Gadi Eisenkot, ahead of Tuesday's elections, has emphasized his Moroccan roots in Sderot while competing with Benjamin Netanyahu. The campaign advertisements of Eisenkot's party, Yashar, are visible at train stations in the outskirts of Sderot, with the slogan "Ruyesh Memshala Dialna" meaning "Prime Minister from Us" in Hebrew and Moroccan Arabic.
Cultural Background of Sderot
The city of Sderot, located in the Negev desert about 75 kilometers south of Tel Aviv and just one kilometer from the Gaza border, has a large Moroccan Jewish community. This city is recognized as a symbol of Moroccan Jewish culture in Israel, which is reflected in its music, cinema, and government policies. Especially in recent decades, Sderot has become a place to showcase this culture.
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Historically, Sderot has been known as a stronghold of Israeli right-wingers, particularly Netanyahu's Likud party. In the 2022 elections, Likud garnered over 40 percent of the votes in Sderot, compared to 23 percent nationally. Strong support for other right-wing parties has also been observed in this area in the recent elections.
Impact of Moroccan Roots on the Election Campaign
Eisenkot, considered Netanyahu's main challenger, focuses on this issue due to his Moroccan roots. Eisenkot's Yashar party has accused Likud of ignoring moderate politicians among Moroccan Jews. The campaign slogan "Netanyahu: Let Mizrahi Interview" refers to this neglect.
Attention to this issue has notably increased in the 2026 campaign. Eisenkot, as one of the few Israeli politicians, has showcased his dual identity as an Israeli-Moroccan in his election advertisements. This action helps create a new identity in which Moroccan Jews can take pride in their heritage.
After the establishment of Israel, the ruling socialist party, Mapai, which was predominantly led by Ashkenazi Jews, pursued discriminatory policies against Mizrahim. Mizrahi Jews have faced discrimination and neglect in Israel's history, and this inequality still impacts economic and social realities.
In the past two decades, Sderot has been targeted by rocket attacks from Hamas due to its proximity to Gaza, and the city was severely affected in the terrorist attacks on October 7, 2023. With the city's population increasing to 40,000 in the last three years, many young families have migrated to Sderot.
Regardless of the election results, the perception of Sderot as a city of Moroccan Jews will not change soon. Eisenkot may provide an opportunity to redefine the future identity of Moroccan Jews in Israel, and his victory would help strengthen this connection.
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