Political Bombshell In Israel As Prominent Likud Leader Gidon Sa’ar Leaves To Form Own Party

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Gidon Sa’ar, a former education minister and prominent member of the Likud party, has for many years been touted as a possible successor to Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu. This may explain why he has been sidelined for so long by the prime minister. In the latest Likud primaries Sa’ar, who is very popular with Likud voters, came in fifth but was not given any kind of ministerial position by Netanyahu, who has made a policy of ignoring and passing over all possible successors who may threaten his hegemony in the future.

Sa’ar challenged Netanyahu for the leadership of the Likud, the only MK who dared to do so, but swallowed his pride and bided his time before deciding Tuesday night to leave the Likud and form his own party. Sa’ar may be joined by other disgruntled Likudniks who are tired of protecting a prime minister who they feel is more concerned with his court cases than with successfully leading the country. There is also talk that Sa’ar will be joined by the two members of the Derech Eretz faction, who joined the government together with Blue and White but maintain similar right-wing views to Sa’ar, unlike other more centrist members of Blue and White.

In a fiery critique of his erstwhile party leader, Sa’ar said that his party had become a “tool for the personal interests of the person in charge, including matters relating to his criminal trial,” and had fostered “a cult of personality” around Netanyahu.

“Likud has changed its character dramatically in recent years,” he said. “I can no longer support the Netanyahu-led government or be a member of a Likud party led by him… Today Israel needs unity and stability — Netanyahu can offer neither.”

While Likud members downplay Sa’ar’s departure, claiming that he was an unimportant member of the Likud disappointed by his political position, polls demonstrate that if he successfully forms a party he could significantly change the political situation in Israel. A poll by radio station 103FM said that Sa’ar’s party, dubbed “New Hope” could gain as many as 17 seats in the Knesset, taking 3 from the Likud, 4 from Yemina, 4 from Blue and White and 4 from Yesh Atid, taking him to a primary position in the formation of a future right-wing government. Sa’ar (54) who is traditional and a Sabbath observer, could also find common ground with Chareidim and may persuade them to leave their longstanding partnership with Likud in return for a significant position in a government which is not controlled and dictated by the Likud leader.