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UPDATED: Oct 25, 2026 19:04 IST
Tens of thousands of Israeli expatriates are flying back to Israel ahead of the October 27 election to cast their votes in person, driven by national regulations that strictly limit absentee and remote mail-in voting to diplomats and official emissaries. Grassroots initiatives estimate that up to 67,000 citizens living in countries such as the United States, Europe, and Canada are funding their own travel to participate, marking a significant rise compared to previous overseas voter turnouts. Political observers suggest that the influx of returning voters could sway up to two Knesset seats, potentially altering coalition calculations in the 120-seat parliament. With opinion polls pointing to a closely fought contest between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party and challenger Benny Gantz, neither bloc has achieved the 61-seat majority threshold, leaving the outcome open as voters arrive at Ben Gurion Airport.
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