Conservative Gideon Saar, 56, joined the Government of Israel as a minister without portfolio after the terrorist attacks of October 7, which killed 1,400 and left a country in shock.
Trained in Likud, the major conservative party, Saar was Minister of Education and Justice and dared to challenge Benjamin Netanyahu in primaries for Likud leadership in 2019, without success. Shortly after, he left the Likud to form a conservative party – national sport in Israel – New Hope. He was deputy prime minister between June 2021 and December 2022 in the fragile anti-Netanyahu coalition government. His party has 12 deputies in the Knesset, the second of the opposition.
You who know him well, is Netanyahu the right leader for Israel at one of the most critical moments in its history?
On the morning of October 7, we put aside any internal political issues. This is not the time for domestic battles. Right now the only thing that is crucial is to win a war against the Nazis, with Nazi ideology and Nazi practices. I want to remember that in 2005 we withdrew completely from Gaza, we withdrew until the last settlement in the area. And since then we had only defended ourselves against the threats and the rockets that were thrown at us. And on October 7 the barbarians invaded us.
Do you think that Hamas organized terrorist attacks of this magnitude without the approval of Iran?
When the agents of Iran attack us from Yemen, Syria and Lebanon, it is clear that they attack directed by Iran. Iran has not been involved directly, these representatives are already involved on its behalf. Hamas is financed and trained by Iran. You have to see the direct implication.
What can Iran gain from this war unleashed by Hamas?
Opening a front against Israel, a very old vision, because they have always wanted to eliminate the State of Israel. We are the ones who prevent them from having nuclear weapons. They also aspired to break our society and the opposite is happening.
What is the difference between the children killed or kidnapped by Hamas and those who die in Gaza from the bombs dropped by the Israeli army?
Our army never aims to kill children or civilians, unlike what happened on October 7. We develop this war in accordance with international laws, we observe them to the fullest. But you, as a Spaniard, know what happened in the Civil War... Hamas uses Palestinians as human shields, they don't care about their lives.
Do you feel that the United States is supporting them 100% in these early days of ground warfare?
I want to remind you that Israel is a sovereign state and conducts war as it sees fit. Having said that, we are very grateful for the political and military support that the United States gives us, which is so important to us.
Are you worried about an apparent resurgence of anti-Semitism in Europe?
Naturally, but we know that anti-Semitism is a wild animal, which rears its head from time to time, even after the Holocaust it did not disappear. It will never disappear, and that is why they are asking all European governments to do everything possible to prevent these demonstrations.
Is it essential after the war to renew the leadership both in Israel and in the Palestinian National Authority and Gaza?
I have already told you that this is no time for political discussions and I will not enter into speculation on this matter. Now we are only interested in defeating the barbarians.
Do they care about losing the support of Western governments and their public opinion in a war that claims the lives of so many Palestinian civilians?
We still care, of course. It is normal for friends to criticize us, but we can assure them that we will conduct the war in accordance with the rules of international law. We are sensitive to the concerns, but we would also like, and we do not see, the Red Cross caring for and visiting the Israeli children who are abducted in Gaza.
Unlike other European presidents, Pedro Sánchez has not visited Israel after October 7. Does Spain have diplomatic capacity in hypothetical mediations?
I haven't been able to follow Spanish politics for a month. Do they already have a government?
It's up to you...
Spain is a country I love very much and I have relatives in Barcelona. I was sorry that President Sánchez skipped Israel when he visited the region (in the framework of the peace conference in Cairo on Saturday, October 21, which when it ended he interviewed Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Authority Palestinian National). I think that a show of solidarity could have been a visit to Israel.
There is always time...
Yes, there is always time to visit Israel. Spain is a friendly country of Israel and we can have disagreements, but we have received the attacks of some barbarians... Skipping the visit has left us, as I would say, with a feeling of bitterness. And by the way...
You will say
Well, I'll leave it at that. I have learned to speak when it is necessary to speak and to be silent when it is necessary to be silent.
