Opposition lawmaker Saar to join Israeli govt: Netanyahu says

JERUSALEM: Israeli opposition lawmaker Gideon Saar is joining Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, Netanyahu announced on Sunday, in a move likely to strengthen the premier politically.

The hawkish Saar, who has been one of Netanyahu’s most vocal critics in the past few years, was due to serve as a minister without a portfolio and take a seat at the prime minister’s security cabinet, Israeli television station N12 said.

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Expanding the government will likely strengthen Netanyahu by making him less reliant on other members of his coalition government.