WorldSystem

Netanyahu Lost. His Coalition Lost. Going from 36 to 26 is not a victory; and for his coalition from 68 to 53 is a defeat. Don't be fooled by claims that Netanyahu's Likud emerged as the largest party. The real story of the Zionist Regime's election is in the numbers. Netanyahu's Likud, including his merger with Gideon Sa’ar's New Hope, fell from 36 to 26 seats, a staggering 28% loss. Netanyahu's right-wing and religious bloc fell from 68 to 53 seats, a loss of 15 seats, or 22%. It is now eight seats short of the 61 needed to govern. The losers could hardly be clearer. Netanyahu portrayed himself as the indispensable leader of the Zionist regime. Trump boasted that his support had saved Netanyahu. Yet Netanyahu lost a quarter of his parliamentary strength, while his political bloc lost more than one-fifth of its seats. The bottom line: Netanyahu and his coalition were decisively defeated at the ballot box. Whether his opponents can translate that defeat into an alternative government is another question entirely. Being the largest party does not mean winning the election. Losing your parliamentary majority is a defeat, regardless of how you spin it. Netanyahu is a war criminal and can never be rehabilitated.