Thousands of Israelis abroad fly home to cast ballots in upcoming legislative election
Israeli expatriates are arriving at Ben-Gurion Airport to vote in the legislative election, aided by the nonprofit AID Coalition.
The sliding doors of Ben-Gurion Airport have been continuously opened to streams of Israelis returning from abroad to participate in the legislative election. Members of the party Les Démocrates welcomed them with banners urging victory, while others wore shirts referencing former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. The American-based AID Coalition, which claims to be non-partisan, is coordinating logistical support for expatriates, primarily from the United States and Europe, because voting must be done in person.
Executive director Batell Blaish-Sultanik arrived on a flight from New York, handing out inflatable airplane balloons and “Fly & Vote” caps to encourage turnout. The organization stresses that its effort aims to strengthen Israel’s democratic foundations by ensuring that citizens abroad can exercise their right to vote.
Why it matters
The influx of overseas voters could influence the outcome of Israel's legislative election.
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