Knesset Election: Gal Gadot Votes After Receiving Honorary Degree

Gal Gadot cast her ballot in Israel’s Knesset election on Tuesday morning, adding her voice to the polling station atmosphere as an estimated 70,000 Israelis living abroad returned home to vote. The actress documented the process on Instagram, posting a video that showed her at a local polling station.

In the clip, Gadot spoke in Hebrew while selecting an envelope and entering the voting booth. She described voting as the most basic and important democratic right. She urged citizens to vote for whoever they believe in, framing the act as a fundamental civic duty.

Gadot invoked the Hebrew expression pa'amim ki tov, a phrase rooted in the biblical creation story where the word good appears twice on the third day of the week. She expressed hope that the phrase would serve as a double blessing for the country. The video concluded with her blowing a kiss to the camera, followed by a photo of her placing the envelope into the ballot box.

The trip to Israel began earlier in the week. On Monday, Gadot received an honorary doctorate from Bar Ilan University during a gala celebrating the institution's 70th anniversary. US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff also received an honorary degree at the same event.

During her acceptance speech, Gadot addressed the current political climate. She stated that people in Israel and Jewish communities worldwide have experienced loss, fear, and uncertainty. She noted that antisemitism has always been present and is unfortunately not going away. Speaking as an Israeli and Jewish woman working internationally, she described a distance between her home and how Israelis are sometimes portrayed abroad. She said, No matter how far I travel, Israel's always my home. These are my people, my family.

Gadot characterized the upcoming election as potentially the most momentous the country has seen in years. She described it as a time for citizens to use their most powerful civic right with a sense of responsibility. After the polls closed, she is scheduled to appear on the comedy show Eretz Nehederet.

The actress lives primarily in Los Angeles with her husband, Jaron Varsano, and their four daughters. She is originally from Rosh HaAyin. Her current film credits include the thriller The Runner on Prime Video and the upcoming Fast and Furious installment, Fast Forever.