Former senior Likud minister, Gideon Saar, who is rumored to be contemplating a return to politics with his own new party, confirms he has no plans to compete in the Likud primaries. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has moved up the primaries to February 2015, Purim Koton 5776.

Channel 2 correspondent Amit Segal asked him via Twitter “Assuming Netanyahu succeeds in holding primaries in five minutes, as he planned, are you going to run”.

Saar replied, “To answer the heart of your question, I do not take part in puppet shows and I wish Netanyahu success in his campaign as I do the other players in the show”.

Saar was at the height of his Likud career when he decided to take a break from politics about 2 years ago. Many saw him as a viable candidate to unseat PM Netanyahu. It now appears that Saar may be back for elections for the 21st Knesset under the banner of a new party which he will be heading.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)