The merger between the Likud and United Right, led by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, was approved by the Likud Central Committee on Wednesday.
Sa’ar had quit the Likud five years ago in 2020, heavily criticizing the party’s head, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, at the time. Sa’ar then went on to head the United Right party.
“It’s so good to be home,” Sa’ar proclaimed to the crowd at the Likud Center conference.
Addressing the past rift he had with Netanyahu, Sa’ar said in the speech, “I want to say to Prime Minister Netanyahu, certain media outlets always choose to bring quotes from the past. But I remember the entire journey.”
Sa’ar was seen being welcomed warmly and embraced by those attending the conference.
However, MK Tally Goltiv (Likud) blasted the foreign minister on stage for the previous statements he made about Netanyahu upon leaving the Likud party.
When Sa’ar left the Likud, he slammed Netanyahu, saying he had “changed and become a tool serving the personal interests of his leader, including in his criminal trial.”
“I can no longer support the government under Netanyahu, and I can no longer be a member of Likud under his leadership,” Sa’ar had said at the time.
The merging between the two parties
The two parties announced in March that they would merge and run as one united party in the next election.
Likud and the United Right published the signed agreement. It stipulates that ahead of the next election, Sa’ar will appoint someone of his choosing to fill the highest slot in the Likud list that is “reserved” for the prime minister, which must be higher than 15th on the list.
The merged party will run in the next election under the name “Likud” and use Likud’s traditional ballot letters.
According to the agreement, the United Right will no longer have the right to vote independently on legislation regarding the judicial system, nor on basic laws proposed by the government, after the official merger.
Eliav Breuer contributed to this report.