More than 102,000 immigrants from Russia and Ukraine who are over the age of 18 and have moved to Israel since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war will be eligible to vote for the first time in Israel’s upcoming election on October 27, creating a new voting bloc that could influence the race. Israeli media have reported that the group represents an electoral force equivalent to nearly three Knesset seats.
اضافة اعلان
A New Electoral Bloc
According to Yedioth Ahronoth, around 120,000 people have immigrated to Israel from Russia and Ukraine since the war began four and a half years ago, with more than 102,000 of them over the age of 18 and eligible to vote in elections for the 26th Knesset.
In the previous Israeli election, held only a few months after the Russia-Ukraine war began, many of these immigrants had not yet completed the process of obtaining Israeli citizenship and were therefore unable to vote. They are now eligible to participate, forming a new voting bloc equivalent to nearly three Knesset seats.
Likud Concerns
The October 27 election will be Israel’s first nationwide election after four turbulent years under Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition, which included mass protests over judicial reforms and the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, followed by a prolonged war on multiple fronts.
Recent polling has shown that neither Netanyahu’s coalition nor the fragmented opposition has secured the 61 seats needed to form a government. Reuters reported on September 16 that current polling showed no candidate with a definitive lead, underscoring the uncertainty surrounding the election.
The Likud party is concerned that the influx of new voters could affect the balance between the competing political blocs if the election is closely contested.
The “Fly & Vote” initiative was launched by the U.S.-based AID Coalition, a nonprofit organization established in 2023. The initiative uses technology to identify affordable commercial flight options and provides services including passport-renewal assistance and other logistical support for Israelis living abroad.
The organization says more than 35,000 Israelis have registered, while its internal polling indicates that more than 50,000 intend to return to Israel to vote.
Israelis Living Abroad Return to Vote
According to CNN, tens of thousands of Israelis living abroad are booking flights to return to Israel for election day. Last Wednesday, Likud petitioned the Central Elections Committee to block the “Fly & Vote” initiative, which assists Israelis living abroad in returning to vote.
Likud, led by Netanyahu, opposes the initiative and has accused it of being an illegal, foreign-funded operation or an “electoral bribe.” The party has argued that it could seriously undermine the integrity of the election. The dispute comes as Israeli elections can be decided by relatively narrow margins, making overseas voters a subject of political and legal debate.
The Likud petition against the initiative has also been reported by Israeli media, with the party arguing that the project provides benefits linked to voting, while the organization maintains that its activity is nonpartisan and intended to facilitate participation in the electoral process.
Haaretz also reported concerns raised by opposition figures over Likud’s control of the Transportation Ministry and the Airports Authority. They pointed to internal discussions within the ministry about potentially reducing air traffic on October 27, prompting the Association for Civil Rights in Israel to call on the Central Elections Committee to ensure that Israeli airspace remains open and flights continue without disruption.
