99,000 Israelis Left in Two Years as Election Looms

A new analysis of official statistics indicates that 99,000 Israeli citizens departed the country between January 2023 and December 2024. This figure marks the highest departure rate recorded in the nation's history. The data comes from a study published in February by researchers at Tel Aviv University. The election scheduled for next week introduces a new variable to this ongoing trend.

The surge in emigration began immediately after the conflict in October 2023. That month, a Hamas attack on southern Israel killed roughly 1,200 people. Another 250 individuals were taken hostage. Israel launched a major military campaign in the Gaza Strip in response. By October 2025, a ceasefire was in effect, though Israeli forces still control about 60 per cent of the territory. Military activity continues regularly in the enclave.

The political climate has added to the instability. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has served as the country's longest-serving leader. His corruption trial, which began in 2020, remains pending. Current polls suggest his far-right bloc will not secure the 61 Knesset seats required for a majority. A rival group led by Gadi Eisenkot is expected to win the most seats but will also fall short of a governing majority. Coalition negotiations will follow the vote, a process in which Netanyahu is considered an expert.

Itai Ater, a professor at the Coller School of Management at Tel Aviv University, leads the research team behind the study. He noted that the years since 2023 have been turbulent for a population of about 10 million. Ater stated that many residents are questioning whether they want to raise children in such an environment. He added that he sympathizes with those who answer no. Preliminary figures indicate the pattern of departures continued into 2025.

The study defined emigrants as those away for at least three consecutive months. It counted individuals who spent more than 270 days outside the country during their first year of departure. Approximately 50,000 people left in 2023. Another 49,000 left in 2024. Ater warned that without political change, these numbers could climb sharply. He predicted that emigration figures will increase dramatically if the status quo remains.

The demographic profile of those leaving is changing. The study found a sharp rise in the departure of doctors, Ph.D. holders, and engineers. There was a net loss of 2,360 engineers and 509 doctors between 2023 and 2024. Ater described this loss of human capital as a threat to the economy. He cited the tech industry, academia, and health care sectors as key areas of concern.

Business leaders are also adjusting their strategies. Liam Schwartz, who heads the corporate immigration department at the Tel Aviv law firm Goldfarb, Gross, Seligman, said some companies face pressure from non-Israeli shareholders. These investors are worried about the viability of operating from Israel. Companies are becoming more willing to shift workforce portions to North America or Europe. Schwartz traced the discontent to January 2023, when the government proposed judicial reforms to reduce the Supreme Court's powers.

Avigail Ben-Porat, a 50-year-old single mother in Kiryat Shmona, lives near the Lebanese border. She said she dreams of leaving but lacks the financial means to do so. She still hears rocket fire regularly. Many of her friends have moved to countries including Portugal, Canada, Thailand, and India. Schwartz called the upcoming October vote a potential watershed for whether emigration rises.

Ater described the current situation as a strategic risk to Israel as a democracy. He said it is also a concern for the Middle East and the wider world. The study provides a quantitative baseline for this shift. The election result will determine which political blocs form the next government. The final coalition configuration will occur after the votes are counted.