Israelis Abroad Return to Vote Against Netanyahu

Drawn by the urgency of the upcoming elections, a significant number of Israelis living abroad are making costly journeys back to Israel to cast their ballots, primarily driven by a desire to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government. Aluma, a 39-year-old Israeli tech professional living in Paris for three years, booked her flight within two hours of the election date announcement, foregoing family holidays to fund the expensive trip. She stated her decision to leave Israel was linked to Netanyahu's political trajectory and was solidified by the judicial reform and the events of October 7th, which made the country feel unsafe. "My goal is to get Bibi and Ben Gvir out, and to get a little air to breathe in Israel," she said.

Aluma is not alone; she reports a widespread movement among her friends abroad to return and vote, facilitated by school holidays. The demand has led to increased airfare prices. Another Israeli, Jean-Jacques, 77, who made aliyah in 1978 and lived in Israel for ten years, is also returning for the elections, coinciding his trip with the vote for the first time. He believes the current government has suffered from "weariness of power," leading to alliances with the far-right and concessions to religious parties, particularly regarding military service exemptions for the ultra-Orthodox.

Shlomo, 71, views the election as crucial for Israel's societal identity and future, expressing that his support for the country has become conditional. He is concerned about extremist violence and the preferential treatment of the ultra-Orthodox, who he claims receive significant funding while education faces a crisis. He stated, "I will no longer be able to support it if we continue to see attacks by Jewish terrorists against innocent civilians. That's why I'm coming back specifically to vote."

These voters face the necessity of returning to Israel because the country, unlike many democracies, does not allow its citizens abroad to vote at consulates or embassies. An estimated 540,000 to 570,000 registered Israeli voters live outside the country. While only a fraction will make the trip, their votes could be decisive in a close election. The American organization AID Coalition's Fly&Vote program offers administrative assistance and information for flights from locations like New York and Lisbon, though travelers bear the flight costs. The organization estimates a record 67,000 Israelis from abroad returned to vote this election cycle.