Gideon Sa’ar: I can form unity government

Sa’ar positioned himself as the one who could save the country from a third round of elections.

By World Israel News Staff

In what appeared to be a challenge for the Likud leadership, MK Gideon Sa’ar said he could form a unity government. He made his remarks on Thursday while speaking at The Jerusalem Post Diplomatic Conference at Jerusalem’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

“If we are in front of new elections, we need to set a Likud leadership primary. I think I will be able to form a government, and I think I will be able to unify the nation,”Sa’ar said.

Sa’ar disagreed with the decision of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to hold a Likud primary in the event of a third consecutive election.

The “Likud has not had a real leadership primary for several years already. The last serious candidate to pose a threat to Netanyahu’s leadership of Likud was Silvan Shalom in 2005 after Ariel Sharon left to form the Kadima party,” The Jerusalem Post reports.

It may be that Netanyahu fears a challenge from Sa’ar, who is considered his most likely successor.

On Wednesday night, Blue and White leader Benny Gantz informed President Reuven Rivlin that he could not form a governing coalition, sending the country to a third round of elections in less than one year.

The next elections will take place in March 2020.

Benjamin NetanyahuGideon SaarIsraeli elections 2019Likud