Senior officers, security figures publish open letter to Blue and White chief, whose party is polling below Knesset threshold, urging him to avoid a waste of anti-Netanyahu votes

Party files a day before deadline ahead of March election, also listed are one former Blue and White MK, and two Derech Eretz MKs in its top 16

Yesh Atid, Blue and White, Yamina all rule out mergers by submitting their lists of contenders early; some small parties drop out; parties have until midnight Thursday to register

Danny Yatom, also a former Labor MK, begins process of registering party, which will focus on issues relating to senior citizens

MKs from across political spectrum commend Trump for assassination seen as game changer for Jewish state, but MK in Arab-majority party denounces 'American thuggery'