Israel Election Results: Netanyahu Will Pull Out All the Stops — Including Military Action — to Hold on to Power

The final results from Israel's do-over elections are not yet in, but barring entirely unrealistic developments, Benjamin Netanyahu's long reign as king-premier will soon be over.

To be sure, Israel faces a protracted period of ugly coalition machinations, prior to what is the most likely outcome — the formation of a national unity coalition, based on Benny Gantz's Kachol Lavan, Likud and Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu party, possibly others, as well. The identity of the future premier is less clear — whether Gantz, or a successor to Netanyahu from within the Likud.

Despite the close outcome, the election did produce one clear winner: Israeli democracy.

First of all, the rule of law was upheld....