Tens of Thousands of Israelis Abroad Fly Home to Vote in Tight Election

Tens of thousands of Israelis living abroad are flying home to vote in Tuesday's national election, because Israel does not allow absentee voting except for citizens serving in its diplomatic missions. One group helping organize expats estimated that as many as 80,000 could return, out of about 7.3 million eligible voters, according to the Washington-based International Foundation for Electoral Systems. It is Israel's first election since 2022. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of the Likud party, who has served 18 years over three separate periods, faces top challenger Gadi Eisenkot, the former Israel Defense Forces chief of staff who leads the Yashar party. Polls show an extremely tight race, and both men would likely need coalition partners to win. Yael Shomer, a political science professor at Tel Aviv University, said the returning voters are not a large bloc but could make a big difference in the final count. Security concerns have grown more contentious with the Iran war ongoing, and the exemption of some ultra-Orthodox men from conscription is also dividing Israeli society. A "Fly and Vote" initiative helps expats organize trips, and a petition by Likud to restrict it failed.

Left-leaning coverage, from MS NOW, centers on the personal side, with a headline quoting voters who say the trip is worth it and stressing that many spend thousands of dollars to fly to Israel. Only the headline and a short excerpt were available, so it gives no figures, candidates or polling. Alternative and independent outlets, CNBC and France 24, cover the same event but add political detail: CNBC supplies the 80,000 estimate, the expert quote, the candidates and the security and conscription issues, while France 24 notes Eisenkot supporters waiting at Tel Aviv airport and the failed Likud petition. All three agree that expats cannot vote from abroad and must travel. Right-leaning outlets had not reported this story at the time of writing, while left-leaning and alternative outlets had, and those covering it focus on the cost and logistics of returning and the possible effect on a close race.