Gideon Saar
Gideon SaarFlash 90

Interior Minister Gideon Saar is seriously considering quitting politics and opening a law firm, according to Channel 10's political analyst, Raviv Druker.

Druker said that Saar has been telling his confidantes repeatedly recently that he is tired of politics and that he would like to spend more time with his new wife, Channel 1 news anchor Geula Even, and the baby they are expecting.

Druker said that some of Saar's friends think that his state of mind has something to do with the allegations of romantic indiscretions, which were made public by anonymous sources after the recent national elections.

The analyst noted that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has extended by six months Saar's tenure as the government's representative in the Committee for Appointment of Judges, and speculated that he did this because Saar wants to prepare the ground for an entry into private law practice.

Another analyst on the panel said that he heard similar grumblings from Saar ten years ago and that Saar's complaints do not mean he really intends to leave politics.

Saar's media advisor categorically denied the report.

Saar took a political blow in the last national elections. Together Minister Gilad Erdan, he was in charge of the campaign that preceded the election, in which Likud performed abysmally. In addition, dancing pro-Saar activists praised him as “the next prime minister” in the presence of Netanyahu – raising Netanyahu's ire.

He reportedly expected to be appointed Finance Minister, and Netanyahu's decision not to place him in the position was seen as a sign of his anger.