Conservative Minster Resigns From Netanyahu's Emergency Government

Multiple journalists reporting that Conservative Israeli Minister Gideon Sa'ar has resigned and will remove his party Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's emergency government, which was set up following the October 7 attacks.

• Amichai Stein at Kann reports that Sa'ar, "says he and his party are leaving Netanyahu's coalition because they were not allowed to join the war cabinet."
• Sa'ar's New Hope party currently holds four seats in the Knesset and is a member of the National Unity bloc led by Benny Gantz. It is unlikely that the move will trigger a general election but demonstrates that the Israeli government is being increasingly fragmented.
• Barack Ravid at Axios notes: "Saar's move will put more pressure on Benny Gantz and his centrist party to leave the government too."
• A short time ago Gantz posted a statement on X criticising Netanyahu's decision to scrap a Israeli security delegation to the US: "...the special relationship between Israel and the United States is an anchor in Israel's security and foreign relations, and the direct dialogue with the American administration is an essential asset that must not be given up even when there are challenges and disputes."
• Gantz continued: "Not only is it right for the delegation to travel - the prime minister would do well if he himself traveled to the USA, and held a direct dialogue with President Biden and the senior administration officials."