Politics · India Bureau
Israelis abroad return home to vote in pivotal election
Thousands of Israeli citizens living overseas are making costly trips back to their homeland to participate in Tuesday's election, the first since last year's Hamas attacks. Many cite concerns over democratic erosion and the far-right's growing influence in domestic politics.
LSN India ·
Yael Natra, who has resided in Canada for two decades, said she had long avoided returning to vote in Israeli elections, believing it improper to cast a ballot in a country where she no longer lives. The 61-year-old's convictions shifted after witnessing the rise of far-right political forces, prompting her to spend thousands of dollars flying nearly 6,000 kilometres from Toronto to Tel Aviv.
Israeli law typically mandates that citizens vote in person within the country, with exceptions limited to diplomats and certain official representatives stationed abroad. Natra plans to vote for parties positioned in opposition to the current government headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"The Israel that I grew up in is disappearing," Natra said in an interview, pointing to what she described as a deteriorating democracy and profound social divisions. Her decision reflects concerns among diaspora Israelis who view the upcoming election as consequential for the nation's future direction.
The election represents the first electoral test since the October 2023 attacks led by Hamas and the subsequent military operations that have reshaped Israeli politics and regional dynamics. Voter turnout among citizens abroad is expected to be notably higher than in previous electoral cycles, driven by heightened stakes and political polarization within the country.