Saar and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced in a joint statement Sunday night that the United Right, led by MK Gideon Saar, will join the government. The announcement was a dramatic move less than a week after Saar came close to joining the government as defense minister but an agreement was scrapped.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced Sunday night that Saar had been unanimously elected to the coalition government as a non-portfolio minister.
According to reports, Saar will also serve as a member of the security cabinet. He is also expected to take part in smaller security talks. Mr Searle’s number two, MK Ze’ev Elkin, could also become a minister without a portfolio, but a spokesman for Mr Elkin said this was not yet certain.
Mr Saar’s four MKs will raise the size of the ruling coalition from 64 to 68. This means that the two far-right parties in the coalition government, the Religious Zionist Party (seven MKs) and Otzma Yehudit (six MKs), will no longer be able to maintain their parties. Threatening a coalition’s majority with a specific vote in exchange for political concessions.
The move will also always pose a threat as potential replacements for Defense Minister Yoav Galan are in the government and cabinet.
The move could give Prime Minister Netanyahu some breathing room and ensure the survival of his government for the time being. Otzma Yehudit leader Itamar Ben Gvir in parliament (Credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)
Saar 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 Israel’s policies in Gaza were neither aggressive nor effective. Gantz ultimately resigned from the government in June.
Statements from Prime Minister Netanyahu and Prime Minister Saar
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a joint news conference that he was “deeply impressed” by Saar’s “broad vision” and ability to “propose creative solutions to complex problems” during his time in government. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Saar’s “standing up.” Mr Saar said he was entering government “without a coalition agreement”. He acknowledged that while he had worked closely with the prime minister in the past, there had been “personal and political divisions” that had persisted for years. However, after the October 7 massacre, this became “inconsequential”.
We bring you the latest news!
Subscribe to Jerusalem Post Newsletter
“Most party members’ views on the war are different and far from my position,” Saar said, adding that he had come to the conclusion that “it is pointless to continue to sit in the opposition.” Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir, Minister of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Anti-Semitism Amichai Tsikli, Minister of Justice Yariv Levin, and others praised the move.
In response, opposition leader MK Yair Lapid argued on X/Twitter that the move would not strengthen Prime Minister Netanyahu politically.
Lapid said Ben Gvir will not accept that he can no longer threaten the coalition’s majority and will therefore continually trip up the coalition. Meanwhile, Lapid said the government’s problem was not voting but “reality.” Reality will catch up with the government anyway, Lapid wrote, as Saar cannot afford the billions of shekels or the 15 battalions of the Israel Defense Forces.
