Minister Ze'ev Elkin Defends Low Likud List Placement and Affirms Alliance with Gideon Sa'ar
Minister Ze'ev Elkin responded to criticism following his low ranking at 32nd place on the Likud party list for the upcoming Knesset elections, a position considered unrealistic for securing a seat. Elkin clarified that he and Minister Gideon Sa'ar had agreed about a year and a half ago to allocate the reserved spot in their faction to Sa'ar, allowing him to focus fully on his roles as Foreign Minister and Cabinet member during a sensitive security and diplomatic period. Elkin emphasized that this decision was made jointly and served Israel's national interest, expressing no regrets and highlighting Sa'ar's genuine friendship and support during the primaries.
Despite the final list placement, Elkin noted his strong performance in the primaries, receiving nearly 23,000 votes and ranking 17th in the nationwide list, ahead of several incumbent ministers and just 239 votes shy of 16th place. He explained that due to reserved spots and gender representation rules, his effective position dropped to 32nd. While disappointed, Elkin respected the predetermined rules and pledged to continue working vigorously for Likud's victory, stressing that even if he had not been elected, he would still support the right-wing bloc for Israel's security and future.
Addressing whether he regrets returning to Likud and joining the government, Elkin firmly stated he does not regret it. He recalled rejecting other offers that guaranteed him a Knesset seat, choosing instead to follow his ideological beliefs and take a political risk. He credited the entry of the New Hope party into the government with stabilizing the right-wing coalition, enabling critical security decisions over the past two years. These included two major conflicts with Iran, delaying Iran's nuclear and missile threats, establishing security zones in Syria and Lebanon, and founding over 100 settlements in Judea and Samaria. Elkin described these as possibly the most significant years of his public life, during which he actively participated in historic decisions as a Cabinet member. He concluded by reaffirming his commitment to the coalition and his confidence in their eventual victory.
