Washington • The last decade has been trying for liberals who support the existence of a democratic Jewish state and believe that Palestinians have a right to self-determination within a state of their own. Tuesday’s election in Israel made the liberal path even rockier, both inside the country and in the United States.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's victory was not overwhelming, but it was decisive. The country is split in two, but not in equal halves.
Netanyahu's right-wing Likud Party and the upstart Blue and White Party received virtually the same vote. This was a genuine achievement for Benny Gantz, the former Israeli Defense Forces chief of staff who is the new party's leader.