Left-wing party was a force in municipal elections for decades, but with it now in debt and barred from subsidizing campaigns, some contenders have reluctantly dropped the brand

Referencing 'mistakes' that led to Netanyahu win, Gilad Kariv launches bid for unity previously nixed by Labor head Merav Michaeli, with party said looking for a change at the top

Military reporter Emanuel Fabian on bombings fallout and corpse recovery; political correspondent Tal Schneider on demise of Meretz; legal reporter Jeremy Sharon on override clause

Party rival Yair Golan praises reported move, which comes after left-wing faction failed to make it into the Knesset

Israel's left has been in freefall for 3 decades. It didn't lose ground in the election; it simply woke up to the mismatch between its political institutions and the electorate

With Meretz and Balad failing to cross the electoral threshold, some 289,000 votes were wasted by anti-Netanyahu parties, smoothing the right-wing religious camp's path to victory

After final vote tally announced, Likud leader to control a 64-seat bloc despite narrow lead in overall vote count, as both Meretz and Balad drop below electoral threshold

Left-wing party -- represented in consecutive parliaments since 1992 -- just 3,800 votes short of gaining entry; leader Zehava Galon decries 'disaster for the country'

PM reportedly tells ministers to prepare for transition of power; Netanyahu tasks Levin with coalition negotiations; Shas leader Deri may become finance minister, report says

Former prime minister said planning swift negotiations with partners to quickly oust Lapid, who has reportedly yet to speak with partners amid widespread anger over poor showing