Thousands of Israelis Abroad Fly Home to Vote in Upcoming Election
Translated & summarized from Behadrei Haredim by baba
Tens of thousands of Israelis living abroad are flying back to Israel to vote in upcoming elections, a record-breaking turnout. The "Fly&Vote" initiative estimates around 67,000 Israelis will return, with many citing dissatisfaction with the current government and the October 7th security failures as motivations. This surge in participation from the diaspora, particularly from the U.S. and Europe, is unprecedented.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Around 67,000 Israelis abroad are expected to return to Israel to vote in upcoming elections.
- The "Fly&Vote" initiative is coordinating flights for Israelis from the U.S. and Europe.
- Voters cite government failures and the October 7th security lapses as reasons for returning.
- Some Israelis are returning to vote for the first time in decades.
- The scale of this electoral participation from Israelis abroad is unprecedented.
Tens of thousands of Israelis living abroad are returning to Israel to vote in the upcoming elections, a phenomenon unprecedented in scale, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. Unlike many Western countries, Israeli law requires citizens to vote in person in Israel, prompting a significant aerial operation. The initiative "Fly&Vote," run by an American non-profit, estimates that approximately 67,000 Israelis are expected to fly back for election day.
Nadav, a 41-year-old former intelligence officer who moved to Toronto with his family in July 2025, is one of those returning. He spent $5,716 on three tickets for a 14-hour journey with a layover in Vienna due to canceled direct flights from Canada. Nadav told the Journal that the current government has failed on many levels and that his vote is crucial for his family's potential return to Israel. "I gave this country almost 10 years in the public sector and the army, and I don't want to see Israel continue on this path," he stated.
Social media has been filled with images of Israelis sharing their flight tickets and airport selfies. Tami, who relocated with her family from Tel Aviv to Bangkok in January 2025, noted the overwhelming number of people returning to Israel, with full incoming flights and few departing. She observed that Israelis were arriving from all over the world.
Some voters are returning for the first time in decades. Netzer, a 65-year-old pensioner living in Chandler, Arizona, who has not voted in Israel since moving to the U.S. in 1991, was motivated by the security failures of October 7th. "It must be investigated," he said. "Nobody is doing anything. It's like nobody did anything wrong, or at least not the people at the top who are responsible for it."
"Fly&Vote" has mobilized around 20 full-time staff and over 50 volunteers to coordinate with airlines and travel agencies, organizing six group flights. Jonathan Bersade, president of the non-partisan "AID Coalition" that launched the program, stated they exceeded their goal of 50,000 voters. According to the initiative's data, about half of the returning voters are from the United States, and over a third are from Europe. Organizers and voters alike report a level of engagement from Israelis abroad never seen before in previous elections.
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