Israelis living abroad should not come to vote in Israel’s elections, government minister Shlomo Karhi of the Likud Party said Wednesday “The left is now trying to bring masses of people from abroad. Those who do not live in the country should not come only because of their ‘just not Bibi’ [anti-Netanyahu] stance and try to replace the government,” he said.
Karhi was interviewed on Radio 103FM and was asked why Israelis should not be allowed to vote from abroad, as citizens of other countries can. “I think that those who live in the country should influence its future," he responded. "Those who do not live in the country are welcome to immigrate. Every Jew has the right to immigrate to Israel, influence it and build it.”
The elections are scheduled for October 27, and in recent weeks more and more Israelis on social media have been posting screenshots of flight tickets they purchased specifically to travel to Israel and vote. Israeli law does not allow most citizens to vote outside the country’s borders, meaning they must physically arrive at polling stations, even if that requires long flights, vacation days and thousands of shekels in expenses.
In recent days, a debate has emerged over Israelis living abroad who plan to return specifically to vote in the election. Earlier this month, the Likud filed an appeal with the Central Elections Committee against an initiative to provide free hosting for voters arriving from abroad, arguing that it constituted an improper benefit.
Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi
(Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)
Some Israelis living abroad said they had difficulty receiving an answer from the Interior Ministry about whether they are included in the voter registry ahead of the election.
These Israelis, several of whom have already purchased flight tickets to arrive ahead of October 27, said the government chatbot did not allow them to check whether they were registered in the voter registry and, if so, where they needed to report in order to exercise their right to vote. Some said they would not be surprised if this is an attempt to keep voters away.