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The Reichman family flies into Ben Gurion Airport from San Francisco to vote, October 26, 2026. (Sue Surkes/Times of Israel)

A carnival atmosphere prevailed at Ben Gurion Airport on Monday as one plane load after another brought Israelis coming home to vote on Tuesday.

Sometimes it was hard to know whether there were more welcoming parties or arrivals, as activists from the opposition parties — mainly Yair Golan’s Democrats, Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar and Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid’s B’Yachad — sang patriotic songs, waved flags and blue balloons, and approached dazed passengers to inquire who they were voting for and to pitch for their parties.

So forceful was the throng of activists and journalists that airport security staff were called in to ensure arrivals could exit the hall.

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Promoted: Jewish Crossroads, Avi Issacharoff

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