Israeli expats fly home to vote against Netanyahu in pivotal election

Tens of thousands of Israeli expats are flying home to vote in Tuesday's election, seeking to oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the first national vote since the October 7, 2022 Hamas attack. The election is widely seen as a referendum on his leadership. Expats cite Netanyahu's handling of the wars, failure to prevent the October 7 attacks, and support for military service exemptions for the ultra-Orthodox as key reasons for their return. Israeli law requires most citizens abroad to travel to vote, with costs reaching thousands of dollars per person. Up to 67,000 voters are expected to return, with polls projecting a close contest between Netanyahu's alliance and the opposition bloc. Emigration has risen since 2022, and Netanyahu faces corruption charges and criticism over judicial reform proposals.