Israeli expats fly home to vote in high-stakes election

Israelis living abroad are returning home in large numbers to vote in Tuesday's election, the first since the October 7, 2023 attacks, with expatriates citing concerns over democratic erosion and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership. Tens of thousands are expected to fly in, with AID Coalition estimating up to 67,000 voters, half from the US. Many liberal Israelis who left in recent years are motivated to oppose Netanyahu, though some expats support him. The race is tight among 7.3 million registered voters. The election is widely seen as a referendum on Netanyahu's handling of the wars and Israel's hard-right turn. Centrist challenger Gadi Eisenkot has pledged an inquiry into the October 7 failures. Record numbers of Israelis have emigrated since 2022, with some returnees saying they hope to restore the country's democratic path.