70,000 Israelis Fly Home to Vote as Hotels Report Surge

An estimated 70,000 Israelis living abroad have returned to the country or are expected to arrive before the Knesset elections on Tuesday. While no precise count exists, officials and analysts believe this influx could sway the result if the vote is tight between the major political blocs.

The potential impact of these voters is tied to the number of votes required to secure a parliamentary seat. In the 2022 election, a party needed roughly 36,000 votes to win one seat. With population growth and higher turnout anticipated this year, that threshold is expected to rise to between 38,000 and 39,000 votes.

Predicting how this group will vote is difficult because there is no reliable data on their political preferences. Some estimates suggest a majority may support the change bloc. Even if 60% of the returnees voted for that side, the gain would equal at most one to one and a half seats. The final tally will determine whether these overseas residents tipped the balance.

The influx has created a visible spike in the hospitality sector. Many arriving Israelis are combining their civic duty with family visits and short vacations. While some stay with relatives or in personally owned apartments, others have booked hotel rooms for the election week.

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." The rise is notable despite a more complicated security situation during the same period last year.

Fattal Hotels also saw higher occupancy, particularly in central Israel. Maya Shalev, the company's vice president of marketing and sales, stated that bookings are up compared to last year, "apparently due to the elections." The chain is offering discounts of up to 30%, plus an extra 10% for club members, from October 25 to 29. She added that bookings from abroad for these dates may indicate Israelis are coming to vote.

Some of the returnees were part of the tens of thousands who attended the October Council rally at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv on Saturday night. Judy, who has lived in the US for more than 50 years, said she came from Miami to vote and will fly back in early November. "Many Israelis living in Miami and Los Angeles tend to vote for the Right. I'm different, and I'm not alone," she said.

Other travelers also made the trip specifically for the ballot. Ofer, from New York, said his family flew in to vote and will return the day after the elections. Zehava, also from New York, said she plans to vote for Likud and planned her visit in advance. Nurit, from the South Sharon area, attended the rally with her son-in-law and grandson, who arrived from Canada at age 18 to vote for the first time.

Not all planned trips went smoothly. Some Israelis were stranded abroad after flydubai canceled flights following an attempted terrorist attack. One young man said the cancellation pushed up flight prices to the Far East. Meanwhile, a smaller number of Israelis living in the country will be overseas on Election Day, though their count appears lower than the number of arrivals from abroad.

Racheli, from Ramat Gan, booked a vacation in Vietnam with her husband almost a year ago, before they knew the elections would fall in October. "This will be the first time I don't vote. It breaks my heart," she said, adding that it is a shame Israelis traveling abroad cannot vote on Election Day.