Blue and White chief speaks to senior MKs of the other factions in Joint List; Mtanes Shihadeh says he does not want to talk

Leader of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party claims Blue and White chairman is interested in President Rivlin's unity compromise, but his No. 2 Yair Lapid is 'torpedoing' plan

55-member bloc loyal to Likud leader will hold off on direct negotiations with Blue and White; leaders of Joint List, Meretz, Yisrael Beytenu, Labor-Gesher agree to meetings

Immense skepticism attended the run-up to Wednesday night's ceremony, when Blue and White leader was charged with building a government. He did his best to puncture it

Blue and White leader promises to form 'liberal unity government' and reach out to all parties; he has 28 days to muster a majority where Netanyahu failed

Netanyahu huddles with leaders of 55-member right-wing bloc that supports him as Blue and White poised to be given shot at building government

Yisrael Beytenu leader calls senior ruling party members 'chickens' for not challenging PM publicly, claims premier wants 3rd elections as Gantz set to receive coalition mandate

Legislation would likely need Yisrael Beytenu's support in order to pass key Knesset committee, which starting next week will be controlled by Gantz's party

In second round of coalition talks, kingmaker party Yisrael Beytenu declines to endorse any candidate for PM, while Netanyahu's right-wing allies reiterate their support for him

After Netanyahu fails to form coalition, president seeks to prevent a third election while managing an uneasy relationship with Likud leader