Gideon Sa'ar Decides not to Run against Netanyahu for Likud Leadership

Senior Likud member Gideon Sa'ar announced Thursday he will not run against Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu for the leadership of the Likud party.

Sa'ar, an old friend of the Prime Minister, resigned from the Knesset several months ago for a “vacation” from politics. Likud party members who want the Likud to take a stronger hawkish stand have been lobbying him to try to take over the reins, with the enthusiastic support of Israel’s major print and electronic media that have been trying for years to undermine Netanyahu.

The Prime Minister showed Wednesday night he still is in charge after succeeding to win a 2-1 majority to back his proposal to move up by several days the vote for who will continue to lead the Likud.