Ofer Shelah says he doesn't determine who Arab MKs nominate for PM, after Ayman Odeh reveals talks to restrict support and give Netanyahu first crack at building coalition

Ayman Odeh clarifies he was against move, but Balad faction in alliance were also insisting they did not want to back Gantz; Rivlin gives Netanyahu first shot to form coalition

The secular Arab nationalist party is opposed to exclusively Jewish statehood, has long courted controversy with members such as Azmi Bishara, Hanin Zoabi and Basel Ghattas

Arab-majority alliance's Balad faction says its 3 MKs won't support anyone, possibly paving way for Netanyahu to have first crack at building coalition

Blue and White party has made no commitments yet to predominantly Arab alliance, which makes its recommendation to President Rivlin at 6:30 p.m. Sunday

Blue and White reportedly offered to ease tough law on illegal building, but Arab alliance has wider demands; 10 out of 13 Joint List MKs said to favor recommending Gantz

Ayman Odeh accuses Benny Gantz of assisting Netanyahu in keeping Arab lawmakers out of power, says Blue and White chief's politics are 'not ripe'

Ayman Odeh accuses Benny Gantz of lacking courage after center-left party all but rejects possibility of Arab-led faction joining coalition

Arab MKs seethe over Ayman Odeh's apparent change of long-held stance; Likud, other right-wing parties bash Gantz and Lapid over prospect of Jewish-Arab alliance

Joint List head Ayman Odeh breaks with longstanding position, but sets conditions that include 'ending the occupation,' nixing nation-state law, fighting crime rates in Arab areas