70,000 Diaspora Voters Return for Tuesday Knesset Ballot

An estimated 70,000 Israelis residing abroad have returned home or are expected to arrive before the Knesset elections scheduled for Tuesday. The figure is an estimate, and no precise count exists, but the influx could influence the outcome if the contest between political blocs remains close.

The potential impact depends on the vote threshold required to secure a seat. In the 2022 election, approximately 36,000 votes were needed for one Knesset seat. Analysts expect the threshold to rise to between 38,000 and 39,000 votes this time due to population growth and higher projected turnout. Even if 60% of the returning diaspora voted for the change bloc, the gain would amount to at most one to one-and-a-half seats.

The surge in travelers is visible in the hospitality sector. Africa Israel Hotels reported a 23% increase in occupancy during election week compared to October of last year. Alex Eliyahu, the chain's marketing director, attributed the rise to Israelis pairing their civic duty with short vacations. Fattal Hotels also noted higher bookings, particularly in central Israel. Maya Shalev, the company's vice president of marketing and sales, said bookings are up compared to the same period last year, likely due to the elections.

Many returnees are combining the trip with family visits or staying in owned apartments. Fattal Hotels is offering discounts of up to 30% for stays between October 25 and 29, with an additional 10% off for loyalty club members. Shalev noted that international bookings for these dates suggest a direct link to the election.

The movement of voters was evident at the October Council rally at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv on Saturday night, where tens of thousands gathered. Judy, a Miami resident of more than 50 years, flew in to vote before returning in early November. She stated that while many Israelis in Miami and Los Angeles tend to vote for the Right, she and others differ. Ofer, who traveled from New York, said his family arrived specifically to vote and will leave the day after the election.

Other voters included Nurit, who attended the rally with her son-in-law and grandson from Canada. Her grandson, 18, is casting his first ballot. Zehava, also from New York, said she plans to vote for Likud and had planned her visit in advance. However, not all planned trips succeeded. Some Israelis were stranded abroad after flydubai canceled flights following an attempted terrorist attack, which drove up prices for flights to the Far East.

A smaller number of Israelis living in the country will be abroad on Election Day. Racheli, from Ramat Gan, booked a trip to Vietnam with her husband nearly a year ago, before the election date was known. She described the situation as heartbreaking, noting that it is a shame Israelis traveling abroad cannot vote on the designated day.