Nearly 90,000 More Israelis Arrive Than Leave Ahead of Vote

Ben-Gurion Airport recorded a net gain of more than 90,000 passengers during the final week before the October 27 Knesset election. This figure represents the difference between those entering Israel and those leaving the country. The data suggests many residents are staying home or returning to cast ballots.

Channel 13 compared passenger traffic from October 17 to 27 across three years: 2022, 2025, and 2026. In the current year, approximately 245,000 people departed Israel during that period. That number dropped from about 270,000 in 2025 and 323,000 in 2022. The decline occurred even though more flights and aircraft are available now than in previous years.

The increase in arrivals did not rely on special airlifts. Most travelers used existing commercial capacity. The gap between inbound and outbound passengers was roughly 77,000 in 2025. It widened to over 90,000 in 2026. Channel 13 noted that this margin is large enough to influence election outcomes if all returnees voted.

The station estimated that 90,000 voters could equal two Knesset seats. However, the airport totals include children and foreign nationals who are not eligible to vote. The 120 seats in the Knesset are distributed proportionally among parties that clear a 3.25% threshold. Small shifts in turnout can determine which parties cross that line.

A Fly&Vote survey estimated that about 67,000 Israelis living abroad planned to travel home to vote. The survey relied on registration data and voluntary responses rather than confirmed arrivals. Most Israelis overseas must return to Israel to cast ballots, a requirement that differs from many other nations. The AID Coalition, which runs the Fly&Vote initiative, faced restrictions after legal proceedings initiated by the Likud party.

Alon Ben-Gurion, grandson of Israel's first prime minister David Ben-Gurion, is among those who traveled back. According to Channel 13, he arrived from the United States with his family and went to Tiberias to vote. Organizers had already noticed the trend in August when they arranged dedicated flights from New York and Lisbon to handle demand.

The shift in travel patterns reflects a change in how Israelis view the upcoming ballot. Fewer are flying out for vacations or business. More are flying in to participate in the election. The airport figures capture this movement without identifying the specific reason for each traveler's return.