Are we able to be stable?

I find “Gantz threatens bill to stop Netanyahu forming next gov’t” ( October 18) frightening. It’s bad enough when the two largest parties in the Knesset have 33/ 35 seats and neither can put a viable coalition together, but now the predictions are that the candidates for forming the government will have 21 to 24 seats each and will be subject to threats that one or both parties with eight seats each could topple the government at any time. Will Israel have more years of multiple elections ahead?

Of the four parties named as potential coalition partners for Naftali Bennett, only Yisrael Beytenu has been in existence more than eight years. In fact, Blue and White, as currently constituted, and Yamina came into existence only last year. I can see why some Israelis feel unsure that the parties for whom they voted will create the kind of government those voters expected. Of course, dealing with the coronavirus pandemic only makes things worse.

Israel is clearly in need of electoral reform with voters being presented with fewer, more stable parties, each of which should be required to present a well- defined platform and have lists consisting of candidates pledged to working to achieve the party’s goals. Perhaps some candidates could be elected to represent specified districts rather than all seats being chosen at- large. Raising the electoral threshold would probably be advisable. And there should be a published list of ethical standards expected of Knesset members and an effort to define the relation between the courts and the Knesset.

TOBY F. BLOCK

Atlanta, GA