Sa’ar to reenter Israel’s Netanyahu-led government

New Hope Party leader Gideon Sa’ar leads a faction meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, July 22, 2024. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90

“When war broke out, I immediately set about establishing a broad and stable government. I greatly appreciated it when Benny Gantz and Gideon Sa’ar joined the government and I regretted it when they left,” Netanyahu said of the wartime coalition formed on Oct. 11, 2023 in the aftermath of Hamas’s massacre.

“For this reason, I appreciate it that Gideon Sa’ar acceded to my request and agreed to return to the government today,” the premier added. “This move contributes to unity among us, and unity against our enemies.”

Sa’ar, who will join the Security Cabinet, noted his up-and-down ties with the premier, marked by periods in which the two maintained “a close and very good working relationship,” but also years of “political and personal rift.”

“Believe me, beloved citizens of Israel, since the morning of Saturday, October 7, it is meaningless to me,” said Sa’ar in reference to the Hamas invasion.

“In light of the current situation, and after consideration, I concluded that there is no point in me continuing to sit in the opposition, where the positions of most of its members on the subject of the war are different and even far removed from mine,” added Sa’ar.

Until two weeks ago, Sa’ar appeared set to replace Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, whom Netanyahu reportedly wanted to fire due to their differences on how to prosecute the war against Hamas and Hezbollah.

Sa’ar announced his decision to quit the previous unity government on March 25, two weeks after breaking up his alliance with Gantz’s National Unity Party.

At the time, Sa’ar blamed the government for what he described as a failure to accomplish its war goals and said the military campaign against Hamas had been managed “contrary to the national interest.”