As Israel’s real splinters, Netanyahu is challenged by former Protégé

But after Mr. Netanyahu late challenged for Likud’s leadership at the end of 2019, breaking down Mr. Saar away to form his own party, called New Hope. The group offers a right-wing alternative to Mr. Netanyahu for the upcoming election on March 23, the fourth parliamentary vote in less than two years.

Unlike Israel’s election in the past decade, where Mr. Netanyahu averted challenges from the left and center, says Mr. Says a serious leadership challenge for his former right-wing mentor.

This poses a significant threat to Mr. Netanyahu, who is being criticized for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and his corruption trial. As mnr. Saar can continue to support Mr. To sift Netanyahu among right-wing parties in parliament, he could block the return of the prime minister to office.

“Everything is paralyzed,” he said. Saar said in an interview in his apartment in Tel Aviv, where he lives with his wife and two young children. Mr. Netanyahu “puts his personal interests first for the good of the country,” he added.

Or voters trust in an untested leader like Mr. Saar will state is unclear. Mr. Netanyahu, known as Bibi, has been in power for 15 years through two wars with Hamas militants in Gaza and tensions with Iran have intensified. In recent months, Mr. Netanyahu is involved in mediating diplomatic normalization agreements with neighboring Arab countries and is the chairman of the world’s fastest Covid-19 vaccination.

Mr. Netanyahu’s support supports Saar as a ‘political opportunist’ who left Likud after losing support within the party.

“Saar is assembling a party of backbenchers shouting ‘No Bibi’ from the stands while the prime minister leads the revolutionary vaccination program ‘Operation Return to Life’ which is an example to the world,” a statement from the Likud party said, referring to Israel’s vaccination campaign.

Saar’s political positions are similar to those of Netanyahu. He is an ardent supporter of the Jewish settlements in the West Bank that under Mr. Netanyahu has expanded and drawn criticism abroad, including in the past by President Biden.

Mr. Saar does not support a freeze on the construction or establishment of a Palestinian state, but will honor Netanyahu’s recent promise not to annex parts of the West Bank as part of diplomatic normalization agreements. Mr. Saar is also opposed to a return by the US to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which Mr. Biden said he wanted to negotiate again.

While Mr. Saar does not differ much from the policy of mr. Netanyahu does not, he says he will make the relationship with the new US president a fresh start. “I can handle the Biden government better than Netanyahu and do so while protecting our national interests and without bringing anything from the past that could upset it,” he said.

Netanyahu’s relationship with the Obama administration was strained, in part because of the US nuclear deal with Iran, a strong rival of Israel. In the last election, Mr. Netanyahu campaigned with huge billboards featuring photos of the handshake of former President Donald Trump and the Republican leader named the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House.

“Although it comes from different political perspectives, he is not Netanyahu,” said Martin Indyk, a leading fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. “Biden will want a positive constructive relationship with the Prime Minister of Israel.”

Although Mr. Saar some fans of mr. Netanyahu pulls away, Likud is expected to remain the largest party in the Knesset, the Israeli parliament. The Yesh Atid party, under the centrist Yair Lapid, is also increasing in the polls and complicating the attempt of Mr. Saar to put the upcoming vote as a match within the right wing.

The role played by ultra-Orthodox religious parties could be important in the race between Messrs. Netanyahu and Saar. Mr. Netanyahu relied on them for political support. Mr. Saar did not rule out sitting with them in a future government, but so far the parties have indicated that they will continue to appoint Mr. To support Netanyahu.

For both politicians, pursuing the support of the ultra-Orthodox is politically complicated.

Israel’s ultra-Orthodox communities opposed compliance with coronavirus restrictions and violently clashed with police during the protests. This has sparked outrage among other Israelis and frustration among public health officials, who believe the ongoing breach of the coronavirus effort is undermining.

To become prime minister, a candidate must form a 61-seat majority coalition in the Knesset. A recent poll by an Israeli radio station shows that New Hope won 17 seats for Likud’s 30. In the scenario, Mr. Netanyahu does not form a governing coalition, as a number of parties refuse to form a coalition with the prime minister.

“Until Saar broke down, you reluctantly said Netanyahu was the only game in the city,” said Reuven Hazan, a professor of political science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. “Netanyahu is now suddenly surrounded by enemies.”

The loss of Israel’s top government office will hurt Mr. Netanyahu slips into dangerous area. He was charged last year with bribery, fraud and breach of trust in connection with allegations that he accepted expensive gifts from wealthy businessmen in exchange for official favors and offered two media moguls regulatory and financial benefits in exchange for positive press coverage. He denies wrongdoing. He failed in an attempt to gain parliamentary immunity that would protect him from prosecution while in office last year. His trial is set to resume next month.

As mnr. Netanyahu will not return as prime minister, he cannot serve in a governing coalition due to an Israeli law requiring ministers to resign if they are charged. The law does not apply to prime ministers. Such a setback will also complicate the efforts of loyalists to pass a law that Mr. Netanyahu will be protected from trial while serving as prime minister.

Daniel Tarlow, a 48-year-old man who owns a catering business and lives in the Jewish settlement of Elazar in the West Bank, said that this time he was Mr. Saar instead of mr. Netanyahu will support because he thinks the prime minister could not succeed in helping. small businesses during the pandemic.

“I’ve had enough of his politics and gimmicks,” he said. Tarlow on mr. Netanyahu said. “I assume Saar that he is an authentic Likud politician … If you are set aside by Bibi, it means that there is enough substance for you.”

—Dov Lieber contributed to this article.

Write to Felicia Schwartz by [email protected]