Netanyahu reportedly moves to block expat ‘Israelis’ from voting

• The election, set for Oct. 27, is expected to be a close contest between Netanyahu's bloc and centrist rival Gadi Eisenkot 

Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party is trying to shut down efforts that enable ‘Israel’i expatriates traveling to ‘Israel’ to cast ballots in the country's tightly fought election on Oct. 27, according to a report by The Telegraph, which cited an appeal filed by Likud's legal counsel and reviewed by AFP.

Opposition-aligned groups have spent recent weeks urging ‘Israelis’ living abroad to return for the vote, betting that a surge of expat turnout could tip the balance against the prime minister. 

Their efforts have included discounted flights, help navigating the paperwork required to vote, and organised transport from the airport to polling stations.

On Wednesday, Likud attorney Ilan Bombach filed a formal appeal with the chairman of ‘Israel's’ central elections committee, asking that these initiatives be shut down.

The complaint is aimed squarely at Aid Coalition, a US-based group behind the "Fly & Vote" programme, which describes its mission as protecting ‘Israel's’ democratic institutions. 

Under ‘Israeli’ electoral law, citizens living outside the country generally cannot vote from abroad, a rule that applies to nearly all expatriates except diplomats and representatives of certain organisations.

‘Israel's’ Central Bureau of Statistics puts the number of 'Israelis' living overseas at roughly 600,000.

Bombach's appeal, reviewed by AFP, characterised the flight-and-transport assistance as effectively an illegal inducement to vote, and argued the arrangement breaches rules governing how parties can be financed.

Likud has argued that even when travellers cover their own airfare, the scheme still confers an improper advantage through discounted group rates negotiated with airlines.

Aid Coalition, which describes itself as non-partisan, confirmed it had received Likud's appeal and said it would review the challenge. 

The group pushed back sharply on the party's motives, saying Likud was trying to bar citizens, including some who flew back to fight after the Oct. 7 attacks and who pay taxes and remain engaged in national life, from exercising their right to help decide the country's future.

Polling suggests the race will be close, with Netanyahu's bloc facing a strong challenge from the camp led by centrist rival Gadi Eisenkot.

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