Likud Minister Urges Israelis Abroad Not to Vote to Prevent Anti-Netanyahu Shift

Likud Minister Shlomo Karhi stated on Wednesday that Israelis living abroad should not come to Israel to vote in the upcoming elections solely to oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Speaking on Radio 103, Karhi argued that only those living in Israel should influence the country's future, saying, "Whoever does not live here should not come just because of their 'anything but Bibi' stance to try to change the government." He added that any Jew is welcome to immigrate to Israel and contribute to building the country.

The elections are scheduled for October 27. Recently, many Israelis abroad have shared screenshots on social media showing flight tickets purchased specifically to return to Israel to vote. Israeli law requires citizens to vote in person within the country, which can involve costly and time-consuming travel.

This has sparked debate as some Israelis abroad plan to return solely to vote. Earlier this month, Likud petitioned the election committee against an initiative to host voters from abroad for free, claiming it constituted an undue benefit. Additionally, some Israelis living overseas reported difficulties confirming their registration status in the voter registry through the Interior Ministry, with the official government bot failing to provide clear information on their eligibility or polling locations. Some expressed suspicion that this might be an attempt to discourage voters from abroad.