Editor’s Notes: I believed in Israel’s third bloc until pollsters proved me wrong - comment

Columnist Zvika Klein admits he was wrong about the emergence of a third political bloc in Israel that could force a broad unity government. Citing recent polls and failed merger talks between centrist parties, Klein reconsiders his earlier optimism and examines how the Netanyahu question and internal divisions undermined the project. He acknowledges underestimating the dominance of the Netanyahu question after October 7, which deepened voter convictions on both sides.

Columnist Zvika Klein admits he was wrong about the emergence of a third political bloc in Israel. After the October 7 massacre and the war, Klein believed moderate Center-Right and Center-Left parties could form a broad unity government. Recent polls have forced him to reconsider. The independent camp he expected has failed to take shape. Gilad Erdan withdrew his Unity party from the election on September 4, citing insufficient support. An N12 poll put a potential combination of Unity and Benny Gantz's Blue and White at 2.6%, below the 3.25% threshold. Failed merger talks between centrist leaders exposed a familiar problem: leaders unwilling to compromise on who would lead a merged list. Klein acknowledges he underestimated how the Netanyahu question would dominate after October 7. Voters who hold Netanyahu responsible for the disaster want him gone; those who trust him on security want him to stay. The same war deepens both convictions. Klein still wants a broad government but concedes the route he expected has failed in this campaign.