Tens of thousands of people fly back to vote in Israeli election

Israel’s election on Tuesday was so close that some citizens are flying home to vote.

Israel does not allow voters from abroad to vote, except for those working in the country’s diplomatic missions abroad. Up to 80,000 Israelis living abroad are expected to return to vote in Tuesday’s election, according to an estimate by a group that helps expatriates organize. There are about 7.3 million voters in Israel, according to the Washington-based International Electoral Systems Foundation.

“It’s not a large bloc, but 80,000 people could return and participate, which could make a huge difference in the final tally of a very close election,” said Yael Shomer, a political science professor at Tel Aviv University.

In Israel’s first general election since 2022, Benjamin Netanyahu of the Likud party, who has served as prime minister for 18 years over three terms, is facing front-runner Gadi Eisenkot, a former chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces and leader of Yashar’s party. Both parties are likely to need support from potential coalition partners to win.

Opinion polls are showing an extremely close race heading into Tuesday’s election. Issues such as security, already big decisions for Israelis, have become even more contentious as the Iran war gets into full swing. Exemption from military service for some ultra-Orthodox men has also caused deep divisions in Israeli society, while Prime Minister Netanyahu remains committed to a controversial plan that would give his coalition more control over the judiciary.

“All elections in Israel are exciting, but this one is especially hotly contested because it has a huge impact on the country’s future,” Shomer said. “This election is really about how we look to the future. Turnout will be very high.”

Voter turnout in 2022 was just over 70%, according to Israel’s Central Election Commission. Pollsters believe the percentage could reach 87% this time. Voter turnout among diplomats working in embassies and consulates outside Israel was 90%. According to the Central Election Commission, that number is usually close to 70%.

A group called Fly & Vote was created by the American-Israel Democratic Federation to help expats return to vote. The American-Israel Democratic Coalition is a U.S.-based group originally founded in 2023 to block Likud’s efforts to reform the judicial system.

Although organizations and political parties are prohibited from paying any transportation fees to people inside or outside of Israel, the aid coalition has found another way to facilitate voting.

Fly & Vote, which is funded by private donations, chartered flights for Israelis living in Portugal and purchased blocks of flights from the New York area. Everyone on the plane had to pay for their seat.

“Israelis who don’t live here still have a stake in our work and we want to help them,” said Ola Peled-Nakash, co-founder of the group. “But we don’t take a political position and we don’t tell anyone how to vote. We just help them vote.”

Travelers also have plenty of commercial options.

For decades, El Al was the only Israeli airline to fly from the United States to Israel. Archia began offering airmail last year, and Israel earlier this year. Traditional US carriers United Airlines and Delta Air Lines are also flying to Israel again after suspending operations due to the war with Iran. Germany’s Lufthansa is flying to Israel from Europe, and British Airways plans to resume flights this week.

Moreover, the prices will be in line with normal prices, Peled Nakash said. As of Sunday, there were still some seats left on El Al flights out of JFK or Newark, with prices ranging from $1,300 to $2,500, according to a CNBC investigation.

After years of political instability that saw five elections between 2019 and 2022, Tuesday’s election results could help shape Israel’s political, security and economic direction for years to come. But it also shows how politically divided this country is.