A rabbi decides politics should be a he-man girl haters club; the right finds itself in Liberman's vise and Hamas frets over another wayward son

But neither scenario predicted to end coalition deadlock with both 19-seats mega-mergers draining support from larger Likud and Blue and White factions

MK Amir Peretz says he has spoken with chiefs of several parties, but not MK Avidgor Liberman or Naftali Bennett because he has 'no common ground' with them

Ehud Barak's new party fails to clear threshold in one poll, wins 6 seats in another; Netanyahu remains most popular choice for PM

Police arrest 21 demonstrators as hundreds block traffic and the light rail

Yisrael Beytenu leader criticized by right-wing politicians, who defend religious soldiers and say former defense minister should be 'ashamed'

Ofer Winter, who was accused of subjecting his soldiers to religious coercion during 2014 Gaza War, named next head of Central Command's 98th Division

Yisrael Beytenu head reiterates call for national unity government to be formed after September elections, says 'country is deep in the mud'

Former top defense officials under the PM assail him over the agreement; IDF nabs Gazan carrying knife who crossed the border

Source says restrictions will be reinstated if Gaza terror group doesn't abide by deal; opposition MKs rip into Netanyahu over deal