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In a surprise move, the man who is viewed by many as the person who will unseat Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu from his Likud leadership role has announced he is stepping down. Interior Minister Gideon Saar announced he is taking a break from politics. The senior Likud official made his announced at a Wednesday evening 22 Elul pre-Rosh Hashanah party event in Ramat Gan. The event was attended by Likud faction cabinet ministers and senior party officials.

“In life, one is compelled to make changes at times even if it is not easy, and this is not easy. After weighing the situation, thinking and consulting with many people, I have made the decision to take a break from political life to address new challenges”. The minister will leave his post following the Tishrei yomim Tovim.

The immediate response of participants was to shout out to Saar to reconsider. “Don’t be angry at me” Saar responded, explaining for now he wishes to enjoy more privacy and more family time.

The minister used the forum to boast his accomplishments prior to making the announcement. He spoke of his pervious term as education minister, and the establishment of Ariel University. He is especially proud of including the Ma’aras HaMachpelah on the list of areas visited by public school students. He explained this was special to him for the holy site represents the roots of the Jewish People.

He added that as interior minister he succeeded in lengthening the period of daylight savings time, legislated the law against infiltrators from African countries, and widespread reforms in the area of building planning.

In his almost 12 years as a MK and minister, Saar gained considerable popularity in Likud and of late, was viewed as the next party leader by many members of the central committee ruling body.

Some believe his decision is connected to the growing rivalry between him and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and the fact that Saar’s wife Geula Even was suspended from her post as an IBA Evening News anchorwoman. The program’s manager ousted her recently for allegedly not giving PM Netanyahu adequate air time, claiming Saar’s rivalry with the prime minister impacted Even’s decision-making process.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)