Approximately 500,000 Israelis traveled to Israel to vote in person in the Israeli election.
Posted by REAL AF with Andy Frisella, Checked
- Sources
- 5 contradict1 context
- Said
- 1 time·
- Confidence
- 80%
REAL AF with Andy FrisellaOct 28, 2026
The claim's figure of roughly 500,000 Israelis flying in to vote is about seven times the reported numbers, which are roughly 50,000 to 74,000 (BBC, AP/AID Coalition, CIE, Boston Globe). The only ~500,000 figure in the sources refers to absentee ballots cast by soldiers and other voters away from their polling stations, not to people traveling to Israel.
The guest relays this claim without endorsing it. It counts as passed on, not against the post.
What was said
… tune of, like, because did you know that American, like, American Israelis, right, Israel Americans, right, who can vote in this country, they also have a right to still vote in Israel? Did you know that? I didn't. And so I saw this one thing, ah, one piece. It was something like 500,000 Israelis that were here in America or have gone back to Israel just to go vote in person, just to go vote. Yeah, to get in, like, not for B, not for B. A lot of people are not happy right now with them. Um, now, one one interesting thing, and I tried to look into it and see, but there was this conversation that B had basically ordered the IDF to do this massive …
REAL AF with Andy Frisella · · from the transcriptPost →What we found
Contradicts. The BBC reports an unprecedented 70,000 people have reportedly flown home from abroad to vote, and AP reports AID Coalition estimates of as many as 67,000 voters returning to Israel.[1][2][3]
Contradicts. CIE estimates 74,000 Israelis living overseas have flown home to vote, and the Boston Globe cites an estimated 50,000 expatriates returning, so every quantified estimate of travelers falls far below 500,000.[4][5]
Context. The ~500,000 figure in Haaretz refers to votes cast by soldiers and other eligible voters away from their registered polling stations (absentee/double-envelope ballots), a different population and measure than people traveling to Israel to vote.[6]
Context. The claimant's post said 'something like 500,000' and attributed it vaguely to an article they had seen, which the sources do not support as a count of travelers.
Sources
6 sources: 1 fact-checker, 1 tier 1, 4 not rated
- 1Tens of thousands of Israelis living abroad are expected to fly in for pivotal voteapnews.com · fact-checker · cited for: contradicts
- 2Turnout so far highest on record as Israelis vote in pivotal electionbbc.com · tier 1 · cited for: contradicts
- 3Israel Election 2026 LIVE Updates: Voter turnout at 55.7%, highest in decades as Netanyahu claims election stealingindianexpress.com · not rated · cited for: contradicts
- 4Israeli Election Watch 2026: Live Archive | CIEisraeled.org · not rated · cited for: contradicts
- 5Israeli expats spend thousands to return to Israel to vote in pivotal election - The Boston Globebostonglobe.com · not rated · cited for: contradicts
- 6Israel Election 2026 • Seat results steady as Elections Committee begins counting absentee ballotshaaretz.com · not rated · cited for: context
Where this claim was made
Said in 1 published post
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