With only two days left until slates close for March election, small parties seek alliance to prevent loss of votes, but it is unclear if they can bridge their differences in time

MKs praise move to unite peace camp, but Arab Meretz member Frej says low placement on slate and inclusion of former top general a 'slap' to Jewish-Arab partnership

Amir Peretz will lead new left-wing alliance, followed by Gesher's Orly Levy-Abekasis and Meretz's Nitzan Horowitz; Green Party's Stav Shaffir left out

Negotiations come as polls show parties hovering at between 4 and 6 Knesset seats each, in danger of falling below 3.25% threshold

Sources say that while union seems unlikely, two have agreed to continue dialog 'in order to discuss all options on the table'

As PM looks to grow size of his bloc, news site says his party has conducted polls to see how a unity list would fare in March 2 vote; Bennett, Smotrich discuss joint run

Gantz, who is seeking to convert Likud voters, instead urges Peretz to join his party to the left-wing Democratic Camp

Amir Peretz, who resisted joining forces with Democratic Camp in the past, calls proposal a test of Benny Gantz's commitment to deposing Netanyahu

TV surveys have Likud slightly growing in strength following PM's announcement he'll ask Knesset for protection from graft charges; forecast continued deadlock after elections

Amir Peretz says if center-left fails to achieve Knesset majority in next election it may lead to 4th vote; Yisrael Beytenu MK says PM's primary win will drive voters to his party