Israel Election Updates Likud: If Herzog and Livni Win, Hamas Will Be at Heart of Jerusalem

Latest political summary: The Likud party called on Israeli opposition parties on Saturday to stand behind Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his plan to speak before the U.S. Congress in March. Read full article here

• Returning Kahane to the Knesset
• Israel's New Propaganda Minister
• Judge Rejects Likud Cpetition Against V15

Meanwhile, Zionist Union co-leader Isaac Herzog accused Netanyahu of evading responsibility following the state comptroller’s report that criticized the latter for excessive spending at his two homes. Read full article here

Latest opinion and analysis: Yair Lapid, Israel's new propaganda minister (Gideon Levy) | The man trying to return Kahanism to the Knesset (Raviv Drucker) | When taking fire, Netanyahu knows exactly who to send to the front lines (Yossi Verter)

For Saturday's election updates, click here

Latest updates:

8:46 P.M. Likud: If Herzog and Livni win elections, Hamas will be at heart of Jerusalem

In the wake of Sunday's stabbing in Jerusalem, Likud said in a Facebook post that if Isaac Herzog and Tzipi Livni would win the election, "Hamas will be in the heart of Jerusalem."

"The terrorist attack this evening in Jerusalem occurred several weeks after Tzipi Livni, the Labor party's hidden candidate from the prime minister's seat, said once again that she is ready to consider dividing Jerusalem. If Tzipi and Bougie (Herzog) will form a leftist government – Hamas will be at the heart of Jerusalem," the Likud's Facebook post read. The post was also shared by Benjamin Netanyahu's page, as well. (Haaretz)

4:21 P.M. Likud's appeal against activist groups rejected, fined 40,000 shekels

Likud was fined 40,000 shekels after its appeal against two groups, which seek a change of government, was rejected by the Central Election Committee.

Salim Jubran, the head of the CEC, said in his ruling that despite Likud's claims, no link between the groups, V15 and the 61 Project, and Labor, Meretz and Hatnuah, was proven. Jubran slammed Likud for the mere filing of the petition, saying it "started with a bang, but ended with a whimper. The conduct of the plaintiff (Likud) raises the question whether there was any justification for filing the appeal in the first place."

Likud was required to pay 8,000 shekels to each of the respondents to the appeal (Meretz, Zionist Union, Hatnuah, V15 and OneVoice), an overall sum of 40,000 shekels. (Jonathan Lis)

9:10 A.M. Zionist Union working to pull in votes from agricultural sector

The Zionist Union is working to pull in votes from the agricultural sector, potentially bringing the part an extra six-to-seven seats.

The party consolidated its agriculture platform, promising to "protect the rights of farmers and restore the broken branch."

Eitan Broshi, secretary general of the Kibbutz movement, wrote the platform.

"We will insist that the agriculture and rural development portfolio will belong to the Zionist Union," Broshi said. (Jonathan Lis)

8:27 A.M. Meretz to publish updated electoral platform Sunday

Meretz will publish its updated electoral platform on Sunday.

The main points of the 70 page platform - as well as large sections within - are identical to Meretz' platform in the 2013 elections.

The updated platform includes extensive sections dealing with equality, social justice, education, human rights, religion and state, environmental justice and animal rights, refugees, asylum seekers and migrant workers, good governance and administration.

The political section of the new Meretz platform will be revealed later this week. (Ilan Lior)