The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation said, “Gideon Sa’ar will take over the Ministry of Defense instead of… Yoav Galant“
A report by Israel’s Channel 7 on Monday suggested that the head of the New Hope party, Gideon Sa’ar, could soon join Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, in light of the intensive talks that took place on Sunday between Sa’ar’s advisers and Netanyahu. The channel said that Sa’ar wants to be appointed Minister of Defense, and this is the focus of the intensive talks between the two sides.
Last week, Maariv newspaper quoted Yisrael Beiteinu party leader Avigdor Lieberman as saying that Netanyahu wants to get rid of Defense Minister Yoav Galant soon and seeks to include Sa’ar in the government. However, he said that Netanyahu’s office staff wants Sa’ar in the Defense Ministry, but Netanyahu wants him in the Foreign Ministry, with current Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz taking over as Defense Minister.
Channel 12 said that all members of the New Hope party in the Knesset are expected to receive government positions, noting that Ze’ev Elkin will be the minister responsible for managing Takuma in the north and south, and will receive an additional portfolio from the Shas party, possibly the Health Ministry. Member Sharren Haskel will receive the Environmental Protection Ministry, while Michal Busikla will head a Knesset committee.
In addition to these guaranteed places, Sa’ar will also demand positions for his colleagues in Likud institutions, including a return to the Likud Center, from which they were expelled.