The Knesset plenary convened on Monday to formally approve the entry of United Right Speaker MK Gideon Saar into the cabinet.
The approval marks the end of a fast-track process to bring Mr Saar and his party on board, after the government approved the move in a telephone vote on Sunday night.
The government is scheduled to convene its weekly meeting late Monday afternoon, and Mr. Searle is likely to attend.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Prime Minister Saar announced the move in a joint statement Sunday night, marking a dramatic about-face less than a week after a similar attempt failed. Ta.
Mr. Searle will serve as a minister without portfolios and as a member of the National Security Cabinet. As the two parties have not signed a coalition agreement, the four MKs are not required to automatically support legislation introduced by the coalition at this time, party sources confirmed. (LR): Report from incoming Defense Minister Gideon Saar. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Credit: FLASH90/CANVA)
The three MKs other than Saar, Ze’ev Elkin, Charlene Haskell and Michel Bouskila, will continue in their current roles in the Knesset for the time being, the official added.
netanyahu and saar
The Knesset plenary debate before the vote to approve Saar’s entry into the government became heated, with opposition members and Saar exchanging abusive language about choosing political considerations over the country’s interests.
Opposition leader MK Yair Lapid called the move “disgraceful” and accused Saar of masking the political move as “patriotic”. Mr. Lapid accused Mr. Saar of agreeing to support a bill that would continue Hadi’s exemption from military service in the Israel Defense Forces in exchange for joining the government. Mr. Lapid then repeated his claim on Sunday that he would shorten rather than lengthen the government’s life by creating “chaos” in it.
Searle counterattacked by attacking his opponent sharply. He acknowledged that he had promised in the past not to join Netanyahu’s government, but said that was no longer an issue after the October 7 Hamas massacre and the war that followed. He denied claims about the bill exempting Haredim from military service in the Israel Defense Forces, saying that instead of trying to dialogue with him, the opposition immediately began attacking him with “lies” and “blood libels.” . Mr. Saar also personally attacked Mr. Lapid, including for his positions as an opposition leader early in the war, such as opposing entry into Rafah and supporting the U.S.-French ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah.
“If your position was accepted, (Hezbollah leader) Hassan Nasrallah would still be alive,” Saar said.
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Saar first joined the government on October 11, along with then party leader MK Benny Gantz. Mr. Saar broke away from Mr. Gantz’s party in March and left the government over claims that Israeli policy in Gaza had not been proactive or effective. Gantz ultimately resigned from the government in June.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a joint statement Sunday night that he was “deeply impressed” by Saar’s “broad vision” and ability to “propose creative solutions to complex problems” while he was in government. Ta.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Saar for “rising to the occasion and ignoring all other considerations.”
Mr Searle acknowledged that while he had worked closely with the prime minister in the past, there had been “personal and political divisions” over the years. But after the October 7 massacre, this “wasn’t important,” Searle said.
Mr. Searle added that he had come to the conclusion that it was “pointless to continue to sit in the opposition” because “the views of most party members on the war are different and far from my position.”
