Therefore, at this stage, there are three probable post-election outcomes:

– A right-wing coalition with the ultra-orthodox parties. This coalition will accelerate the slide towards a one-state reality that threatens an end to the Zionist dream of a democratic Jewish state. The relations with the U.S. administration and the EU will continue to deteriorate, as will Israel’s global image.

– A center-left coalition with at least part of the ultra-orthodox, and external Arab parties’ support. This government is the only one that can possibly change the harmful trajectories chosen by past governments, stop the slide to a one-state reality and rebuild the strong alliance with the United States, as well as the relations with the EU states.

– A national unity coalition that will include the Likud party and the Zionist Camp list, with some other smaller partners. This will probably be a national paralysis coalition with a softer version of the right-wing coalition policies that enjoys the protection of a better international image enhanced by the moderate elements in the government.

Brig. Gen. (ret.) Shlomo Brom is a Senior Fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv.