Returning Israelis to vote in Tuesday's election

Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Sunday that the surge of Israeli citizens returning from abroad could shift the outcome of Tuesday's parliamentary election. The prime minister's comments come as thousands of expatriates land at Ben Gurion Airport to cast their ballots in person.

The influx of voters began well before the polls opened. Gilad Kariv, a member of the Israeli Parliament from the left-wing Democrats Party, stated that the party called on all citizens living overseas to travel home. Kariv argued that these voters feel the impact of Netanyahu's policies on Jewish life globally and Israel's international standing.

Travelers arrived from numerous countries, including Greece, France, Romania, New Zealand, and the United States. Claudia Kreiman, a rabbi based in Boston, spent more than $2,000 to fly to Israel for a single night. She said this election felt urgent and noted that she would return to the United States next week to vote in local elections as well.

The America-Israel Democracy Coalition, which has been organizing the travel efforts, conducted a survey indicating that approximately 67,000 Israelis are flying in to vote. The group stated that this number of ballots is sufficient to secure up to two parliamentary seats in the current close race.

Supporters and critics of the prime minister gathered on opposite sides of the arrivals terminal. Gil Avraham, a Netanyahu supporter, shouted that the prime minister keeps Israel safe by waging wars against Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran. He described Netanyahu as essential for the country's protection.

Daphna Yagour, who arrived from San Francisco, took the opposing view. She said Israel needs change now and emphasized the importance of connection and kindness. Yagour wore a T-shirt featuring a rainbow and the word kind, stating that people should live together rather than hate each other.

Netanyahu campaigned this week with an image of an atomic bomb exploding over Tel Aviv. The AI-generated graphic was intended to emphasize the nuclear threat from Iran as he promised to end the regime in Tehran. The debate over whether military action or diplomacy provides better security will be decided at the ballot box on Tuesday.

Voting is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, October 27. The election is considered critical because the country is almost evenly divided on whether Netanyahu should remain in power. The final tally of the returning expatriate votes will be added to the domestic count to determine the composition of the new government.