Who they are
Sa'ar was born in Tel Aviv in 1966 to a paediatrician who immigrated from Argentina and a teacher of Bukharan descent. He studied law at Tel Aviv University, reported for Hadashot and Channel 2 News, then served as cabinet secretary under Netanyahu and Sharon. He entered the Knesset in 2003 and was education minister from 2009 to 2013. He founded New Hope in December 2020 and merged it back into Likud in 2025.
Positions and record
Diplomacy: Manages wartime diplomacy and pushes back on European pressure.
Judiciary: As foreign minister, co-authored the 2025 Levin-Sa'ar judicial overhaul package with Justice Minister Levin and ruled out negotiating its core elements -- a reversal from his opposition-era criticism of the original 2023 reform.
Security: Opposes a Palestinian state; hawkish on territorial concessions.
Where they stand
Breaks with the party line on 2 issues, marked below.
Judea & Samariaparty linePro-settlement, no Palestinian state; annexation deferred
Two states / withdrawalSovereignty / annexation
Gaza & Securityparty lineBacks the Trump plan on Israel's terms: disarm Hamas first
Deal & disengagementFull military control
Haredi Enlistmentpersonal positionAnnounced his party would vote against the 2024 Haredi daycare law, saying it would signal encouragement of evasion from IDF service
Universal draftPreserve exemptions
Judiciaryparty lineAdvance override and appointments reform
Court can strike lawsKnesset can override
Economyparty lineFree-market in name; raised VAT, grew coalition funds
Social spendingFree market
Educationpersonal positionAs education minister withheld 11 million shekels from Haredi schools that refused the core curriculum, the cut the party's line says it never makes
State runs the schoolsParents and communities
Religion & Stateparty lineStatus quo with religious partners
Civil / pluralistReligious authority
Nation & Citizenshipparty lineNation-State Law, Jewish self-determination only
Equal citizenshipJewish national state
