Sa’ar Declines Defense Post as Israel Faces Rising Threats from Hezbollah
MK Gideon Sa’ar announced on Saturday that he had declined Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s offer to become Israel’s defense minister amid escalating conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon. The offer was part of a proposal to bring Sa’ar’s New Hope party into the coalition, but Sa’ar stated that the timing was inappropriate given the ongoing hostilities.
Sa’ar’s announcement followed months of speculation about his potential return to the government and came as reports suggested that current Defense Minister Yoav Gallant was on the verge of being replaced. However, plans to remove Gallant appear to have been sidelined due to recent developments, including major Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon and the possibility of a retaliatory attack from the terror group.
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“I do not want the minds of those who bear the burden of managing the campaign at this time to be distracted for an indefinite period of time by [my] candidacy,” Sa’ar explained in a post on Telegram. He added that it would be inappropriate for Gallant to manage the current security crisis with a potential successor waiting in the wings.
Despite rejecting the defense minister position, Sa’ar did not rule out joining the government in another capacity, pledging to continue promoting his security vision. He noted that while he had agreed to the role a week ago, the deteriorating situation on the northern border had prompted him to reconsider.
Rumors of Gallant’s impending dismissal have circulated for months, fueled by tensions within Netanyahu’s cabinet and Gallant’s opposition to various government policies. Sa’ar’s decision also comes amid criticism over his qualifications for the defense portfolio and accusations that his appointment would have been politically motivated.
