Ben-Gurion Airport Logs 90,000-Passenger Deficit Ahead of Vote
Arrivals outnumber departures by 90,000 in the ten days before the election, a gap that analysts say could equate to two Knesset seats.
By Amira Patel ·
Ben-Gurion Airport recorded 90,000 more arrivals than departures between October 17 and 27, 2026, according to data cited by Channel 13. The figures show a sharp reversal from previous years, with incoming traffic exceeding outbound traffic by a wide margin.
In 2025, the gap between arrivals and departures during the same period was approximately 77,000. In 2022, the last year Israel held a general election, the disparity was smaller still. The 2026 numbers suggest a sustained trend of voters prioritizing in-person ballots over international travel.
Total departures from Israel during the ten-day window fell to 245,000. This represents a drop from 270,000 in 2025 and 323,000 in 2022. Channel 13 noted that this decline occurred despite an increase in available aircraft and flights compared to prior years.
No special airlift operations were organized to bring voters home. Instead, the surge in arrivals relied on existing commercial schedules. The increase in inbound passengers indicates that a large number of Israelis living abroad chose to fly back to the country.
Channel 13 estimated that 90,000 people are equivalent to two Knesset seats if they were eligible voters. The estimate accounts for the fact that the airport figures include children and foreign nationals who cannot vote. The 3.25% electoral threshold means that small shifts in turnout can determine whether a party secures representation.
A recent Fly&Vote survey estimated that 67,000 Israelis living abroad intended to return to vote. The initiative, run by the AID Coalition, faced restrictions after legal proceedings initiated by the Likud party. Unlike many other nations, most Israelis abroad must return to Israel to cast their ballots.
Alon Ben-Gurion, grandson of the country's first prime minister, traveled from the United States to Tiberias to vote. His journey highlights the effort required for overseas citizens to participate. Dedicated flights from New York and Lisbon were arranged in August to accommodate earlier demand.
The 120 seats in the Knesset are distributed proportionally among parties that cross the threshold. The final seat distribution will depend on how the votes of returning Israelis are divided among parties.
Source: The Jerusalem Post
