Reported talks on Sa’ar joining government said to fail over demand for defense role
New Hope chairman’s spokesman denies contacts with Likud, says ‘there were no negotiations so there was no breakdown’; ruling party has been said to be looking to replace Gallant
Sam Sokol is the Times of Israel's political correspondent. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
Alleged discussions aimed at having New Hope chairman Gideon Sa’ar return to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition reportedly broke down this week after the premier’s wife and advisers indicated that they would not trust the hawkish former Likud politician as defense minister.
According to Channel 12, Sa’ar had demanded the defense portfolio but was rebuffed, instead being offered alternative roles such as foreign or justice minister rather than anything related to national security.
A spokesman for Sa’ar denied the report and its premise, telling The Times of Israel that “there were no negotiations so there was no breakdown.”
“We didn’t receive an offer,” the spokesman added.
As trust has dwindled between Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, rumors have begun circulating that the prime minister is prepared to offer the position to Sa’ar, whose New Hope party quit the coalition earlier this year after he was denied a spot on the now-defunct war cabinet.
Addressing reporters in the Knesset last month, Sa’ar denied being contacted by Netanyahu about serving as defense minister, although he appeared somewhat less definitive over the weekend during an interview with Channel 12.
Asked if he would be willing to serve as defense minister in the current government, Sa’ar appeared to hint that he would consider the option, replying that he “won’t tie my hands” on the matter.
Sa’ar, whose New Hope joined the wartime government days after October 7 as part of Benny Gantz’s National Unity party, later split his faction from Gantz’s and in March announced his party’s departure from the coalition after his demand to be admitted to the high-level war cabinet was denied. He argued that the government had failed to achieve its war aims in Gaza and he felt that he had no ability to influence its prosecution of the conflict.
Sa’ar and members of his party have since harshly criticized the government’s management of the war in Gaza — and he has said he would be willing to make “concessions” to create a right-wing bloc opposing Netanyahu.
Associates of Netanyahu have reportedly been deliberating the possible ouster of Gallant in the coming months.
Channel 12 news, without citing sources, reported last month that Netanyahu’s inner circle considers Gallant a renegade within the coalition due to positions that have often put him at odds with the premier, including on Haredi military conscription, the war with Hamas in Gaza and the handling of disagreements with the US administration.
Gallant was already a target of right-wing ire before the war sparked by Hamas’s October 7 onslaught, including from within Likud. Netanyahu fired Gallant in March 2023 after the latter called on the government to pause its controversial judicial overhaul legislation, but reversed the move following an unprecedented public outcry.
Speaking on national broadcaster Kan’s main evening news program last Friday evening, Walla News political correspondent Tal Shalev reported that Netanyahu had planned to axe Gallant when he returned from his recent visit to the United States, but the dismissal was held up by Hezbollah’s deadly attack on Majdal Shams and the killing last week of two terror chiefs.
She added that there were sources in Netanyahu’s circle who said that after replacing Gallant, the premier plans to also dismiss IDF chief Herzi Halevi and Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, to eliminate opposition to the way he is handling the negotiations for the return of hostages seized by Hamas on October 7 and suppress their charges that he’s at risk of sabotaging a deal.
Both Sa’ar and Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman have been in touch with former prime minister Naftali Bennett, who is widely expected to make a political comeback in the near future.
However, it appears unlikely that the three will manage to come together and create a united electoral front, despite Sa’ar’s stated flexibility.
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
