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Tens of Thousands of Israelis Living Abroad Fly Home for Pivotal Vote
· Confirmed
In Short: Tens of thousands of Israelis living abroad are expected to fly into Israel for Tuesday's pivotal election, according to CBS News and the Eagle-Tribune.
Tens of thousands of Israelis living abroad are expected to fly into Israel for Tuesday's pivotal election, according to CBS News and the Eagle-Tribune. The AID Coalition, a U.S.-based nonprofit, estimates that as many as 67,000 Israeli citizens have arrived from abroad to vote, based on surveys of expatriates and registration data gathered for its 'Fly&Vote' initiative.
The mobilization of expatriates this year is notable compared to past Israeli elections, according to Dahlia Scheindlin, an American-Israeli political analyst, as reported by CBS News and PBS. Scheindlin noted that while many campaigns have focused on anti-Netanyahu sentiment, it's unclear how those flying in will vote.
Offir Gutelzon, who helped organize flights for expatriates to vote with the organization he co-founded, UnXeptable, told CBS News that the goal is to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has dominated Israeli politics for 30 years.
Yael Natra, an Israeli living abroad, told The Associated Press she spent thousands of dollars to travel from Toronto to Tel Aviv to cast her ballot. Natra said this is the first time in two decades that she felt she needed to vote in her home country's elections.
Experts have said the mobilization effort abroad this year is notable compared with past elections, as reported by the Oskaloosa Herald, Ottumwa Courier, Temple Daily Telegram, and PBS.
In Tel Aviv, thousands gathered to protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and demand an independent inquiry into the security failures that led to the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023, as reported by Dailypioneer and Al Jazeera (Qatar).
Al Jazeera (Qatar) reported that protesters chanted 'We cannot be a dictatorship!' and 'Masses, masses of masses, flowing in the ‘Democrats’ march from Rabin Square to the Hostages Square – for change, for hope, for r-e-v-o-l-u-t-i-o-n.'
The election could be pivotal in determining whether Israel launches another round of strikes on Iran, according to Al Jazeera (Qatar) and Global News (Canada).
The election is expected to be a tight race, with more than 7.3 million registered voters, according to polling data from Eagle-Tribune, Oskaloosa Herald, Ottumwa Courier, PBS, and Temple Daily Telegram.
The sources agree that the mobilization of expatriates is notable compared to past elections, and that the election is consequential for Israel's future, with a focus on unseating Netanyahu and addressing security concerns.
Background
Tens of thousands of Israelis living abroad are expected to fly in for the pivotal election in Israel on Tuesday, according to the AID Coalition, a U.S.-based nonprofit.
Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in Lisbon, Portugal, on Saturday to protest against proposed labor reforms, with the country's largest union, CGTP, calling for a general strike on December 11.
What's confirmed
- AID Coalition, a U.S.-based nonprofit whose stated mission is strengthening Israel's democracy, estimates that as many as 67,000 Israeli citizens have arrived from abroad to vote, based on surveys of expatriates and registration data gathered for its "Fly&Vote" initiative.
- October 27, 2026 / 12:21 PM EDT / CBS News With a consequential election in Israel Tuesday, tens of thousands of Israelis living abroad have flown in just to cast their ballots.
- The mobilization of expats this year is notable, compared with past Israeli elections, Dahlia Scheindlin, an American-Israeli political analyst, told the AP.
- "If something won't change this time, I don't know what's going to be."
- "There are also expats coming in to vote for the pro-Netanyahu side," Scheindlin said.
- While many campaigns have focused on anti-Netanyahu sentiment, she said it's unclear overall how those flying in will vote.
- Experts have said the mobilization effort abroad this year is notable, compared with past elections.
- TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — For two decades since leaving Israel for Canada, Yael Natra said, she didn't consider returning to vote in her home country's elections.
- Tamar Ichilov, an Israeli living abroad who came to vote ahead of Israel's election, pose for a portrait in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, Oct.
- JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Tens of thousands of Israelis living overseas are making extraordinary efforts to return to Israel for the upcoming elections, with an estimated 67,000 expected to fly into the country to cast their ballots.
- Thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday to protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and demand an independent inquiry into the security failures that led to the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023.
- Israel has more than 7.3 million registered voters, but polling suggests a tight race.
What's still developing
- "It is my country. The fact that I'm living abroad doesn't mean that this is not my home here. We wanna make a difference," she said.
- She shelled out about $3,000 to come back to vote.
- Jonathan Bressada, president of AID Coalition, said the initiative initially aimed to bring at least 50,000 Israelis home to vote, a target many considered unrealistic.
- Local officials and the Palestine Red Crescent Society reported attacks in at least eight villages in the northern West Bank, where most of the olive groves are concentrated and tens of thousands of Palestinian families depend on them for income.
- Share your compassion and support Israelis in need.
- Israel was prepared to shoot down a FlyDubai passenger plane after its captain was allegedly attacked in the cockpit and the aircraft plunged thousands of feet, even though more than 150 Israelis were on board.
- “I fiercely condemn the provocateur organization ‘Brothers in Arms’ that occupies itself time and again with fanning the flames of civil war and dividing Israeli society,” Ben-Gvir wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
- They included 121 who had been serving life sentences after being convicted of deadly attacks against Israelis.
- “We have sent an urgent letter to the Police Commissioner following alerts about attempts by entities linked to the coalition to disrupt tonight’s rally,” it wrote on X.
- “Three days before the election, we will hold the culminating event marking three years of struggle to uncover the truth, demand accountability and establish a state commission of inquiry,” the October Council wrote on X ahead of the rally.
- But now, after seeing the far right gain power, Natra, 61, said she believed she had no choice.
- Among those making the journey is Nadav, 41, a former Israeli intelligence official who moved to Toronto with his wife and children in July 2025 after enduring more than two years of repeated trips to bomb shelters.