Under emerging deal to join government, Sa’ar to get veto over judicial overhaul — report

Under an emerging deal to bring the New Hope party into the coalition, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will likely give party chairman Gideon Sa’ar a veto over moves related to the controversial judicial overhaul, the Walla news site reports.

The unsourced report does not give further details and comes amid a flurry of reports that Netanyahu is preparing to fire Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and is considering appointing Sa’ar as his replacement.

Sa’ar, a former justice minister, has expressed opposition to large parts of the judicial reform that critics said was undermining Israel’s democracy. The reform was largely suspended amid mass protests and the outbreak of the war.

If the post of defense minister does not pan out, Sa’ar may receive the foreign minister role while Israel Katz takes over for Gallant, Channel 12 reported. It also claimed that New Hope MKs Ze’ev Elkin and Sharren Haskel may be offered ministerial portfolios.

The Prime Minister’s Office denied negotiations with Sa’ar, and a spokesman for Sa’ar claimed there was “nothing new” on the matter.