PM's party said to believe Gantz is more open to joining Netanyahu than his allies, but the former IDF chief reportedly rejects overtures

PM says country needs leadership to face 'growing security challenges,' but Blue and White chief accuses him of 'not seeking unity but immunity'

No minority coalition has ever been formed immediately following elections but Israeli law does not explicitly state that a new government must enjoy absolute majority support

Bennett and Shaked refuse to sign onto PM initiative, calling it unnecessary; Gantz said prepared to accept Rivlin's Blue and White-Likud unity government proposal

Melcer also passes along testimony from poll watchers who said they arrived at posts on election day to learn someone else already there claiming to be them

PM's office had not confirmed trip, but diplomats were gearing for premier to attend ceremonies honoring Japan's emperor day before deadline to form coalition

Netanyahu said to intend to attend ceremonies honoring Japan's Naruhito and meet PM Abe, one day before his deadline for building a coalition

Mandate to scrape together Knesset majority likely to pass to Blue and White chief Benny Gantz in less than two weeks, unsourced report says

Ultra-Orthodox party rejects final tally submitted week after national vote, which brought it down from eight seats to seven while Likud rose from 31 to 32

Noa Barak of non-profit The Whistle has debunked claims Liberman wants to ban circumcision, talk of mass voter fraud and more. But there's no real cure for disinformation, she says