu discussed the need for economic contingency plans. Netanyahu stated that Israel must prepare for an alternative economy due to international sanctions. He confirmed that blockchain technology would certainly be part of the solution and said he had already requested a detailed plan.

Eisenkot's team coined the term Bibicoin to mock the prime minister's proposal. The video argued that a reliance on digital currency would lead to an economy similar to those of North Korea and Iran. It listed the end of the high-tech sector, the collapse of healthcare, and the loss of security capabilities as likely outcomes. The final message urged viewers to prevent the government from burning through national savings.

The attack highlights a specific concern regarding foreign investment. The video questioned how global high-tech firms would invest in Israeli companies if digital currency became the sole method of exchange. Eisenkot used Netanyahu's own words to frame the debate, suggesting that the prime minister had conceded the policy would lead to isolation.

In a separate post on X, Eisenkot elaborated on the security implications. He wrote that Netanyahu admitted the current policy would result in international isolation and sanctions. Eisenkot claimed this trajectory would shake the market and lead to a collapse of national security.

The exchange shifts the focus of the political debate to the government's backup economic strategies. Eisenkot is using the Channel 10 interview to argue that the prime minister's plan is a reaction to economic failure rather than a proactive measure. The video serves as a central piece of Yashar's current campaign messaging.

The next step in the political process is the upcoming parliamentary session where economic bills are scheduled for discussion. Eisenkot's party plans to introduce questions regarding the allocation of the 150 billion shekels in reserves. The government has not yet released the detailed blockchain plan Netanyahu mentioned in his interview.