70,000 Diaspora Voters Return as Hotels Report Surge

An estimated 70,000 Israelis currently residing abroad are arriving in Israel or have already landed ahead of Tuesday's Knesset election. If the race between competing political blocs is tight, these ballots may affect the final tally. Officials do not have precise numbers, so the 70,000 figure remains an estimate.

The potential impact depends on the number of votes required to secure a parliamentary seat. In 2022, candidates needed approximately 36,000 votes to win a Knesset seat. Analysts expect that number to rise to 38,000 or 39,000 this time due to population growth and higher voter turnout.

Predicting which side these returning citizens will support is difficult. Some estimates suggest a majority may back the change bloc, but there is no definitive data on their preferences. Even if 60% of the 70,000 voted for that bloc, the gain would equal only one to one-and-a-half seats. The final results will determine if these voters shifted the balance.

The influx of visitors is visible in the hospitality sector. Many returnees are combining their votes with family visits or short vacations. While some stay with relatives or in owned apartments, others book commercial lodging.

Africa Israel Hotels reported a 23% increase in occupancy for election week compared to October of last year. Alex Eliyahu, the chain's marketing director, noted that more Israelis are pairing their civic duty with a short trip. Fattal Hotels also saw higher bookings, particularly in central Israel. Maya Shalev, the company's vice president of marketing and sales, said the increase appears linked to the election. The chain is offering discounts of up to 30%, plus an extra 10% for loyalty members, from October 25 to 29.

Several voters shared their travel experiences. Judy, a Miami resident for over 50 years, said she flew home to vote and will return in early November. She noted that many Israelis in the US vote for the right but added that she is an exception. Ofer, who traveled from New York, said his family flew in specifically to cast ballots. Nurit, from the South Sharon area, attended a rally with her son-in-law and 18-year-old grandson, who is voting for the first time. Zehava, also from New York, said she plans to support Likud and planned her trip in advance.

Not all planned arrivals happened as expected. Some Israelis were stranded after flydubai canceled flights following an attempted terrorist attack, which raised airfare prices. Racheli, from Ramat Gan, is currently in Vietnam on a vacation booked a year ago. She said this will be her first missed election and expressed disappointment that overseas residents cannot vote on Election Day.