Party to declare will only join government with Netanyahu at its head for full term or part of rotation as prime minster pivots away from leadership vote

Hours after Likud floats the idea of a primary, and Netanyahu's main rival hints at a challenge, the contest is suddenly off. So who is scared of whom?

Amid criminal probes and challenge from rival Sa'ar, PM urged to avoid flash leadership vote, as ministers warn he has much to lose in contest and little to gain

Associates of Netanyahu tell TV news party elections are far from a sure thing, after opponent Gideon Sa'ar announces plans to run

Prime minister does not mention possibly party leadership contest or Lapid unity offer in speech to newly sworn-in Knesset

Culture minister says she backs Netanyahu 'no matter what'; MK Michal Shir says she would support PM's apparent rival Gideon Sa'ar in contest for party leader

Netanyahu faces a rival challenge, Lapid puts aside his prime ministerial hopes, but a great deal still hinges on another would-be PM: Avigdor Liberman

Gideon Sa'ar, who has clashed with Netanyahu, says political considerations should not have a role in determining whether a lawmaker can avoid prosecution

Ayman Odeh says he doesn't know whether US president's 'anti-Semitic comments' or Netanyahu's silence is more 'repugnant'

One minister lauds colleagues for pragmatism after they push through PM's proposal that will also allow for construction of 6,000 settler homes