Key Israeli Minister Quits Coalition as Netanyahu's Unity Govt Stumbles Under Pressure

Tel Aviv – Hours after United Nations Security Council passed a resolution that called for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza, Israeli minister Gideon Sa’ar announced his four-seat party’s departure from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu-led coalition. According to Times of Israel, Sa'ar announced his resignation on Monday evening, just two weeks after dissolving his political alliance with Benny Gantz. resignation came after Sa'ar's demand to be appointed to a high-level position in Israeli war cabinet was not met. With this, ruling coalition has not shrunk from 76 to 72 seats in 120-member Knesset. 

While declaring his resignation, Israeli minister insisted that his party h not joined emergency government just to warm seats. government in question was formulated following October 7 massacre by Hamas in Sourn Israel. Sa'ar also emphasized that Netanyahu ministration has so far failed to achieve its war aims in Gaza and he felt that he h no ability to influence its prosecution of conflict, Times of Israel reported. Amid chaos, reports are emerging that Sa'ar's exit has increased pressure on Gantz to quit emergency government as well. 

Sa'ar slams Netanyahu for delayed response to October 7 Massacre

Israeli minister noted that under Netanyahu, country's military progress in Gaza has slowed down. “To destroy military power of Hamas, it was necessary to act on a faster schedule,” Sa'ar averred. He went on to reason that slowing down military campaign in region has errored Jerusalem’s leverage to reach a deal to secure release of its hostages. “Hamas’s takeover of humanitarian aid also distances us from overthrow of its rule. We have been warning about this for months,” he asserted, complaining that “ navigation of campaign was largely taken away from security cabinet,” of which he is a member, “in favour of limited war cabinet," Times of Israel reported. “refore, we demanded two weeks ago to join war cabinet so that I could bring to table my experience from five cabinets over last 25 years,” he ded. 

Sa'ar insisted that he can not bear responsibility over current situation in Israel-Hamas war since he has little to no influence in policy-building process. “But I cannot bear responsibility as long as I have no…practical ability to influence direction of policy. I just don’t see any use in it anymore. We did not come to government to warm chairs. We came to government — which we opposed — to help people of Israel in a difficult time,” he said. Sa'ar's announcement came two weeks after former senior Likud member announced breakup of his alliance with Gantz under National Unity, formed ahe of previous election in 2022.