Israelis Abroad Navigate Election Day: Some Fly Home, Others Stay on Vacation
Translated & summarized from N12 by baba
Two Israeli couples living abroad faced different decisions on Election Day. Filmmaker Yonatan Dekel and his wife flew from New York to Israel for a 24-hour trip to vote, leaving their children with a babysitter. Meanwhile, students Nir and Noa chose to stay on vacation in Portugal, despite pressure from family, and will not vote. Over 800,000 eligible Israeli voters reside abroad, with most needing to return to Israel to cast their ballots.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Yonatan Dekel and his wife flew from New York to Israel for a 24-hour voting trip, leaving their children with a babysitter.
- Students Nir and Noa opted to stay on vacation in Portugal and forgo voting in the Israeli elections.
- Over 800,000 eligible Israeli voters live abroad and must return to Israel to cast their ballots.
- Dekel views voting as a civic duty comparable to military reserve service.
- Nir admitted to feeling ashamed about not voting but had no regrets about his decision.
Two Israeli couples' contrasting decisions regarding Election Day highlight the complex choices faced by citizens living abroad. Yonatan Dekel, a filmmaker residing in New York with his wife and three young children, made a significant effort to ensure both he and his wife could vote. They arranged separate, expensive flights to Israel, with his wife arriving first to cast her ballot and then flying back, while he was scheduled to land on Election Day and head directly to a polling station. Their children, aged 12, 10, and 6, remained in New York with a babysitter and backup from friends for approximately 24 hours.
Dekel described the logistical challenge, noting they might only briefly see each other on the roads between the airport and polling stations due to tight flight schedules. He expressed concern about potential travel disruptions, such as a military conflict with Iran, that could strand them in Israel, away from their children. Dekel views voting as a civic duty akin to military reserve duty, emphasizing the importance of ensuring their children have a home to return to.
In contrast, Nir and Noa, Tel Aviv students in their 20s, chose to remain on vacation in Portugal. They had booked their trip before the election date was set and decided against altering their plans due to cost and their busy academic schedules. Despite pressure from family and friends, and acknowledging a "not pleasant feeling," they expressed no immediate regret. Nir admitted to feeling "a little ashamed" to say he wouldn't be voting, especially as his parents offered to pay for a return flight. They plan to follow the election results from Portugal.
According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, over 800,000 eligible Israeli voters live abroad, with most needing to return to Israel to cast their ballots, except for those voting at Israeli embassies. Dekel noted that among his acquaintances in New York, it's common for at least one spouse to travel back to vote, drawing parallels to the sense of civic engagement seen after the October 7th events.
