Gideon Saar, who is running for the Likud party leadership position, hoping to unseat Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, met with Minister of Public Security (Likud) Gilad Erdan, who in recent weeks has remained silent as to which of the two he backs for the party’s leadership.

According to a KAN Reshet Bet Radio report, the two met with one another as clearly, Saar is seeking to determine if he can count on Erdan’s backing or if the latter will remain loyal to his current boss, PM Netanyahu.

Erdan has remained silent and has not spoken about political matters since Attorney General Dr. Avichai Mandelblit announced his intention to file criminal indictments against the prime minister.

According to the radio report, persons close to Saar report that he is asking Erdan to back his bid for the party’s leadership or at the very least, not to take a side in the Likud leadership election.

Erdan is remaining silent for the time being, and both he and Saar have declined to relate to the report.

Saar told Reshet Bet “If only I had a caressing media like the prime minister. I do not know one politician in Israel who has so many journalists who echo his messages”.

Regarding his bid for the party leadership race, he added, I have held many posts, also managing the largest offices in the country, even in the most important office forums including the Security Cabinet, and in almost every parliamentary and ministerial roles”.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)