Israelis living abroad fly back to vote in what they believe is a pivotal election

Liran Naaman spent 800 euros to fly from Amsterdam to Israel to vote in the October 27 election, believing his participation matters more than ever. Over 50,000 Israelis are expected to return to vote in what is seen as a referendum on Netanyahu's government. The Aid Coalition's Fly & Vote initiative assists overseas voters, though Likud filed a petition accusing it of bribery. Voters cite concerns over religion and state, the country's direction, and rising antisemitism as motivating factors.

Liran Naaman spent 800 euros to fly from Amsterdam, where he has lived for 11 years, to Israel to vote in the October 27 election. He has returned for every election except during the Covid pandemic, and believes this time his participation matters more than ever. "The way that our government is conducting itself is harming me personally and the rest of the Israelis abroad," the project manager told AFP. The election is widely seen as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his hard-right government after October 7 and nearly three years of war in Gaza, Iran and Lebanon. Polls show a tight race. Israel is one of a handful of democracies that do not allow citizens to vote if they are abroad. The influx of overseas voters has alarmed Netanyahu's bloc, mindful of how tens of thousands of Israelis have left the country during his tenure. More than 50,000 Israelis are expected to travel home to cast their ballots, according to the Aid Coalition. Sylvie Lidgi, a dual French-Israeli national, said the country stands at a crossroads between "two opposing visions of the world: either the Torah as a constitution, or a liberal democracy." Tami Giniger, a startup consultant flying from Bangkok, said this is a crucial time for defining what is Israeli and what is Judaism. The Aid Coalition's Fly & Vote initiative assists overseas voters, though Likud filed a petition accusing it of electoral bribery. A settlement reached last week requires the organization to stop selling additional flights while allowing previously purchased tickets to remain valid. Ariella Hanker, a cancer research scientist in Dallas, resolved to return after Netanyahu returned to power in 2022 and his government sought to advance a judicial overhaul. "I don't want to be complacent," she said. "I'm just really worried about the future of a strong, democratic Israel."