Less than three weeks ago, I set out five scenarios for Israel’s election and argued that the most likely outcome was a stalemate between the pro- and anti-Netanyahu blocs.

Well, it’s a stalemate all right, but one with a twist. With practically all of the ballots now counted, the pro-Bibi camp has 53 Knesset seats—down 15 seats from the current Netanyahu coalition government, and eight short of an outright majority—whereas the Jewish anti-Netanyahu “Change Bloc” managed only an anemic 48. The remaining 19 seats were swept up by the two majority-Arab parties—the Joint List, with 11, and Ra’am, with eight. A substantial third bloc, an Arab Israeli bloc, is perhaps the most significant development to have emerged from the election.

Read the full article in Persuasion.