Thousands of Israelis abroad travel home to vote in tightly contested election
Thousands of Israelis living abroad are returning to the country ahead of Tuesday's election in a sign of how closely fought the contest has become. The vote is being described as highly polarised, with each ballot seen as potentially decisive in choosing the next prime minister. Special flights have been organised to help expatriate voters make the journey back in time.
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At least 65,000 voters are said to be willing to travel to Israel to cast their ballots, according to the supporting material. The election is taking place on 27 October and is being framed as a direct contest between Benjamin Netanyahu, the incumbent prime minister and leader of Likud, and Gadi Eisenkot of Yashar. The vote is for 120 seats in parliament, and polling is reported to show the race effectively tied.
The expatriate vote is unusual because Israelis living outside the country must vote in person inside Israel. That requirement means time, money and travel logistics are part of the political process for citizens abroad. The flights are being coordinated by Aid Coalition, a non-partisan non-profit organisation, and additional routes were opened after regular services reportedly ran short of seats.
The scale of the mobilisation underlines the political significance of the election. The supporting material says around 630,000 Israelis live outside the country, equal to about 6% of the population. It also says the current campaign is the first national vote since the 7 October 2023 attack and the wars in Gaza and against Iran, making the election a test of public confidence in Netanyahu's leadership.
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The turnout effort has also become part of the wider political dispute. The Likud party reportedly objected to the initiative and tried, unsuccessfully, to block it, arguing that the organisers were interfering in the electoral process. Supporters of the travel scheme say it reflects frustration with the current government and a desire for change, while critics see it as politically charged.
What remains unclear is how many of the estimated eligible expatriate voters will ultimately make the trip and whether the special flights will materially affect the result. The election is still days away, and the final balance of support between Netanyahu and Eisenkot will only become clear after polling. For now, the travel rush highlights both the closeness of the race and the importance of the diaspora vote in a country where voting from abroad is not permitted.
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