Gideon Saar was born in Tel Aviv on the second night of Chanukah, December 9, 1966, the firstborn son to Bruriah, a teacher, and Shmuel Zarechansky, a paediatrician who made Aliyah to Israel from Argentina. While in high-school, Saar joined the “Techiya” Movement, and was chosen as the head of the group’s youth branch.

 

He served in the IDF as combat soldier in Golani, and after suffering an injury served as an intelligence officer in the brigade.

 

On completing his army service, he graduated with honors with a bachelor’s degree in political science, and later a law degree from Tel Aviv University.

 

He went on to work as an assistant to the Attorney General, and later as an assistant to the State Attorney. He then served as an attorney in the Tel Aviv District Attorney’s Office.

 

In 1999, at the age of just 32, he was appointed Cabinet Secretary in Netanyahu’s first government, a position in which he also went on to hold in Sharon’s first government.

 

Saar served as Cabinet Secretary in the days of the Second Intifada, and at the time of Operation Defensive Shield when Israel set out to dismantle the Palestinian terrorist infrastructure in Judea in Samaria. In the framework of this roll, Saar played an active part in Israel’s diplomatic efforts, and accompanied the Prime Minister on political meetings with world leaders in Israel and around the globe.

 

Saar stood at the head of the Israeli delegation sent to the United Nations, tasked with preventing the establishment of an international committee to investigate the battle against Palestinian terror groups in Jenin, during Operation Defensive Shield. He chaired the committee which examined, on behalf of the Prime Minister and the Security Cabinet, the issue of Iqrit and Biram, whose recommendations were adopted by a Cabinet decision. Saar also operated in the Knesset on behalf of the Government, promoting legislation on sensitive security and political issues.

 

Saar was elected to the 16th Knesset, in December 2002, and served as Chairman of the Likud Parliamentary Faction, and Coalition Chairman.

 

As one of the leading voices against the Disengagement Plan, he consistently voted against the initiative, and accordingly refused Prime Minister Sharon’s offers of official appointments. In 2005, after the Disengagement, Sharon left the Likud, and the party suffered defeat in the elections. Saar led the party in the Opposition, and was one of the key figures in the party’s rehabilitation and victory in the 2009 elections.

 

Gideon Saar is one of the Knesset’s most prominent legislators, with over 30 private member’s bills approved, including: extending maternity leave; changing the method of electing judges to the Supreme Court; approved absence from work due to a child’s illness; granting the court’s authority to dismiss an indictment and to acquit a defendant treated unjustly by the authorities; denial of guardianship from a parent due to acts of murder, attempted murder, or rape of a minor; prohibiting chairs of the General Union, and National Workers’ Union from simultaneously serving as Members of Knesset; proper representation of women in municipal corporations and on the boards of municipal companies; and more.

 

In 2009, Gideon Saar was appointed as Minister of Education, a position in which he served for four years. During his tenure, he also served as a member of the Security Cabinet.

 

Saar is considered one of Israel’s most outstanding and prominent education ministers. He led reforms to the post-primary education systems; introduced free education for ages 3-4; established Ariel University in Samaria; led the formulation of a curriculum educating an appreciation and knowledge of the Land of Israel including tours of Hebron and the Cave of the Patriarchs; and more.

 

During Saar’s tenure, there was an unprecedented leap in academic achievement, including in Israel’s performance in international exams and the International Science Olympiad.

 

In September 2009, Member of Knesset and Minister of Education Gideon Saar was honored for his performance and integrity and performance in the political field, and for his work to strengthen the rule of law.

 

In 2013, Gideon Saar was appointed Minister of the Interior.

 

During his tenure, he led a determined struggle against the phenomenon of illegal infiltration across Israel’s borders. He also initiated a broad move of distributive justice, in which revenues were transferred from the regional councils to developing cities. Similarly, he led the most significant reform in five decades, in the Planning and Building Act, dubbed the “Pergola Reform”, and ordered the extension of daylight saving time, in keeping with Europe, until the end of October.

 

Saar was elected in first place in the primaries for the Likud Knesset list of candidates, in both 2008 and 2012.

 

In September 2014, Saar announced his decision to take a break from political life, and in November he resigned as a member of the government and the Knesset. During the time-out, Saar delved deeper into Israel’s national security issues and served as a senior fellow at the Israel Institute for National Security Studies (INSS). In addition, he has served as a lecturer in government and reform at the Ono Academic College, and as a special adviser with GKH Law Firm.

 

After around four years, Saar returned to politics and was elected 4th on the Likud list for the 21st Knesset.

 

In the run-up to the March 2020 elections, he ran in the primaries for the Likud leadership, against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

 

In the 23rd Knesset, he served on the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, the Subcommittee on Intelligence and Secret Services, and chaired a subcommittee of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Judea and Samaria.

 

In December 2020, after more than 20 years in senior positions, Gideon Saar announced the establishment of a new national movement under his leadership, and declared his candidacy for prime minister against Benjamin Netanyahu.

 

Gideon Saar is married to Geula Even-Saar, father of Daniela, Alona, David and Shira, and grandfather of Nimrod.

 

He lives in Tel Aviv.

Gideon Saar was born in Tel Aviv on the second night of Chanukah, December 9, 1966, the firstborn son to Bruriah, a teacher, and Shmuel Zarechansky, a paediatrician who made Aliyah to Israel from Argentina. While in high-school, Saar joined the “Techiya” Movement, and was chosen as the head of the group’s youth branch.

He served in the IDF as combat soldier in Golani, and after suffering an injury served as an intelligence officer in the brigade.

 

On completing his army service, he graduated with honors with a bachelor’s degree in political science, and later a law degree from Tel Aviv University.

 

He went on to work as an assistant to the Attorney General, and later as an assistant to the State Attorney. He then served as an attorney in the Tel Aviv District Attorney’s Office.

 

In 1999, at the age of just 32, he was appointed Cabinet Secretary in Netanyahu’s first government, a position in which he also went on to hold in Sharon’s first government.

 

Saar served as Cabinet Secretary in the days of the Second Intifada, and at the time of Operation Defensive Shield when Israel set out to dismantle the Palestinian terrorist infrastructure in Judea in Samaria. In the framework of this roll, Saar played an active part in Israel’s diplomatic efforts, and accompanied the Prime Minister on political meetings with world leaders in Israel and around the globe.

 

Saar stood at the head of the Israeli delegation sent to the United Nations, tasked with preventing the establishment of an international committee to investigate the battle against Palestinian terror groups in Jenin, during Operation Defensive Shield. He chaired the committee which examined, on behalf of the Prime Minister and the Security Cabinet, the issue of Iqrit and Biram, whose recommendations were adopted by a Cabinet decision. Saar also operated in the Knesset on behalf of the Government, promoting legislation on sensitive security and political issues.

 

Saar was elected to the 16th Knesset, in December 2002, and served as Chairman of the Likud Parliamentary Faction, and Coalition Chairman.

 

As one of the leading voices against the Disengagement Plan, he consistently voted against the initiative, and accordingly refused Prime Minister Sharon’s offers of official appointments. In 2005, after the Disengagement, Sharon left the Likud, and the party suffered defeat in the elections. Saar led the party in the Opposition, and was one of the key figures in the party’s rehabilitation and victory in the 2009 elections.

 

Gideon Saar is one of the Knesset’s most prominent legislators, with over 30 private member’s bills approved, including: extending maternity leave; changing the method of electing judges to the Supreme Court; approved absence from work due to a child’s illness; granting the court’s authority to dismiss an indictment and to acquit a defendant treated unjustly by the authorities; denial of guardianship from a parent due to acts of murder, attempted murder, or rape of a minor; prohibiting chairs of the General Union, and National Workers’ Union from simultaneously serving as Members of Knesset; proper representation of women in municipal corporations and on the boards of municipal companies; and more.

 

In 2009, Gideon Saar was appointed as Minister of Education, a position in which he served for four years. During his tenure, he also served as a member of the Security Cabinet.

 

Saar is considered one of Israel’s most outstanding and prominent education ministers. He led reforms to the post-primary education systems; introduced free education for ages 3-4; established Ariel University in Samaria; led the formulation of a curriculum educating an appreciation and knowledge of the Land of Israel including tours of Hebron and the Cave of the Patriarchs; and more.

 

During Saar’s tenure, there was an unprecedented leap in academic achievement, including in Israel’s performance in international exams and the International Science Olympiad.

 

In September 2009, Member of Knesset and Minister of Education Gideon Saar was honored for his performance and integrity and performance in the political field, and for his work to strengthen the rule of law.

 

In 2013, Gideon Saar was appointed Minister of the Interior.

 

During his tenure, he led a determined struggle against the phenomenon of illegal infiltration across Israel’s borders. He also initiated a broad move of distributive justice, in which revenues were transferred from the regional councils to developing cities. Similarly, he led the most significant reform in five decades, in the Planning and Building Act, dubbed the “Pergola Reform”, and ordered the extension of daylight saving time, in keeping with Europe, until the end of October.

 

Saar was elected in first place in the primaries for the Likud Knesset list of candidates, in both 2008 and 2012.

 

In September 2014, Saar announced his decision to take a break from political life, and in November he resigned as a member of the government and the Knesset. During the time-out, Saar delved deeper into Israel’s national security issues and served as a senior fellow at the Israel Institute for National Security Studies (INSS). In addition, he has served as a lecturer in government and reform at the Ono Academic College, and as a special adviser with GKH Law Firm.

 

After around four years, Saar returned to politics and was elected 4th on the Likud list for the 21st Knesset.

 

In the run-up to the March 2020 elections, he ran in the primaries for the Likud leadership, against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

 

In the 23rd Knesset, he served on the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, the Subcommittee on Intelligence and Secret Services, and chaired a subcommittee of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Judea and Samaria.

 

In December 2020, after more than 20 years in senior positions, Gideon Saar announced the establishment of a new national movement under his leadership, and declared his candidacy for prime minister against Benjamin Netanyahu.

 

Gideon Saar is married to Geula Even-Saar, father of Daniela, Alona, David and Shira, and grandfather of Nimrod.

 

He lives in Tel Aviv.

Timeline_1966

1966

Born in Tel Aviv, 26 Kislev 5727, 9 December 1966

Timeline_1981

1981

Joined the “Techiya” Movement, and was chosen as the head of the group’s youth branch.

Timeline_1984

1984

Enlisted in the IDF and served as a combat soldier in Golani. He was wounded, and continued in the brigade as an intelligence NCO.

Timeline_1989

1989

Graduated with a B.A. (Hons.) in political science from Tel Aviv University.

Timeline_1992

1992

Graduated with a Degree in Law (LL.B) from Tel Aviv University.

Timeline_1995

1995

Assistant to the Attorney General

Timeline_1997

1997

Assistant to the State Attorney

Timeline_1999

1999

Cabinet Secretary in Netanyahu’s first government.

Timeline_2001

2001

Cabinet Secretary in Sharon’s first government.

Timeline_2002

2002

First elected to the 16th Knesset and served as Chairman of the Likud faction and Chairman of the Coalition.

Timeline_2005

2005

He strongly opposed the Disengagement, consistently voted against it, and refused Prime Minister Sharon's proposals.

Timeline_2006

2006

Led Likud in the Opposition.

Timeline2008

2008

Elected first place in the primaries for the Likud list.

Timeline_2009

2009

Was one of the most important factors in the rehabilitation of the Likud and its return to power.

Timeline_2009-2

2009

Minister of Education and member of the Security Cabinet.

Timeline_2009-3

2009

Awarded for his integrity and his work to strengthen the rule of law.

Timeline_2012 (1)

2012

Elected again in first place in primaries for the Likud list

Timeline_2013

2013

Minister of the Interior

Timeline_2014

2014

Took a time-out from politics.

Timeline2019-A

2019

Elected fourth in the primaries for the Likud list for the Knesset.

Timeline_2019

2019

In the run-up to the March 2020 elections, ran in the primaries for the Likud leadership against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Timeline_2020

2020

He founded a new movement under his leadership, to run for Prime Minister against Benjamin Netanyahu.

During his years as a member of Knesset and minister, Gideon Saar is considered one of the most prominent legislators in the Knesset, with dozens of private and government sponsored bills approved, and a large number of reforms and initiatives that affect all areas of life.

"Courage for Change" reform of post-primary education

Saar led the reform which he signed with the teachers' union. As part of the reform, teachers’ salaries were significantly increased by an average of 51%, the teachers' work week was extended, and elements of promotion remuneration for outstanding teachers and schools were introduced.

Free education for ages 3-4

After 25 years of stalemate, Gideon Saar was the only education minister who managed to lead and carry out a revolutionary move to expand the age of those entitled to the free compulsory education – to include children aged 3 and 4. Thanks to the move, thousands of shekels are saved for each family every year.

Establishment of Ariel University in Samaria

Despite many obstacles along the way, Saar led and carried out the move to upgrade Ariel College in Samaria and its recognition as the eighth university in Israel. This is the first university to be established in Israel in 40 years.

Strengthening the Jewish heritage education

Saar initiated and implemented programs to strengthen the values of Jewish heritage and Zionist values in education. Included in the initiative were school visits to the Cave of the Patriarchs, tours of Hebron, and the introduction of a curriculum promoting appreciation and knowledge of the Land of Israel. About half a million students in Israel visit Jerusalem and heritage sites every year, thanks to the "Up to Jerusalem" program he initiated.

Improving achievements in education

During Gideon Saar's tenure as Minister of Education, there was an increase in both those who applied for and those who achieved matriculation certificates, as well as an increase in achievements in the ‘Meitzav’ exams. During these years, the Israeli education system recorded an unprecedented rise in academic achievement, including in the international tests. In the TIMSS tests, Israel was ranked 7th in the world in mathematics – first among the Western countries – and in the reading tests, Israel jumped 13 places and in science 12 places.

"Pergola Reform"

Saar has led the most significant reform in 50 years in the Planning and Building Act which has been dubbed the “Pergola Reform”. As part of the reform, actions taken by the individual in their private property that do not harm others (such as installing a pergola) were exempted from the obligation to issue a building permit.

Strengthening the periphery and distributive justice

Saar initiated and led a move in which revenues are transferred from the regional councils to developing cities: Dimona, Yeruham, Arad and more. This move created a fairer distribution of resources and helped reduce gaps between development towns and established communities.

Extension of Daylight Saving Time

As Minister of the Interior, Saar ended debate that had been running for decades, and brought daylight saving time in Israel in line with Europe by extending it by one month, until the end of October.

Fight against illegal infiltration

Saar led a determined struggle against the phenomenon of illegal infiltrators from Africa into Israel. During the period in which Saar served as Minister of the Interior, a record number of infiltrators who left Israel were recorded. He initiated a facility that is enshrined in legislation, and gave financial incentives for the infiltrators to leave the country.

“The Handcuffs Act”

The law restricts the use of handcuffs to detainees when bringing them to court hearings only in cases of there being a danger of escape, danger of violence, etc., and prohibits the use of handcuffs for the purpose of humiliating the detainee.

Judicial protection

Saar passed a law granting the court's authority to dismiss an indictment and to acquit a defendant treated unjustly by the authorities.

Proper representation of women in municipal corporations and on the boards of municipal companies

This law approved in 2004, was a leap forward in the right of women to be partners in making decisions concerning the daily lives of the city's residents.

A change in the way judges are elected to the Supreme Court

Saar worked to change the election process of Supreme Court Justices. The law stipulates that the appointment of judges to the Supreme Court will require a majority of seven of the nine members of the appointing committee.

Prohibition of the duplication of duties for the chairman of the General and National Workers' Union

Until the enactment of the law, the chairmen of the General Workers’ Union and the National Workers' Union could hold these position in parallel with their membership in the Knesset. The ban on duplication of work ensured separation between the interests of the workers and political interests.

Approval of absence from work due to a child's illness

Many parents are forced to give up work days due to a child's illness. Saar initiated and passed the Absence from Work Act due to a Child's Illness, recognising these absences as approved.

Denial of guardianship from a parent due to serious offenses

The law authorizes the court to revoke guardianship from a parent convicted of murder, attempted murder, or rape of a minor.

Extending maternity leave

Contrary to the government's position, Saar succeeded in passing a law extending maternity leave from 12 weeks to 14 weeks.