Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has appointed Gideon Saar, a former rival, to his Cabinet in a move aimed at expanding his coalition and solidifying his position in office. Saar, 57, will serve as a minister without portfolio and will be a member of the Security Cabinet, which oversees Israel's ongoing military operations in the Middle East.
Saar, a veteran politician, had previously hoped to replace Defense Minister Yoav Gallant but the appointment fell through due to heightened tensions with Hezbollah along Israel's northern border. Despite past differences with Netanyahu, Saar shares a hard-line stance on Israel's security and has called for decisive action against Hamas and Iran.
