70,000 Diaspora Voters Return to Israel Ahead of Tuesday Knesset Election

Approximately 70,000 Israeli citizens residing abroad have returned to the country or are expected to arrive before the Knesset elections take place on Tuesday. This estimated figure represents a substantial pool of voters who may influence the final seat allocation if the race between political blocs concludes with a narrow margin. No official census exists for this group, so the number remains a projection rather than a confirmed count.

The potential impact of these voters depends on the number of votes required to secure a parliamentary seat. In the 2022 elections, approximately 36,000 votes were necessary to win a single seat. Analysts anticipate that increased population growth and higher voter turnout this cycle could raise that threshold to between 38,000 and 39,000 votes. If 60% of the returning diaspora voters supported the change bloc, the result would translate to a gain of at most one and a half seats. The final outcome will depend on the actual voting patterns of these citizens.

The influx of visitors has also affected the hospitality sector. Most returnees are combining their civic duty with family visits or short vacations. While many stay with relatives or in private apartments, a portion have booked commercial hotel rooms. Africa Israel Hotels recorded a 23% increase in occupancy during election week compared to the same period last year. Alex Eliyahu, the marketing director for that chain, noted that more Israelis are pairing their vote with a brief holiday.

Fattal Hotels reported similar trends, with higher occupancy levels particularly in central Israel. Maya Shalev, the company’s vice president of marketing and sales, attributed the rise in bookings to the upcoming elections. The chain is offering discounts of up to 30% from October 25 to 29, with an additional 10% discount for members of its loyalty program. Shalev indicated that bookings originating from abroad for these specific dates suggest a direct link to voting intentions.

Several voters traveled to Israel in time for the October Council rally held at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv on Saturday night. Judy, a resident of Miami for over 50 years, stated that she arrived to vote and will return to the United States in early November. She noted that many Israelis in Miami and Los Angeles lean right, but she differs from that majority. Ofer, who traveled from New York, said his family flew in specifically to vote and will depart the day after the election.

Other attendees included Nurit from the South Sharon area, who brought her 18-year-old grandson from Canada to cast his first ballot. Zehava, also from New York, said she planned her trip in advance and intends to vote for Likud. Not all travelers faced smooth journeys. Some citizens were stranded abroad after flydubai canceled flights following an attempted terrorist attack, which caused airfare prices to the Far East to increase. Conversely, some residents of Israel are currently overseas and will miss the vote, including Racheli from Ramat Gan, who booked a trip to Vietnam nearly a year ago before the election date was finalized.

The election is scheduled for Tuesday. The number of Israelis who are abroad on Election Day appears lower than the number of those returning. The final tally of votes from the diaspora will be integrated into the national count to determine the composition of the new Knesset.