Many prominent Likud officials responded with shock and concern over the announced retirement of Gilad Saar. They fear that following the departure of Moshe Kahlon, Dr. Benny Begin, Dan Meridor, and now Saar, the party has been significantly weakened and it will be viewed as being sectoral, weak, radical and unfit to be the ruling party. As the party in recent years drifted astray from its Jabotinsky roots, many feel that all that remains is Miri Regev and Danny Danon, and they will distance the moderate right-wing, the primary party electorate.
Commenting on Saar’s decision to take a break from political life after the yomim tovim, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman praised Saar as being a leading cabinet minister, citing his tenure as education and interior minister, lauding his accomplishments and his leadership abilities. Lieberman added he will be missed in the public arena and he remains hopeful that Saar will continue contributing to the nation.
MK Itzik Shmuli (Labor) was among the many commenting as well, stating “If there was any doubt left that Likud is in crisis that doubt has just been eliminated. There are internal conflicts and the party is imploding. Likud has lost its most accomplished minister. I bid Gideon continued success”.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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3 Responses
Benny Begin, Dan Meridor didn’t depart, they were voted out for being the leftists of Likud.
Likud will now be MUCH stronger with more loyal leaders, like Moshe Feiglin who is much closer to Jabotinsky then Saar.
#1 with Meridor, you’re correct
Other than that, you’re out of your box
They should stage an inparty coup
(a liitle milder than what Ben gurion did in ’55)
If he was the minister who went along with extend citizenship to any “couple” regardless of their
“orientation” (read: השחתה),his leaving could only be a boon