Latest political summary: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that he will not decide on participating in a pre-election debate with other candidates until after he returns from his trip to the U.S.; Israel's attorney general declares there is no reason to disqualify MK Haneen Zoabi from running for Knesset.

Latest updates:

11:30 P.M. Lieberman sought to form centrist bloc with Lapid, Kahlon

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu party had reached a deal to unite with two other parties to form a centrist bloc ahead of the election, former Deputy Minister Faina Kirshenbaum said in a video obtained by Channel 2. The agreement was foiled by the probe into corruption within Yisrael Beiteinu.

Speaking during a Yisrael Beiteinu event, Kirshenbaum said that before news of the graft investigation broke it planned to join forces with Yair Lapid's Yesh Atid and Moshe Kahlon's Kulanu.

According to Channel 2, both Kulanu and Yesh Atid denied Kirshenbaum's statements. Likud called the alleged agreement "an ugly deal" that "highlights the real danger that a leftist government could be formed." (Haaretz)

9:42 P.M. Bennett on appointment of Eli Ohana: I was wrong, I didn't read my base

Habayit Hayehudi chairman Naftali Bennett told Israel's Channel 10 Thursday night that he erred in appointing former soccer player Eli Ohana to his party's list.

Open gallery view Haneen Zoabi. Credit: Gil Eliahu

Bennett said he realized there was a problem "about a half minute after Ohana's appointment, when I began to see hundreds of texts."

"It was a boom I did not expect, and in retrospect I was wrong - I did not read my base." (Haaretz)

Open gallery view Tzipi Livni and Isaac Herzog at the launch of the Labor-Hatnuah joint headquarters, December 24, 2014. Credit: Moti Milrod

3:42 P.M. Elections committee disqualifies far-right activist Baruch Marzel from election

Central Elections Committee disqualifies candidacy of rightist Baruch Marzel. The decision will be appealed to High Court.

In response to efforts to end his candidacy, Marzel wrote on Facebook early Thursday that despite opposition of "Arab MKs, friends of the enemy, and their leftist partners," he "will be in the next Knesset." (Haaretz)

1:10 P.M. Elections committee disqualifies MK Haneen Zoabi from election

The Central Elections Committee accepted petitions filed by Yisrael Beiteinu and Likud party to disqualify Israeli Arab MK Haneen Zoabi from running for a seat in the next Knesset.

Salim Joubran, who heads the CEC and is the only Arab justice on the panel, condemned committee votes such as this one that are likely to be overturned by the supreme court. "This respects neither the committee, nor the supreme court," he said.

Israel's attorney-general earlier advised against disqualifying Zoabi. Although some of her statements were radical and "worrying," there was insufficient proof that she supported an armed struggle against Israel - grounds for disqualification under Israeli law.

The committee will rule later Thursday on a petition to disqualify rightist Baruch Marzel from running as well. (Jonathan Lis)

11:00 A.M. Zoabi speaks at elections committee hearing to disqualify her candidacy

"Lieberman and Levin use partial quotes to say that I support armed struggle, but they've never been able to use any quotes from me to show that I support armed struggle. I've been quoted as supporting popular struggle, which I do. Popular struggle as well as international pressure are legitimate methods," said Zoabi.



"I connect violence to occupation. The occupation is the source of the cycle of blood," said Zoabi. (Jonathan Lis)

9:30 A.M Zionist Union decides to support bid to disqualify Zoabi

Zionist Union leaders Isaac Herzog and Tzipi Livni have decided, ultimately, to support the bid to disqualify Balad MK Haneen Zoabi's candidacy for the Knesset in the upcoming elections. Their decision was made despite Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein's statement against the disqualification bid.

The petitions to disqualify Zoabi are expected to receive majority support within the Central Elections Committee on Thursday, even without support from the Zionist Union. The Supreme Court, however, is likely to overturn any decision to disqualify Zoabi.

The Zionist Union will also support the disqualification of the extreme right-winger Baruch Marzel. In response to efforts to end his candidacy, Marzel wrote on Facebook that despite opposition of "Arab MKs, friends of the enemy, and their leftist partners," he "will be in the next Knesset." (Jonathan Lis)

