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🇮🇱 Israel /Elections & Politics

Israeli Election Debate: Should Expats Vote?

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • A debate has erupted in Israel over plans to fly up to 70,000 Israelis living abroad back to the country to vote in the upcoming October 27 election.
  • Critics argue that Israelis who have permanently settled abroad should not influence the election's outcome, as they do not live with the daily consequences of the elected government's decisions.
  • Supporters of the initiative, like the Fly&Vote project, are helping eligible Israelis abroad register and arrange travel, while opposition lawmakers accuse critics of hypocrisy and double standards.

Plans to facilitate the return of tens of thousands of Israelis living abroad to vote in the October 27 election have ignited a fierce debate, pitting those who believe expatriates should influence the nation's leadership against those who argue they should not.

The initiative, spearheaded by the Fly&Vote project, aims to bring as many as 70,000 voters to Israel for Election Day. The group is assisting registered Israelis abroad with checking their eligibility and arranging travel, emphasizing that they do not inquire about participants' political affiliations.

Whoever doesn’t live here shouldn’t decide how we live here.

— Kalman LibeskindEditor-in-chief of Makor Rishon, arguing against Israelis living abroad voting in national elections.

However, the effort has drawn sharp criticism, notably from Makor Rishon editor-in-chief Kalman Libeskind. He argued in a column that Israelis who have permanently relocated abroad, referred to as "yordim," should reconsider returning to vote. Libeskind called the initiative an "immoral project," asserting that those who do not reside in Israel should not decide how the country is governed. His argument centers on the idea that expatriates will not face the day-to-day consequences of the elected government's policies on security, the economy, or military service.

What suddenly changed?

— Vladimir BeliakYesh Atid MK questioning the criticism of Israelis abroad voting, referencing past elections.

Libeskind clarified that his criticism is principled and applies regardless of whether the returning voters lean left or right, excluding Israelis temporarily abroad for work or studies. The debate quickly escalated, with opposition lawmakers pushing back against Libeskind's stance. Yesh Atid MK Vladimir Beliak questioned the sudden outrage, pointing to past elections where Haredi Israelis living abroad were encouraged to vote, suggesting a double standard. He claimed tens of thousands of Haredim had returned from the U.S. in previous elections, a figure not independently verified.

Democrats MK Naama Lazimi highlighted another group: Israelis who returned after October 7 to serve in the reserves. She questioned the logic of allowing them to die for the country but not to vote in it, striking at the core of the criticism against Libeskind's column. The controversy underscores a deep division over the role and rights of Israelis living abroad in shaping their homeland's future.

For him, it’s okay that they die for the country, but absolutely not that they vote here.

— Naama LazimiDemocrats MK highlighting the perceived hypocrisy in allowing Israelis who served in reserves abroad to vote.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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