Israeli Expats Face High Costs to Return Home for October Knesset Vote

As Israel prepares for its Knesset elections on October 27, many Israeli citizens living abroad are planning to return to Israel to vote, despite the high travel costs involved. Israeli law requires citizens to be physically present in Israel to vote, except for certain officials, prompting many expatriates to book flights specifically for the elections. A couple living in Paris, Elin and Joshua, spent nearly $4,800 on their round-trip tickets and chose to forgo their usual holiday family visit to exercise their voting rights. They cited rising antisemitism since October 7 as a motivating factor.

Others, like Michael from New York and Alice from London, also expressed a strong commitment to participate in the elections, emphasizing the importance of influencing Israel's political future. Flight prices vary significantly depending on the departure city: from New York, tickets start around $1,576 on El Al and can reach over $2,300; from Bangkok, prices range from $1,280 to $1,610; European cities like London, Paris, and Berlin offer lower fares, starting from about $796 to $997 on El Al, with some dates near the election already sold out.

Other airlines show varied prices, with Arkia flights from New York starting at $2,148, Lufthansa from Berlin at $590, Air France from Paris at $1,218, and Wizz Air from London at $1,069. Despite social media buzz about returning to vote, Israeli airlines report no significant surge in bookings yet. However, travel agencies note increased inquiries and expect a rise in voters returning to Israel, potentially reducing holiday travel during the election period.

Industry experts highlight that flight demand from key hubs like Athens, Berlin, and Barcelona is increasing, with prices remaining competitive due to seasonal factors. Some travelers are adjusting flight times to vote on election day morning, with a few extending stays to combine voting with weekend travel. The Israeli Pilots Association has requested legal arrangements to allow flight crews to vote at Ben Gurion Airport while abroad on election day, warning that without such measures, crew scheduling changes could disrupt flight operations around the elections.