The 71-year-old Netanyahu has long been dubbed "the magician" by supporters for his history of being able to politically survive time and again against multiple near-misses. But as Axios notes, "But he's not out quite yet" - and there's still time to wreak havoc on Iran in a desperate bid to cancel the nuclear deal with world powers.

Lapid's coalition still has to survive a confidence vote in parliament, which would lead to Netanyahu being replaced initially by Naftali Bennet - himself a longtime Netanyahu protegee and close ally who Sunday night 'flipped' against the PM - earning him and his Yamina party condemnations of "traitor" from the right-wing

It all began with the Sunday night political shocker wherein Bennett surprised the world by announcing plans to align with Lapid to oust Netanyahu. Israeli politics have been gridlocked as Netanyahu managed to barely hold on as no unity government could be formed over no less than four elections in two years.