Gideon Sa'ar
Gideon Sa'ar is a prominent Israeli politician currently serving as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. A veteran of the Likud party who later founded the New Hope party, Sa'ar is known for his hawkish security positions, diplomatic pragmatism, and firm stance on Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria.
Gideon Sa'ar is a central figure in Israel's national-liberal camp. Throughout his career, Sa'ar has held several high-ranking ministerial positions, including Minister of Justice, Minister of Education, and Minister of Interior. Originally a rising star in the Likud party, he eventually broke away to form the New Hope (Tikva Hadasha) party, positioning himself as a right-wing alternative to Benjamin Netanyahu. Sa'ar's political philosophy combines a firm commitment to Israeli security and sovereignty in Judea and Samaria with a focus on the rule of law and institutional stability.
In his capacity as Foreign Minister, Sa'ar has spearheaded a series of bold diplomatic shifts throughout 2026. He led the historic cabinet decision to officially recognize the 1915 Armenian massacre as genocide and has significantly expanded Israel's diplomatic footprint in Latin America. Under his tenure, Israel restored full ties with Colombia, which included the recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights and a commitment to move the Colombian embassy to Jerusalem. Sa'ar has also utilized humanitarian diplomacy, authorizing aid missions to countries like Venezuela despite a lack of formal ties.
Most recently, Sa'ar has taken a leading role in responding to international pressure. In September 2026, he announced a series of severe retaliatory measures against the United Kingdom following British trade restrictions on Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria. These measures included the closure of the British consulate in Jerusalem, the termination of British training for Palestinian Authority security forces, and the barring of entry for several high-profile British officials, including Jeremy Corbyn. Domestically, Sa'ar remains a pivotal player; while he initially positioned himself as a rival to Netanyahu, recent months have seen a strategic realignment, with reports of a potential return to the Likud fold to strengthen the right-wing bloc.