Seeing pivotal election, Israelis fly from around world to vote

Israelis from across the globe are traveling to their homeland to cast their votes in the upcoming parliamentary election on October 27, 2021. Liran Naaman, a project manager who lived in Amsterdam for 11 years, spent 800 euros to return to Israel and has participated in every election since 2014, even during the Covid-19 pandemic. He believes his presence matters now more than ever as the government's actions are harming him and other Israelis abroad.

The election is seen as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his hard-right government following a three-year conflict in Gaza, Iran, and Lebanon. Polls indicate a close race.

With more than 50,000 Israelis expected to travel home to vote, the Aid Coalition, a US-based NGO advocating for Israeli democracy, has launched a non-partisan initiative called "Fly & Vote" to assist Israelis abroad in casting their ballots. The program provides information on polling stations, identification requirements, and helps arrange travel by purchasing seats on commercial flights and reselling them, in some cases even chartering aircraft.

However, Likud, Netanyahu's party, has accused the NGO of electoral bribery, a claim the Aid Coalition dismisses as without foundation. The NGO has settled the dispute, agreeing to stop selling additional flights while allowing previously purchased tickets to remain valid.

While some Israelis abroad argue for voting at embassies, Naaman appreciates the requirement to return home and experience Israel's reality before deciding how to vote. He believes being in Israel provides a unique perspective compared to being abroad, where he fears the impact of Iran's missiles.

The election also affects other key figures, such as Sylvie Lidgi, a dual French-Israeli national, who feels it is a decisive time in defining what is Israeli and Jewish. Tami Giniger, a startup consultant returning from Bangkok, emphasizes the responsibility to influence how Jews and Israelis are perceived worldwide, especially amid rising antisemitism.