A seasoned Israeli minister, Gideon Saar, who had aligned with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s emergency unity government following the October 7 attack, announced his resignation on Monday. His reason? Feeling sidelined from the highest echelons of the war cabinet.
Saar, among other opposition figures, had joined forces with the government to navigate the complexities of the conflict in Gaza.
The departure of Saar, alongside another ally, is not anticipated to rock the stability of Netanyahu’s administration at the moment, which still maintains a firm grip on the parliamentary majority.
Saar, once a contender against Netanyahu within the right-wing Likud party, later shifted towards a more centrist alliance under the leadership of former military chief Benny Gantz. Their collaboration led them to the emergency government. While Gantz secured a spot in the pivotal war cabinet, Saar found himself excluded.
In his televised statement, Saar expressed his inability to bear the responsibility when lacking substantial influence over policy direction. His decision to step down was unsurprising, especially after his recent dissolution of the alliance with Gantz.
