At ceremony for late court chief, Netanyahu adds court, whose powers he's sought to curb, must stay independent; president, current chief justice also eulogize revered justice

Blue and White leader set to be first person in a decade other than Netanyahu to try assembling a coalition; Ayelet Shaked says New Right will only negotiate as part of PM's bloc

Rivlin's office says he intends to task Blue and White leader with assembling a coalition; PM blames Gantz for failed negations

PM has until Wednesday to clinch government or tell president he failed; David Bitan says 'no point' in requesting additional 14 days with negotiations stalled

Rivlin presented with two-volume Hebrew translation of 'Arabian Nights' by his father, originally given to late president Yitzhak Ben-Zvi

PM's party said to believe Gantz is more open to joining Netanyahu than his allies, but the former IDF chief reportedly rejects overtures

PM says country needs leadership to face 'growing security challenges,' but Blue and White chief accuses him of 'not seeking unity but immunity'

Former justice minister, whose New Right party didn't sign statement against joining minority coalition backed by the Joint List, says earlier document was enough

No minority coalition has ever been formed immediately following elections but Israeli law does not explicitly state that a new government must enjoy absolute majority support

Bennett and Shaked refuse to sign onto PM initiative, calling it unnecessary; Gantz said prepared to accept Rivlin's Blue and White-Likud unity government proposal