Thousands of Israelis Abroad Prepare to Vote in Upcoming Knesset Elections

Approximately 67,000 Israelis living abroad are planning to travel to Israel to vote in the upcoming 26th Knesset elections, according to a report from the Fly&Vote initiative, operated by the AID Coalition organization. This figure represents a significant increase from an earlier estimate of 53,000 at the beginning of October, with election day just five days away.

The data, based on a survey of about 23,000 Israelis abroad conducted between October 12-21, indicates that 79.6% of respondents intend to come to Israel to vote. This is a notable jump compared to the 14% who reported voting in the previous 2022 elections. The organization cautions that the survey is voluntary and may not represent all Israelis overseas, and the 67,000 estimate is based on registration data, not actual arrivals.

Of those planning to vote, 48% will come from the United States, 37% from European countries, 5% from Canada, and 2% from Australia and New Zealand. Around 70% of respondents stated that the Fly&Vote initiative influenced their decision to travel, with an additional quarter saying it helped them with information and travel arrangements.

These figures emerge two weeks after a legal dispute between the Likud party and the Fly&Vote initiative concluded with a compromise. Likud had argued that the initiative's assistance with flights and related services could constitute illegal election inducements. The agreement, finalized on October 6 before the Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Judge Noam Sohlberg, saw the petition withdrawn. Fly&Vote committed to not subsidizing flights, offering discounts, or organizing additional flights beyond the six already provided, and also agreed to limit ancillary services like transportation and accommodation.

While Likud presented the settlement as a victory, the initiative emphasized that its operations were not prohibited and it continues to assist Israelis abroad. Unlike many countries, most Israelis living overseas must travel to Israel to vote. Yonatan Bar Sade, President of AID Coalition, noted the high engagement, stating that many are willing to bear significant costs and take time off work or studies because the future of Israel is important to them. The estimated 67,000 votes could be equivalent to approximately 1.7 Knesset seats, depending on the final distribution of votes.