Israeli Expatriates Return Home to Vote in Tight Election

Tens of thousands of Israelis living abroad are returning home to vote in Tuesday's parliamentary election, a move led by civil initiatives that could influence Knesset seat distribution amid a tight race between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition parties. An estimated 67,000 Israelis are expected to return to cast ballots, according to the "Fly and Vote" initiative, a US-based nonprofit. The election is the first since the October 7, 2023 attack and subsequent Gaza war, with polls showing neither major bloc securing a clear majority of the 120-seat Knesset. Israel requires citizens to vote domestically except for diplomats and some officials, forcing expatriates to bear travel costs. About half of returning voters come from the US, with 37 percent from Europe. A legal dispute over the initiative ended in an October 6 settlement, with organizers agreeing not to arrange additional flights or subsidize tickets.