Israelis Abroad Navigate Election Day: From New York Flights to Portuguese Vacations
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
Two Israeli couples living abroad faced decisions about voting in recent elections. Filmmaker Yonatan Dekel and his wife flew from New York to Israel, leaving their children with a babysitter for 24 hours to cast their ballots. In contrast, students Nir and Noa remained on vacation in Portugal, prioritizing their pre-booked trip despite family pressure. Over 800,000 Israelis live abroad and must return to vote, highlighting the varied approaches to civic duty.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Yonatan Dekel and his wife flew from New York to Israel to vote, leaving their children with a babysitter.
- Students Nir and Noa chose to stay on vacation in Portugal instead of returning to vote.
- Dekel views returning to vote as a civic duty comparable to military reserve duty.
- Over 800,000 Israelis eligible to vote reside abroad and typically must return to Israel.
- Nir expressed embarrassment about not voting, while Noa felt a "not pleasant feeling" but no regret.
Two Israeli couples' contrasting decisions regarding election day highlight the complex feelings many Israelis living abroad have about their civic duty. Yonatan Dekel, a filmmaker, and his wife, a social worker, who reside in New York with their three young children, undertook an expensive and lengthy journey back to Israel to vote in the recent elections. Their children, aged 12, 10, and 6, were left with a babysitter for 24 hours while their parents coordinated flights to ensure both could cast their ballots. Dekel described the situation as a significant investment in their children's future and a matter of civic responsibility, comparing it to military reserve duty. He noted that many Israelis he knows in New York send at least one spouse to vote, with the act of returning to vote drawing parallels to the mobilization seen after October 7th.
Meanwhile, Tel Aviv students Nir and Noa, both in their 20s, chose to remain on a pre-booked vacation in Portugal, despite pressure from family and friends. They booked their trip before the election date was set and decided against altering their plans due to cost and their demanding academic schedules. Noa admitted she would not have booked the trip if she knew about the election, but changing plans would have incurred significant financial loss. While acknowledging a "not pleasant feeling" about not voting, she stated she felt no regret, though Nir expressed a slight embarrassment about his decision, admitting his parents offered to pay for his return flight.
Dekel expressed concern about potential geopolitical events, such as conflict with Iran, disrupting travel and leaving him stranded abroad, away from his children. According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, over 800,000 Israelis eligible to vote reside abroad, with most needing to return to Israel to participate in elections, excluding those who can vote at Israeli diplomatic missions.
Dekel emphasized the importance of maintaining a connection to Israel as a home, stating, "There are those who will return to it now and those who will return to it tomorrow." The contrasting choices reflect a spectrum of commitment and practicality among Israelis living overseas.
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