70,000 Expats Return to Vote in Knesset Race

An estimated 70,000 Israelis living abroad have returned to the country or are scheduled to arrive before the Knesset elections take place on Tuesday. The influx of voters has the potential to influence the final count if the race between competing political blocs remains tight, though precise numbers are not yet available.

The impact of these returnees depends on the number of votes required to win a single seat. In 2022, a party needed approximately 36,000 votes to secure one seat. With population growth and higher anticipated turnout, the threshold for this election is projected to rise to between 38,000 and 39,000 votes. Estimates suggest that even if 60% of the arriving diaspora voters support the change bloc, the gain would amount to at most one or one-and-a-half seats.

Hotel data reflects the surge in arrivals, with many visitors combining family visits and vacations with Election Day. 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, noted that more Israelis are choosing to pair exercising their democratic right with a short vacation.

Fattal Hotels also recorded higher occupancy, particularly in central Israel. Maya Shalev, the company's vice president of marketing and sales, attributed the increase to the elections. The chain is offering discounts of up to 30%, plus an extra 10% for members of its loyalty program, for stays between October 25 and 29.

Some of the returnees participated in the October Council rally held at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv on Saturday night. Judy, a resident of Miami for more than 50 years, said she flew in to vote and will return to the US in early November. She stated that while many Israelis in Miami and Los Angeles tend to vote for the Right, she is different. Ofer, who traveled from New York, said his family flew in specifically to vote and will leave the day after the elections.

Nurit, from the South Sharon area, attended the rally with her son-in-law and 18-year-old grandson, who arrived from Canada and is voting for the first time. Zehava, who flew in from New York, said she plans to vote for Likud and planned her visit in advance.

Not all who wished to return were able to do so. Some Israelis remained stranded abroad after flydubai canceled flights following an attempted terrorist attack, which pushed up flight prices to the Far East. Conversely, some residents of Israel are overseas on Election Day. Racheli, from Ramat Gan, booked a vacation in Vietnam with her husband almost a year ago, before the election date was known. She said she will not vote for the first time in her life.