Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said he regretted resigning from the government last March in a post on X/Twitter on Monday night, which was a response to media reporting the decision that he allegedly will rejoin the Likud.
"The attack on me over the past day by the opposition, together with their media allies, has reached new heights of lies and cynicism—no small feat," Sa'ar began.
"I resigned from the government last March due to genuine disagreements over the war and the ability to influence decision-making," he said, adding, however, that "in hindsight, it was a move I would have avoided."
He added that, while it may disappoint the public, he is "a right-winger" and "has been [his] entire life, and will remain so."
לעולם לא אחזור ל-6 באוקטובר.המתקפה עלי ביממה האחרונה של האופוזיציה יחד עם כלי התקשורת שלה שברה שיאים של שקרים וציניות, וזה באמת לא אתגר קל. מקרינים קטעי ארכיון שלא אשב עם נתניהו מלפני שתי מערכות בחירות. מודיעים שאתמוך ב״חוק ההשתמטות״. והכל באיצטלה של קדושה מוסרית בפה ואובססיית…
— Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) December 30, 2024
Sa'ar said the media's broadcasting of archival clips of him saying he wouldn’t sit with Netanyahu from two election cycles ago, and media claims that he supports haredi exemption from the IDF is "fake after fake after fake."
"And all this under the guise of moral sanctity," he continued, "while their hearts are consumed by an obsession to unseat Netanyahu—as if we haven’t endured the most difficult year in our history."
He gave the media a stern message: "Your pressure to topple the government that is grappling with immense security and diplomatic challenges will fail."
Sa'ar also noted that Prime Minister Netanyahu is leading a "historic campaign in a way that even the fairest among his greatest rivals admit is transforming the Middle East" and took a jab at opposition leader Yair Lapid, suggesting he would be less effective in the role.
Reiterating his own commitment to his country, Sa'ar said he has proven that he knows how to fight when necessary, pay enormous prices when necessary, resign when he believes in it, give up any position—including the prime ministership—and not cling to a chair—more than any other public servant."
Rising above the attacks
Part of this, Sa'ar emphasized, is his commitment to never returning to October 6.
"In the choice between politics and patriotism, for me, patriotism will always win," he said. "But the October 6 types will always prefer Jewish infighting.
The personal attacks directed at him would have no impact on his resolve and commitment to the task at hand, Sa'ar concluded.
"All the attacks on me only strengthen my resolve in the path I’ve chosen: to lead the diplomatic front as Foreign Minister and to support the government in managing the security campaign in critical forums."
Sa’ar announced that he was leaving the government at a press conference in March, just a few weeks after he threatened to do so if he wasn’t added to the war cabinet. At the time, he accused the government of dragging out the war.
Just two weeks before, Sa’ar said he was splitting from Benny Gantz’s National Unity party, saying the party did not reflect his views and positions. Sa'ar allied with Gantz in 2022.
In 2020, Sa'ar left Likud to form his party, New Hope, and run for prime minister at the time.
When Sa'ar left Likud in 2020, he said that the "party had changed" and "became a tool serving the personal interests of its leader, including in his criminal trial."
“I can no longer support the government under Netanyahu, and I can no longer be a member of Likud under his leadership. I say with regret, as someone who saw him as the right leader to lead the country and served in senior roles in his governments, Israel needs unity and stability no,w and Netanyahu cannot provide either one," Sa'ar added at the time.
Jerusalem Post Staff and Eliav Breuer contributed to this report.