Ben-Gurion Airport records 90,000-person net return ahead of Tuesday vote

Israelis are cancelling foreign trips and returning home in large numbers before the Knesset election on October 27. Channel 13 released airport data on Sunday showing a sharp reversal in passenger flows at Ben-Gurion Airport in the ten days leading up to the vote.

Departures fell to roughly 245,000 during the period from October 17 to 27. That number is down from about 270,000 in 2025 and 323,000 in 2022. The decline is notable because current flight capacity is higher than in previous election years.

Arrivals far outpaced departures. Channel 13 calculated a net gap of more than 90,000 more people entering Israel than leaving. This exceeds the 77,000 net gain recorded in the same period in 2025. No special airlifts were organized, meaning the surge relied on existing commercial capacity.

The station estimated that 90,000 eligible voters would equal approximately two Knesset seats if all cast valid ballots. However, the total includes children and foreign nationals who cannot vote. The final impact depends on how these ballots are distributed among parties, given the 3.25% electoral threshold for the 120-seat parliament.

Context suggests a high intent to vote among citizens abroad. A recent Fly&Vote survey estimated 67,000 Israelis overseas planned to return. Most cannot vote remotely and must be physically present. The AID Coalition coordinates these efforts, though its activities faced legal restrictions initiated by Likud.

Alon Ben-Gurion, grandson of former Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion, flew from the United States with his family. He traveled to Tiberias to cast his ballot. Interest in returning to vote was visible as early as August, when organizers arranged dedicated flights from New York and Lisbon.