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Gideon Saar, the chief rival of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from the governing Likud party, declared on Tuesday he was snapping away to build a new political party before of elections awaited early next year.
In a declaration broadcast on national television, Saar stated Netanyahu had failed the management of the health and economic crisis arising from the coronavirus pandemic and turned Likud into a medium for personal continuance at a time when he is on trial for bribery and corruption charges.
Saar announced he could not work under Netanyahu any longer and would be seeking the prime minister’s office himself as the leader of a new party.
“A change in the nation’s leadership is required,” Saar announced. “Today, Israel wants unity and confidence. Netanyahu cannot and will not be able to provide either.”
Saar, 53, compared Likud members’ assistance for Netanyahu to one of a “personality cult”.
Declaring his resignation from Likud and Parliament, Saar stated that he had decided to build and start a new political movement in the country where he will be representing his new party as Prime Ministerial candidate in upcoming general elections.
Saar has been a senior cabinet minister under Prime Minister Netanyahu, and he has been considered as a rising star in Likud.
Previously, Saar has headed positions like Education Minister and Interior Minister under the administration of current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
But similar to other Likud members who have grown too fast, he started to be observed by Netanyahu as a threat. He took a pause from politics in 2014, then restored to Likud last year, only to be beaten by Netanyahu in a party primary.