Hours after Likud floats the idea of a primary, and Netanyahu's main rival hints at a challenge, the contest is suddenly off. So who is scared of whom?

Prime minister does not mention possibly party leadership contest or Lapid unity offer in speech to newly sworn-in Knesset

Netanyahu faces a rival challenge, Lapid puts aside his prime ministerial hopes, but a great deal still hinges on another would-be PM: Avigdor Liberman

Likud says move aims to quell speculation of a coup in the party amid ongoing crisis preventing formation of a government

Likud: No breakthrough; Yisrael Beytenu: 3rd election pointless, only way forward is finding common ground between Likud, Blue and White and us

Knesset speaker insists PM ready to 'pay the price' to form government; says he would agree to rotation deal as speaker to prevent third elections

For the second time in five months, MKs to go through pomp and ceremony, although notably won't vote on speaker of the house

During meeting of rightist bloc supporting Netanyahu, Yamina MKs Smotrich and Bennett said to agree to remain outside coalition if they're the obstacle to unity government

Amid impasse in coalition talks, PM tells Liberman: 'There's no point in wasting the country's time. We'll meet, see if it's serious or not, and make a decision accordingly'

Yisrael Beytenu says a third election is 'last thing' the country needs as kingmaker vows to try to bridge the gap between the sides