Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and National Unity Party leader Gideon Sa’ar held a joint statement this evening (Sunday), where the former minister announced his return to the government for the second time during the war. Sa’ar will be appointed as a minister without portfolio, become a member of the security-political cabinet, and participate in Netanyahu’s smaller security consultation forum.
The Defense Ministry position, which Sa’ar had announced he declined about a week ago in exchange for joining the government, has not been promised to him, but the possibility has not been entirely ruled out either. For now, Sa’ar will not rejoin Likud, but that could also happen later.
The one who mediated between the sides was Justice Minister Yariv Levin. Political sources estimate that after the security situation in the north calms down, the agreement between Netanyahu and Sa’ar will expand, partly based on negotiations from their previous round, though this will take time.
“Gideon Sa’ar responded to my request to return to the government,” Netanyahu said in the statement this evening, adding: “With the outbreak of the war, I immediately acted to form as broad and stable a government as possible. Therefore, I greatly appreciated the joining of Benny Gantz and Gideon Sa’ar to the government, and I was saddened when they left. For the same reason, I appreciate that Gideon Sa’ar responded to my request and agreed today to return to the government. This move contributes to unity within us and unity against our enemies.”
According to Netanyahu, during the cabinet discussions, he was “very impressed with Sa’ar’s broad vision and his ability to offer creative solutions to complex problems. Many times, we saw eye to eye on the necessary actions. It’s no secret that we had disagreements in the past, but since October 7, both of us have put all the past differences behind us. This was the case when Gideon Sa’ar joined the government in October, and it is the case now as he returns to the government and the security-political cabinet. We will work together, side by side, and I intend to rely on him in forums that impact the management of the war.”
Sa’ar, in his statement, said he regretted resigning from the government last March, despite supporting the war objectives, at a point when he felt he could no longer influence as a member of the war cabinet. “At the time, when I resigned from the government, I criticized what I saw as stagnation. It is clear that the approach expressed from Beirut to Hudaydah is an unmistakably activist approach, one that I have always supported.”
He added: “Therefore, I accepted Netanyahu’s request to join the government and contribute my experience and abilities to its decision-making processes. This is the patriotic and right thing to do now. I am joining the government at this stage without a coalition agreement – but with a clear worldview and a strong patriotic commitment to our people. I have had many years of close and good working relations with the Prime Minister in the past, as well as years of political and personal rift.”
“In the current government, we worked together constructively and without any lingering tensions. We remained in contact afterward. Our conversations focused on the war and its various aspects. We found broad common ground. I believe we can work together, side by side, without barriers, for the sake of Israel and its security.” He concluded, “In the current situation, and after careful consideration, I came to the conclusion that there is no point in remaining in the opposition, where the positions of most of its members on the war are different, even far from my own. This is a time when my duty is to try and contribute at the decision-making table.”
