Sa’ar declines offer to replace Gallant, doesn't rule out another seat
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MK Gideon Sa’ar has declared that he will not accept the Security Minister position, which he claims was offered to him for the first time by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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Israeli Prime Minister and Likud party leader Benjamin Netanyahu (L) speaks to MP Gideon Sa'ar at the end of a party meeting in al-Quds (AFP)
MK Gideon Sa’ar has announced that he will not accept the position of security minister, a role he says was offered to him for the first time by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Sa’ar, leader of the New Hope party and a former Likud MK, stated that it is inappropriate to have a security minister “on the shelf” while current Security Minister Yoav Gallant is in office.
He mentioned that he had initially agreed to take the position "about a week ago," but he has since reconsidered his decision due to recent developments along the northern border.
According to Sa’ar, "Israel" requires “an up-to-date security concept” and a rebuilding of the military to be able to meet future challenges and insists that a veteran of the security establishment, “contaminated with failed concepts” cannot be the person to enact the necessary changes to the military — hinting at Gallant.
While he turned down the security ministry position, he didn't rule out joining the government in another capacity.
A flashback
Earlier this week, the internal Israeli dispute over the withdrawal from the Philadelphi Corrdior, the prisoner exchange deal and the expansion of the war in the North intensified the political crisis within the war cabinet, raising concerns about the possible dismissal of Security Minister Yoav Gallant by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israeli media reported that a senior official in the ruling coalition stated that negotiations to replace Gallant with Knesset member Gideon Sa'ar are underway, saying, "When Netanyahu decides to dismiss Gallant, it will happen."
Read more: Looming war in North threatens vast swathes of 'Israel': Lapid
For his part, Sa'ar's office denied any "negotiations regarding the content of the draft law between Sa'ar or anyone from the Haredi parties or any other party," adding that "on a substantive level – [his] position has always been that any legislation must be based on the needs of the Israeli army and coordinated with the security establishment."
Similarly, Netanyahu’s office denied reports of an agreement to include Knesset member Sa'ar in the government, stating, "The reports regarding negotiations with [Sa'ar] are incorrect," while a Shas Party official told Israel 24 news channel that "we are not aware of any serious discussion about matters that concern us."
Expanding the war on the northern front
Israeli media confirmed that the main issue now is an attack in Lebanon "that could lead to a war against Hezbollah, which is what Sa'ar is currently focused on."
They pointed out that Gallant says in discussions that expanding the current fighting to the northern front before exhausting efforts in Gaza would be a mistake and that an agreement in Gaza should be reached.
Read more: North 'neglected, burnt'; 'we are in state of collapse': Israeli media
At the same time, the Security Minister says that "soon there will be no choice but to address the situation with Lebanon militarily," while media close to Netanyahu reported that "Gallant and Netanyahu agree in most cases, but things are expressed differently."
It is worth noting that "Israel" has escalated its aggression on Lebanon this week with electronic attacks on Tuesday and Wednesday and Israeli aggression on the Southern Suburb of Beirut on Friday, leaving 74 martyrs and thousands of injuries.
