Only two blocs: The election math Netanyahu doesn’t want Israelis to see – opinion

The article argues that Israeli elections fundamentally present two outcomes: a majority for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's continued tenure or a majority for his replacement. It criticizes the media and some opposition figures for adopting Netanyahu's framing of three blocs (Netanyahu's bloc, the opposition bloc, and a separate Arab bloc), which the author contends is a "false premise." This framing, the article states, obscures the reality that if Netanyahu's bloc does not reach 61 seats, the opposing bloc, including Arab parties, will have a majority, with the sole exception of a 60-60 tie. The author emphasizes that the winning bloc determines who won the election, while coalition formation, which may not mirror the bloc, occurs afterward. Historical examples, such as Yitzhak Shamir in 1988 and Yitzhak Rabin in 1992, are cited to illustrate how a winning bloc can form diverse coalitions. The article concludes by urging a rejection of Netanyahu's spin, asserting that there are only two blocs, and the one with 61 seats wins, regardless of the specific parties involved.