Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has appointed his former rival, Gideon Saar, as a member of his Cabinet, in a move to expand his coalition and strengthen his authority in office. The agreement specifies that Saar will serve as a minister without portfolio and as a member of the Security Cabinet, which oversees Israel’s operations against its enemies in the Middle East.
Saar, aged 57, was eyeing the position of Defense Minister, currently held by another Netanyahu rival, Yoav Gallant. However, due to escalating tensions with Hezbollah, the deal to appoint Saar as defense minister fell through, leaving Gallant in his position for the time being. Saar, a seasoned politician, left Netanyahu’s Likud party four years ago, citing the transformation of the party into a “cult of personality” by the prime minister as he faced corruption allegations.
Although Saar and Netanyahu have had a strained relationship, they have set aside their differences for the greater good of the nation. Saar, known for his hard-line stance on Israel’s enemies, shares a similar ideology with Netanyahu. He believes in continued conflict until Hamas is eliminated and advocates for stronger actions against Iran, the supporter of Hezbollah. Both leaders staunchly oppose the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Netanyahu’s decision to appoint Saar appears to be influenced by internal politics. Facing upcoming political challenges such as drafting ultra-Orthodox men into the army, passing a budget, and his ongoing corruption trial, Netanyahu sees Saar as a valuable ally in navigating these issues. Additionally, this appointment is likely to diminish the influence of ultranationalist members in the coalition who have threatened to destabilise the government.
The agreement reached on Sunday not only provides Saar with an opportunity to revive his political career and potentially become prime minister in the future but also bolsters Netanyahu’s majority coalition to 68 seats in the 120-seat parliament. The move is significant in reshaping the political landscape in Israel and ensuring Netanyahu’s grip on power amid various challenges both domestically and internationally.