For the justice minister, the merger staves off political oblivion; for the oft-thwarted defense minister, it offers a longshot but tantalizing prospect of landing the top job

Benny Gantz, Gideon Sa'ar say they hope to establish 'responsible, realistic, secure and liberal' government, denounce Netanyahu but don't expressly rule him out

At state event marking 8th anniversary of Operation Protective Edge, Lapid and Defense Minister Gantz vow to continue working for return of slain IDF soldiers' remains

Main Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway to close on Wednesday; police, Air Force prepares to secure routes to be taken by US president, bars use of drones over airport and Jerusalem

Parties reportedly hope former IDF chief Eisenkot will take 3rd spot on slate; Regev says no room in Likud for Yamina leader Shaked, who insists she'll stick with her own party

Ahead of Biden's visit to Israel and Saudi Arabia, Tehran says 'entry of foreigners' is the 'main cause of tension and regional rift'

Biden to tour Israeli security installations, including new laser defense system; is set to become 1st US president to visit a site in Palestinian East Jerusalem outside Old City

Meeting in Ramallah comes as Israel reportedly worries about escalation in West Bank during US president's trip; Palestinian leader met with Hamas terror chief on Tuesday

'Israeli power is the power of togetherness,' he says in first speech at official ceremony since becoming prime minister; Gantz warns Lebanon over drone incident

Defense minister vows to increase funding, accelerate development of laser air defense system, set to be shown to Biden during his trip next week