Israelis from the Bay Area fly home for pivotal election

Israeli citizens living in the San Francisco Bay Area are traveling back to Israel to participate in the October 27 election, which is being viewed as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

One such passenger, Ayelet Frank, traveled from Redwood City to Tel Aviv on El Al flight 48, the first nonstop flight from San Francisco to Israel since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. Organizing groups estimate that approximately 67,000 Israelis living abroad are returning to cast their ballots.

The Israel Democracy Institute has noted that the race is tight, suggesting that these voters could potentially influence the outcome by as many as two Knesset seats. Many travelers are spending significant sums to return for the vote, describing the election as a critical moment for the country's future.