Approximately 70,000 Israelis living abroad returned to Israel to participate in Tuesday’s national elections, a figure that could influence the outcome in what is expected to be a closely contested race between opposing political blocs. The turnout of these overseas voters may play a pivotal role given the narrow margins anticipated.
In the 2022 elections, roughly 36,000 votes were required to secure one seat in the 120-member Knesset. Due to population growth and a projected increase in voter participation, analysts estimate that the threshold may now range between 38,000 and 39,000 votes per seat. Although it remains uncertain which political factions these returning voters will support, some projections indicate a potential lean toward the bloc advocating for governmental change. Even if 60% of this group votes for the change bloc, the added support would translate to around one to one-and-a-half additional Knesset seats. The final ballot count will clarify the true impact of overseas Israelis on the electoral balance.
In conjunction with election activities, many Israelis abroad combined voting with family visits or short vacations on this week’s holiday. Most returned visitors stayed with relatives or friends or in their own apartments, but some made use of the country’s hotel accommodations, contributing to increased occupancy rates.
Africa Israel Hotels reported a 23% rise in room bookings compared to October of the previous year, a period marked by more complex security conditions. Alex Eliyahu, marketing director of Africa Israel Hotels, noted that many Israelis are leveraging the opportunity to fulfill their voting duties while taking brief holidays. The hotel chain also introduced special deals to attract guests during the election period.
Fattal Hotels echoed these observations, citing heightened bookings particularly in central Israel. Maya Shalev, vice president of marketing and sales at Fattal Hotels, attributed the surge primarily to the election, highlighting promotions offering discounts of up to 30%, with additional price reductions for members of their loyalty program. Bookings directly from abroad suggest that some visitors traveled specifically to cast their votes.
Among the diaspora returning to participate was Judy from Miami, who has lived in the United States for over five decades and described coordinating her visit with Election Day. Others, such as Nurit from South Sharon, brought family members from Canada who were casting ballots for the first time. Similarly, Ofer and Gidi traveled from New York and Australia, respectively, combining voting with family reunions and vacations.
Conversely, some Israelis were unable to return due to flight cancellations by flydubai following an attempted terrorist attack, which also raised travel costs. This disrupted plans for voters hoping to come home in time. Additionally, a segment of Israelis living in Israel found themselves abroad on Election Day and unable to vote. For instance, Rachli from Ramat Gan expressed regret about missing her vote due to a year-planned vacation overseas, a situation she found particularly disappointing.
As the votes are tallied, the influence of the overseas Israeli electorate will be closely scrutinized to determine whether their return shifted the balance in a tightly fought election.