Likud appeals to the Elections Commission against initiatives to help Israelis abroad return to vote

On Wednesday (September 16, 2026), the Likud Party, led by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, filed an appeal before the Elections Commission against initiatives aimed at helping Israelis living abroad return to Israel to cast their votes in the upcoming legislative elections, the results of which are expected to be close.

Israeli election law does not allow citizens to vote from abroad, except for those working in diplomatic and consular missions. The Central Bureau of Statistics estimates the number of Israeli expatriates at about 600,000 people.

For weeks, opponents of the government have been seeking to encourage these voters to return to Israel to vote, hoping that this will contribute, from their point of view, to strengthening the anti-Netanyahu camp in the legislative elections scheduled for October 27.

For its part, the Aid Coalition Organization, which asserts that it works “outside any partisan framework*, said that it had been informed of the appeal submitted by Likud, and that it would study it.”

The proposed initiatives include providing air tickets at reduced prices, and helping those wishing to return complete the necessary administrative procedures to be able to vote, as well as organizing their transportation from the airport.

On Wednesday, lawyer Ilan Baumbach, who represents the Likud Party, submitted an appeal to the head of the Central Elections Commission, Judge Noam Zollberg, demanding that these steps be halted.

Controversy over the right of expatriates to vote

The appeal specifically targets an American organization called "Aid Coalition" (Aid Coalition), which is known for its opposition to the government and oversees the "Fly and Vote" project, in addition to the opposition "Democrats" party.

According to the text of the appeal seen by Agence France-Presse, lawyer Baumbach likened these methods to “electoral bribery*, considering that they violate the party financing law.

Likud, the largest party in the outgoing Knesset, asserts that although travelers pay for their tickets, the “Fly and Vote” program grants illegal privileges, such as obtaining discounted prices reached with airline companies through group reservations.

The organization accused the party of seeking to "deprive Israeli citizens, those who boarded planes to come and fight on October 7, pay taxes and engage in the affairs of their homeland, of their right and duty to contribute to determining the future of the State of Israel."

According to opinion polls, the October 27 elections are expected to have close results between the camp led by Benjamin Netanyahu and the camp led by his main rival, Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar Mustaqim party.