Netanyahu to Appoint Gideon Sa'ar as Minister of the Interior
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will appoint Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar as part-time Minister of the Interior, ending a year-long vacancy at the helm of the critical government agency.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will submit the appointment of Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar as Minister of the Interior for cabinet approval on Wednesday, the Likud party announced. Sa'ar will hold the interior portfolio on a part-time basis alongside his current diplomatic duties as foreign minister. The appointment is temporary and does not require Knesset approval, given the transitional status of the government.
According to Likud, the prime minister initially offered the post to MK Ofir Katz, who declined in order to focus on managing the coalition's legislative agenda in the Knesset. The Interior Ministry has lacked a permanent minister for a year, following the resignation of Moshe Arbel in July 2025 amid the exemption crisis, after which Justice Minister Yariv Levin temporarily oversaw the office.
The prolonged vacancy prompted severe criticism from local authorities and legal watchdogs. Last month, Modi'in Mayor and Federation of Local Authorities Chairman Haim Bibas slammed the paralysis at a public conference, warning that the vital ministry had ceased to function. In August, the state informed the High Court of Justice that Netanyahu intended to appoint an interior minister during the election period, following a petition by the Movement for Quality Government.
The absence of a permanent minister forced the government to transfer dozens of statutory powers to the prime minister. Local media reports noted that the interior portfolio carries critical responsibilities for upcoming legislative elections, including voter registries and soldier voting, alongside immigration, local governance, municipal taxation, and urban planning.
