The Blaming of Omets vs. 2 Million Abstainers
In the 25th Knesset elections on November 1, 2022, Israel stood at another charged political crossroads. The result—Benjamin Netanyahu’s return to power at the head o a right-wing religious coalition—sparked a heated debate over who was responsible. Among the many voices, some point an accusing finger at the 37,686 citizens, including myself, who voted for the Omets party (Prof. Zvika Grinshpun and others), claiming our votes caused Meretz to fall below the electoral threshold, thereby paving the way for Netanyahu’s victory. However, when you look at the numbers, a very different picture emerges: nearly 2 million eligible voters didn’t bother to vote at all. Is it really logical to blame a group of fewer than 38,000 people when almost 2 million others stayed home? In this article, I will examine the absurdity of this accusation, the errors in public perception, and the costs we pay as a society when we cling to the wrong scapegoat.
The Data: Omets vs. Abstainers
Let’s start with the raw numbers, because they don’t lie. In the 2022 elections, there were 6,788,804 registered voters. Of those, 4,794,567 voted—a turnout of about 70.6%. That leaves 1,994,237 people who didn’t participate at all. In contrast, Omets, a party focused on individual freedom, transparency, and opposition to coercion, received 37,686 votes—about 0.7% of the total votes. Meretz, on the other hand, received 150,696 votes (3.16%) and fell short of the 3.25% threshold by fewer than 4,000 votes. The result? Meretz remained outside the Knesset, its votes “thrown in the trash,” and the anti-Netanyahu bloc lost significant power.
The claim against Omets voters is that our votes “stole” the small number Meretz needed to survive, thereby strengthening Netanyahu. But when you compare those 37,686 to the nearly 2 million who didn’t vote, the claim crumbles. If just 0.2% of those abstainers—about 4,000 people—had voted for Meretz, it would have passed the threshold, and the political landscape could have shifted. In other words, the potential impact of 2 million abstainers far outweighs that of 37,686 Omets voters. Blaming the latter is like claiming a single drip caused a flood while an entire dam collapsed.
The Error in the Blame: Faulty Labeling and Lack of Proportion
Focusing on Omets voters is a classic example of faulty labeling—the same mechanism that labeled us, opponents of coercion, as “anti-vaxxers” during the COVID-19 era. Omets wasn’t a conspiracy or anti-science party; it was founded by figures like Prof. Zvika Grinshpun and Orly Vilnai, and included supporters with diverse views demanding transparency, human rights, and fair management of the health crisis. Moreover, Meretz itself nearly begged to merge with the Labor Party; had that succeeded, it would have easily passed the threshold, rendering Omets’s impact moot. But instead of understanding this complexity, many preferred to slap on a simplistic label and blame us for all the ills.
This error stems not only from misunderstanding but also from a lack of proportion. When nearly 30% of eligible voters abstain, it signals a deeper systemic problem—loss of trust in the political system, a sense of powerlessness, or apathy. In contrast, Omets voters at least tried to make their voices heard, even if you disagree with their choice. Turning us into scapegoats is not only unfair but also diverts the discussion from the real question: Why did nearly 2 million people forfeit their democratic right?
The Costs of Misplaced Blame
Insisting on blaming Omets voters exacts a heavy toll on Israeli society. First, it deepens division. Instead of trying to understand why people voted as they did—perhaps out of frustration with Green Pass coercion or unmet demands for transparency—we turn them into enemies. It’s the same mechanism that attacked us, opponents of coercion, during COVID-19: labeling, silencing, and exclusion.
Second, it distracts from the real issue—the abstainers. When nearly 2 million people don’t vote, it’s a symptom of a deep trust crisis. Do they believe their vote doesn’t matter? Do they feel the system doesn’t represent them? Instead of seeking answers to these questions, it’s easier to point to a small group and say, “They’re to blame.” But ignoring abstainers won’t solve the problem; it will only worsen it in future elections.
Finally, there’s a personal cost. Omets voters, like many who championed critical thinking, find themselves under attack again. The same people who laughed when we were banned from cafes during COVID-19 now blame us for “enthroning Netanyahu.” This hypocrisy not only fuels our outrage but also distances any chance of genuine dialogue.
Where Do We Go from Here?
If we want to learn from the 2022 elections, we must stop searching for scapegoats and start asking the right questions. What caused nearly 2 million people to abandon the ballot box? How can we restore trust in the political system? And how can we foster public discourse that respects diverse views instead of slapping on labels and blaming? Omets may not have been everyone’s answer, but it at least offered an alternative. In contrast, 2 million abstainers represent a deafening silence waiting for a response.
Blaming 37,686 Omets voters for Netanyahu’s return is not only inaccurate—it’s absurd when you consider the nearly 2 million who didn’t vote. This narrow perspective highlights our society’s bigger problem: instead of confronting systemic crises, we prefer to point at a small minority and cry “guilty.” But the truth is simple: change won’t come from blaming those who voted differently, but from understanding why so many chose not to vote at all. Until we turn our gaze there, we’ll keep paying the price—in division, trust, and our democracy.
