Tens of thousands of Israeli expats fly home to vote in tight election

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 27 Oct, 16:44 · Archive

Tens of thousands of Israelis living abroad have returned to vote in a closely contested election on Tuesday.

Tens of thousands of Israelis living abroad are returning to their country to vote in Tuesday's election, which polls indicate is extremely close. Israel does not permit voting from abroad except for those serving in diplomatic missions abroad, making the journey necessary for expatriates who want to participate.

Estimates of returning voters range from 67,000 to 80,000, according to organisations helping to coordinate the effort. CNBC reports that one group estimates as many as 80,000 may return, while CBS News cites estimates of 67,000 from the AID Coalition, a US-based nonprofit. About half of those returning have flown in from the United States, with others from Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Some voters have spent thousands of dollars on flights for the trip. One voter quoted by CBS News spent about $3,000 to fly from the US, planning to be in Israel for just 36 hours before returning. Another travelled from Toronto, saying she felt compelled to vote for the first time in two decades since leaving for Canada. Voters described the election as consequential for their country's future.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of the Likud party faces challenger Gadi Eisenkot, former chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces who heads the Yashar party. Both would likely need backing from coalition partners. CNBC notes that while 80,000 votes may not be a large block relative to Israel's total eligible voters, they could make a significant difference in a very tight race.

How it is being reported

• Israelis living abroad spend thousands to fly in to vote in crucial electionTens of thousands of Israelis living abroad have flown in just to cast their ballots in an election many voters see as a referendum on Benjamin Netanyahu.CBS News · 27 Oct, 16:21
• Israeli election draws tens of thousands of citizens flying back to voteTens of thousands of Israelis are returning home to vote in a tight election.CNBC · 26 Oct, 22:46

In this story: Benjamin Netanyahu · Gadi Eisenkot · Israel · Likud · Yashar · AID Coalition

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log