Gideon Sa'ar is an Israeli politician and is currently a minister-without-portfolio as part of the National Unity Party.
He was born in Tel Aviv, where he also primarily grew up. He holds degrees in law and political science from Tel Aviv University.
He is married to Israeli news anchor Geual Even with whom he has two children. He has two other children from his first wife, Shelly.
Sa'ar clerked as an aide to the attorney-general and then for the state attorney before swerving into politics in 1999, eventually winning a seat in the Knesset on the Likud's list.
After taking a hiatus from politics, Sa'ar returned in 2017 and in December 2020 announced the formation of his own political party, New Hope.
In Israel's 36th government headed by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid Sa'ar took the position of justice minister.
In the current government, Sa'ar sits in the National Unity Party, a merger between his own party and the party of Benny Gantz. Though having been a member of the opposition for most of the current Knesset's tenure, he and his party joined as part of an emergency government due to the war with Hamas.
Sa’ar is trying to salvage his political career, and Netanyahu is trying to strengthen his government and ensure that he serves until the end of his term.
Sa'ar will serve as a minister-without-portfolio and a member of the National Security Cabinet.
United Right leader Gideon Sa'ar to serve in cabinet, raising coalition to 68 seats • Netanyahu gets breathing room for government's survival
Negotiations for Gideon Sa'ar to replace Yoav Gallant as defense minister stalled due to conflict with Hezbollah, sparking debate over the political and security implications.
It was reported this week that the prime minister had been in advanced talks with Sa'ar to replace Gallant in the near future.
Middle Israel: Gideon Sa’ar's career will be recalled as a tale of political zenith, public courage, and national hope that ended in moral collapse.
Yair Lapid criticized efforts to replace Defense Minister Gallant with Gideon Sa'ar, while Sa'ar refuted Lapid’s claims of security experience and past political offers.
MK Gadi Eisenkot criticized Gideon Sa'ar's potential appointment as defense minister, calling it unqualified and risky for Israeli security.
Israel's Business Forum urged Prime Minister Netanyahu to stop replacing Defense Minister Gallant, warning of increased division during wartime.
Replacing Defense Minister Gallant with MK Sa'ar strengthens Netanyahu's position and benefits the haredi parties, but faces protest challenges.
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