Supporters of Avigdor Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu party demonstrate at the 'Democracy Festival' in Glilot, north of Tel Aviv, ahead of Israel’s parliamentary election. (AFP)JERUSALEM: Liran Naaman said he spent 800 euros (nearly US$900) to fly from Amsterdam, where he has lived for the past 11 years, to his native Israel, all to vote in the Oct 27 election.

He has returned to vote in every election except during the Covid-19 pandemic, and believes this time his participation matters more than ever. "The way that our government is conducting itself is harming me personally and the rest of the Israelis abroad," the project manager told AFP.

The election is widely seen as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his hard-right government after nearly three years of war in Gaza, Iran and Lebanon. Polls show a tight race.