Recent polls show defense minister under the electoral threshold after pulling his Telem faction out of Lapid's Yesh Atid

The Blue and White head will bring some NIS 20 million in campaign money to whoever he joins up with, and while Lapid is interested, scars and distrust will need to be overcome

After splitting up with Yesh Atid, former Likud defense minister teams up with recently resigned science minister, ex-virus adviser to government, and anti-PM activists

Doctors union chief Hagai Levine says he believes in former defense minister's leadership; Crime Minister head Gonen Ben Yitzhak: Ya'alon deserves the post of premier

Yair Lapid tweets: 'I value and respect Moshe Ya'alon very much and wish him luck,' as yet another party is expected to join the already-crowded field of the March election

Ya'alon, Lapid reportedly fail to agree on terms on continued partnership; Bennett's party in talks with faction whose leader, Rafi Peretz, seems poised to retire

Comments come after internal polling reportedly showed new centrist party led by former generals would have best chance at siphoning voters off right-wing bloc

But reports say former army chief is undecided on entering politics and has not committed to Ya'alon, who plans to split from current alliance with Yesh Atid

Internal polling reportedly shows new centrist party led by former generals would have best chance at siphoning voters off right-wing bloc

Other opposition MKs bash Blue and White chief for joining Netanyahu-led government in the first place; Likud whip accuses defense minister of hitting ‘new low’