Expat Israelis fly home to vote against Netanyahu in tight election

Tens of thousands of Israelis living abroad are expected to fly home for Tuesday's parliamentary election to vote against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with some spending tens of thousands of kroner on travel and lodging in a tight race. Israel does not allow overseas citizens to vote from abroad, forcing expatriates to return in person. Adam Pines, 47, spent nearly 30,000 kroner on a flight from Los Angeles, saying Israel has lost its moral compass, while Orit Eyal-Fibeesh, 55, traveled from Britain with her family, calling it a last chance to save Israel from a catastrophic government. An estimated 67,000 expatriates may vote, and with polls showing a close contest, their ballots could be decisive. Expert Yossi Mekelberg calls the mobilization historic, noting that unlike past ultra-Orthodox voters, these returnees are largely opposition supporters driven by discontent over the Gaza war and the 2023 Hamas attack.