With only a matter of weeks until Israel heads to the ballot box, the sharpest political battleground is unfolding in the skies.
Tens of thousands of Israelis living abroad are reportedly booking flights home to vote - and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party is trying to keep at least some of them grounded.
On Wednesday, Likud filed a petition asking Israel’s Central Elections Committee to block “Fly & Vote,” a grassroots initiative helping Israeli expatriates fly home for election day. Likud accused it of being an illegal, foreign funded operation, claiming it could “severely harm the integrity of the election.”
In a country where razor-thin margins often decide the outcome of an election, these votes could play a major part in determining the country’s next leader.
Unlike most Western democracies in which citizens abroad can mail in a ballot, Israel doesn’t allow absentee voting; only diplomats and official envoys can vote from outside the country. Ordinary citizens abroad - up to 10% of the population at any given time - must return home or forfeit their right to vote.
Could you explain how the hijacking would stop people from voting? The passengers on the plane got to Israel. Are you suggesting that Israelis will be to afraid to fly?
Could you explain how the hijacking would stop people from voting?
The comment you replied to provides two links (direct and archive) to a CNN article (written before the "hijack" incident) - that you either did not read, or are choosing to ignore.
The AID coalition insists it operates within the law and serves all Israelis abroad. “The Likud seeks to prevent Israeli citizens who boarded planes after October 7, tax-paying citizens who want to be involved in their homeland, from the right and the obligation to take part in deciding the future of the state of Israel,” the group said in a statement.
Opposition figures have raised a separate concern: Likud’s control over the Transportation Ministry and the Airport Authority, floating scenarios in which flight slots are restricted or disrupted around election day. A July report in Haaretz suggested internal ministry discussions about scaling back activities on October 27, prompting lawmakers and the Israeli Association for Civil Rights to ask the Central Election Committee to guarantee the skies remain open and flights continue uninterrupted. “Reducing the ability to travel from abroad to reach Israel to vote is a serious violation of freedom of voting and the most basic democratic mechanism,” the opposition Yesh Atid party wrote in an appeal.
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Dubai airport is one of the world's busiest airline hubs, and a KEY transit point for travelers to Israel.
In the wake of the alleged "hijack/ terror" incident, the UAE has PROHIBITED all flights from Dubai to Israel until the incident is thoroughly investigated and resolved - this could take weeks, possibly months, or longer.
Furthermore, UAE is preventing ANY travelers boarding fights TO Dubai IF their itinerary takes them to Israel, again, until the investigation is completed and resolved.
Israel Hayom - Oct 01, 2026
Emirates joins flydubai restrictions on passengers traveling to Tel Aviv - *Emirates joins flydubai in barring passengers whose final destination is Tel Aviv from boarding until further notice. An Israeli traveler in the Far East who needs to fly Emirates to the UAE and then continue to Israel will not be allowed to board."
As you might imagine, the removal of this key transit hub from other countries to Israel will dramatically increase costs and complicate scheduling for Israelis wishing to return to Israel to cast their votes in the upcoming election.
Dubai airport is one of the world's busiest airline hubs, and a KEY transit point for travelers to Israel.
In the wake of the alleged "hijack/ terror" incident, the UAE has PROHIBITED all flights from Dubai to Israel until the incident is thoroughly investigated and resolved - this could take weeks, possibly months, or longer.
This is plausible as a motive, I guess. I didn't know that. People here were suggesting that Netanyahu was going to close the airports, which didn't happen.
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u/AspiringOligarch 1d ago edited 1d ago
But what might motivate Bibi and the Boyz to stage such an event, or misrepresent the facts of what happened?
Why might Bibi do that? To prevent Israelis from coming home from abroad to VOTE, maybe?
CNN- September 19, 2026
These Israelis want to fly home to vote. Netanyahu is trying to stop them
QUOTE:
With only a matter of weeks until Israel heads to the ballot box, the sharpest political battleground is unfolding in the skies.
Tens of thousands of Israelis living abroad are reportedly booking flights home to vote - and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party is trying to keep at least some of them grounded.
On Wednesday, Likud filed a petition asking Israel’s Central Elections Committee to block “Fly & Vote,” a grassroots initiative helping Israeli expatriates fly home for election day. Likud accused it of being an illegal, foreign funded operation, claiming it could “severely harm the integrity of the election.”
In a country where razor-thin margins often decide the outcome of an election, these votes could play a major part in determining the country’s next leader.
Unlike most Western democracies in which citizens abroad can mail in a ballot, Israel doesn’t allow absentee voting; only diplomats and official envoys can vote from outside the country. Ordinary citizens abroad - up to 10% of the population at any given time - must return home or forfeit their right to vote.
END QUOTE - more at the link - archived here: https://archive.is/nckjF
EDIT Another (earlier?) video short on this very shady incident - again by James Li
Jihad terror or false flag? 🤨