Politics · Other · 1 hr ago
Israeli voters abroad return home for a pivotal election
Tens of thousands of Israelis living abroad are expected to fly home to vote in Tuesday’s election.
Israeli law generally requires citizens to cast their ballots in the country, with limited exceptions for some officials abroad.
AID Coalition estimates that as many as 67,000 voters will return, with about half coming from the United States and others from Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
The vote is the first since the 2023 Hamas-led attacks and the wars that followed.
It is widely seen as a test of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the wars and Israel’s political direction.
Some returning voters say they want to help preserve democracy or change government policies, but it is unclear how these voters will affect the result in a close race.
Tens of thousands of Israelis living abroad are expected to return to Israel to vote in a pivotal election on Tuesday.
AID Coalition estimates that as many as 67,000 voters may travel to Israel for the vote.
Israeli law generally requires citizens to vote in person in the country, with narrow exceptions for some officials abroad.
The election is widely seen as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the wars and Israel’s hard-right turn.
Some returning voters say they want to help preserve Israeli democracy, but the effect of their votes is unclear.
- Who
- Tens of thousands of Israelis living abroad are expected to return. AID Coalition estimates as many as 67,000 voters may come.
- What
- Israelis abroad are returning to vote in Israel’s election.
- When
- The election is on Tuesday. The articles were published on October 25, 2026.
- Where
- Voters are travelling to Israel, including from the United States, Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
- Why
- Some say they feel a duty to preserve Israel’s democracy. The election is widely seen as a referendum on Netanyahu’s handling of the wars and Israel’s political direction.
Anti-Netanyahu voters
Pro-Netanyahu voters
Political support
Anti-Netanyahu voters
Some returning voters plan to support parties not aligned with Netanyahu’s government.
Pro-Netanyahu voters
Some expatriates are coming to vote for the pro-Netanyahu side.
Election’s significance
Anti-Netanyahu voters
They describe voting as a way to preserve Israeli democracy and seek a change in government.
Pro-Netanyahu voters
The sources identify pro-Netanyahu voters but do not state their reasons for returning.
Hamas-led attacks took place, followed by wars in the region.
Yael Natra travelled nearly 6,000 miles from Toronto to Tel Aviv to vote.
Israel is scheduled to hold an election, the first since the 2023 Hamas-led attacks and ensuing wars.
- Estimated returning voters
- As many as 67,000
- Registered voters in Israel
- More than 7.3 million
- Largest stated source of returning voters
- About half are flying from the United States
- Yael Natra’s journey
- Nearly 6,000 miles from Toronto to Tel Aviv
- Election context
- First election since the 2023 Hamas-led attacks and ensuing wars
3 sources
What people are saying
The Israel that I grew up in is disappearing,
It doesn’t matter what side of the political spectrum you’re on, everyone views these elections as going to be critical,
This government is digging the hole deeper every day,
The first thing the new government needs to do is put the shovel down.