Isaels Return Home by the Tens of Thousands Before Tuesday Vote

Ben-Gurion Airport has recorded a net inflow of more than 90,000 passengers in the days leading up to the October 27 Knesset election. Channel 13 reported on Sunday that this figure marks a sharp increase from the roughly 77,000 net arrivals seen during the same period in 2025. The data suggests a large number of Israelis abroad are choosing to return to the country before ballots are cast.

The shift in traffic patterns is evident when comparing the current election cycle to previous years. Between October 17 and October 27, 2026 saw about 245,000 departures. That number is lower than the approximately 270,000 departures recorded in 2025 and the 323,000 recorded in 2022. Despite an increase in available flights and aircraft in recent years, fewer Israelis are leaving the country during this critical window.

No special airlift was organized to bring voters back, meaning the surge in arrivals relied on standard commercial capacity. Even without dedicated flights, the number of people entering Israel far outpaced those leaving. This trend aligns with a recent Fly&Vote survey, which estimated that about 67,000 Israelis living abroad planned to travel home specifically to vote. That estimate was based on registration data and voluntary responses rather than confirmed arrivals.

The potential impact of these returnees is significant for parties near the electoral threshold. Israel requires a party to win 3.25% of valid votes to secure a seat in the 120-member Knesset. Channel 13 noted that 90,000 people would equal roughly two seats if all were eligible voters who cast valid ballots. However, the total count includes children and foreign nationals who cannot vote, so the actual effect depends on how many of the returnees cast ballots and how those votes are split among parties.

Interest in returning to vote was visible as early as August. Organizers arranged dedicated flights from New York and Lisbon to meet demand among Israelis overseas. Alon Ben-Gurion, grandson of the country's first prime minister, is among those who made the journey. According to Channel 13, he arrived from the United States with his family and traveled to Tiberias to cast his ballot.

The Fly&Vote initiative, run by the AID Coalition, has worked to assist these voters. Its activities were restricted after legal proceedings initiated by Likud. Most Israeli citizens living abroad cannot vote remotely, a difference from many other nations, forcing them to return to the country to participate in the election.