Gideon Sa'ar
Foreign Minister of Israel (from November 2024) · New Hope / National Right
3 changes of mind on record, 2020–2026
How this works
Each change shows what they said then and what they said later, in their own words, dated, with the source.
Every quote is checked word for word against a saved copy of its source. Translations are labelled.
The short labels on each line are our summaries.
At a glance
- Judicial reform Override court rulingsReform by agreementJudge-selection law stands May 2020Jan 2023Jun 2026
- The Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara Backs the AG’s officeAttacks the AG Jan 2022Jan 2023Mar 2025
- Serving in a government headed by Netanyahu Won’t serve under NetanyahuIn Netanyahu’s government Dec 2020Jul 2022Sept 2024
first said said otherwise
Judicial reform
Then
Override court rulings
As a Likud MK he says the Knesset must begin legislating override clauses against High Court rulings, and announces an override bill on the infiltrators law.
"בג"ץ סיפק לנו רק בשבועות האחרונים כמה דוגמאות ברורות למה אנחנו חייבים להתחיל חקיקה של פסיקת ההתגברות לגבי נושאים שונים"
Our translation In the last weeks alone the High Court has given us a few clear examples of why we must start legislating override on various subjects
Source גדעון סער: "אניח על שולחן הכנסת את פסקת ההתגברות" (אמס) (as reported by emess.co.il)
2 years, 8 months later
Later
Reform by agreement
At his own conference, he says the legal system needs reform but only an evolutionary one, based on principles that were agreed in the past, and rejects Levin's plan.
"רפורמה אבולוציונית ולא רבולוציונית. רפורמה המבוססת על המסורת המשטרית שלנו ועל עקרונות היסוד שהיו בעבר מוסכמים."
Our translation An evolutionary reform, not a revolutionary one. A reform based on our constitutional tradition and on basic principles that were agreed in the past.
Source סער על הרפורמה המשפטית: "הקול הוא לוין והידיים ידי נתניהו" (מעריב) (as reported by maariv.co.il)
3 years, 5 months later
Latest
Judge-selection law stands
As Foreign Minister, during the High Court hearing on the law changing the judicial selection committee that he co-authored, he warns the justices against striking it down.
"פסילה כוחנית של החוק ע"י שופטי בג"ץ לא תהיה רק חסרת בסיס, אלא גם קצרת רואי במיוחד."
Our translation A forceful striking down of the law by the High Court justices will be not only baseless but also especially short-sighted.
Source סער מזהיר את בג"ץ: "דחיית פשרות תביא לרפורמות רדיקליות" (מקור ראשון) (as reported by makorrishon.co.il)
Context: In January 2025 Saar and Justice Minister Levin presented a joint outline for changing the judicial selection committee; the law passed in March 2025 with effect from the next Knesset.
The Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara
Then
Backs the AG’s office
As justice minister he recommends Gali Baharav-Miara for Attorney General as the best candidate.
"אציע למנות את עו״ד בהרב-מיארה לא מטעם זה, אלא משום שהיא המועמדת הטובה ביותר, הבשלה ביותר, הראויה ביותר ועם הרקע המקצועי והניהולי העשיר והמרשים ביותר."
Our translation I will propose appointing attorney Baharav-Miara not for that reason, but because she is the best candidate, the most mature, the most worthy and with the richest and most impressive professional and managerial background.
Source מינוי היועמ"ש | סער: "אמליץ לממשלה לבחור את עו"ד גלי בהרב-מיארה" (כיפה, מצטט את הפוסט שלו) (as reported by kipa.co.il)
11 months later
Later
Backs the AG’s office
Opposing the Levin plan, he calls the total dismantling of the Attorney General's institution, including the binding legal opinion, dangerous.
"דבר אחר לחלוטין ומסוכן הוא פירוק מוחלט של מוסד היועמ"ש לממשלה, לרבות חוות דעתו המחייבת בעניינים של חוק ומשפט"
Our translation Something else entirely, and dangerous, is the total dismantling of the institution of the Attorney General, including her binding opinion on matters of law
Source סער על הרפורמה המשפטית: "הקול הוא לוין והידיים ידי נתניהו" (מעריב) (as reported by maariv.co.il)
2 years, 2 months later
Latest
Attacks the AG
As foreign minister he attacks the Attorney General in cabinet, comparing her eagerness to harm the government to kamikaze pilots.
"בניסיון למצוא דימוי הולם להתנהלות היועצת בלהיטותה לפגוע בממשלה נזכרתי בטייסי הקמיקזה במלחמת העולם השנייה שהתאבדו על יעדי האויב."
Our translation In trying to find a fitting image for the adviser's conduct, in her eagerness to harm the government, I recalled the kamikaze pilots of the Second World War who killed themselves on enemy targets.
Source סער תקף את היועמ"שית: המצאת עילה חדשה לבלט"ב (סרוגים) (as reported by srugim.co.il)
Context: Sa'ar, as justice minister in the Bennett–Lapid government, nominated Baharav-Miara, whom the cabinet appointed in February 2022; by March 2025 he sat in Netanyahu's cabinet, which voted to begin her dismissal.
Serving in a government headed by Netanyahu
Then
Won’t serve under Netanyahu
In no scenario will he sit in a government headed by Netanyahu, because Netanyahu's continued tenure is against the good of the state.
"בשום תסריט לא אשב בממשלה בראשותו, כי המשך כהונתו מנוגד לטובת המדינה ועל זה לא אתפשר."
Our translation In no scenario will I sit in a government headed by him, because his continued tenure is contrary to the good of the state, and on this I will not compromise.
1 year, 6 months later
Later
Won’t serve under Netanyahu
He turned down the Netanyahu bloc's offer of the first turn as prime minister in a rotation, and has turned down tempting offers again.
"את יודעת היטב, כמי שפעלה לשכנע אותי, שסרבתי לפני כשנה להצעת גוש נתניהו לכהן כראש ממשלה ראשון ברוטציה. הכל - בשביל להקים את הממשלה שאת יושבת בה. גם עתה קיבלתי הצעות מפתות - וסרבתי."
Our translation You know well, as someone who worked to persuade me, that about a year ago I refused the Netanyahu bloc's offer to serve as first prime minister in a rotation. All of it in order to form the government you sit in. Now too I have received tempting offers – and I refused.
2 years, 2 months later
Latest
In Netanyahu’s government
He is joining Netanyahu's government, without a coalition agreement, in wartime.
"אני מצטרף לממשלה בשלב זה ללא הסכם קואליציוני – אבל עם השקפת עולם סדורה ועם גישה פטריוטית עזה למען עמנו."
Our translation I am joining the government at this stage without a coalition agreement – but with an orderly worldview and with a fierce patriotic approach for our people.
Source נתניהו הודיע: "סער נענה לבקשתי לחזור לממשלה" (סרוגים) (as reported by srugim.co.il)
Context: Sa'ar left Likud in December 2020 and founded New Hope, which joined the Bennett–Lapid government in June 2021; in July 2022 he ran together with Benny Gantz. After the Hamas attack of 7 October 2023 he joined the emergency government, resigned from it in March 2024, and on 29 September 2024 returned to Netanyahu's government as a minister without portfolio; he became foreign minister in November 2024.