Israel faces 'tsunami' of emigration as thousands leave the country

A new study published by the Israel Tax Authority shows that the number of people leaving the country in 2023 and 2024 was not only higher than in previous years, but also concentrated among those with higher taxable income. The study adds to a series of recent reports indicating that as the Israeli government grows more hardline and right-leaning, more educated and wealthier individuals are leaving the country.

Many self-identified liberal Israelis say the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made the country less secular and undermined the independence of institutions, particularly the judiciary. The government's attempt to curb judicial oversight in 2023 brought tens of thousands of Israelis to the streets in protest.

Concerns about the nature of the government within the educated elite have grown since the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, and Israel's response—a war that has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians and sparked conflict on multiple fronts. Many feel trapped in a spiral of endless conflict due to the open-ended nature of the wars.

A Tel Aviv University survey published in August shows that nearly 270,000 Israelis have left the country in the past three years, based on data from the Central Bureau of Statistics. Specifically, more than 86,500 left in 2023, about 91,500 in 2024, and a similar number in 2025.

Gilad Kariv, an opposition lawmaker and chairman of the Knesset's Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora Affairs Committee, warned that the country is facing a "tsunami" of emigration that the government has no measures to address.

The burden of stigma

According to analysts, those who leave Israel often face stigma, as many Israelis, particularly on the right, view immigration to Israel as a natural aspiration for Jews worldwide. The term for emigration carries clear evaluative weight: "Aliyah" (immigration) means "ascent," while emigrants are often called "yordim"—"those who go down."

Demographer Sergio Della Pergola notes that Israel's migration balance has occasionally been negative but only briefly, usually due to financial crises. This time, the outflow persisting for three years is alarming. "Some leave to pursue career opportunities, but most are driven by a sense of insecurity about safety and concerns about the country's political direction," he said.

Della Pergola points to the prominence of figures deemed "extremist," such as National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir—who recently called for destroying 30-40 Palestinians per night in Gaza—as deepening political polarization. However, he argues these figures are merely instruments in Netanyahu's political strategy. "Make no mistake, they are all players in the orchestra conducted by Netanyahu," he said.

The economic issue

Michael Ben-Gad, a professor at City St George's, University of London, says retaining young, educated, and liberal-minded people is crucial for sustaining growth in young economies like Israel's. He cites warnings from economists decades ago that Israel's economic and political future depends on its ability to innovate and develop.

Qualitative research by Lilach Lev Ari, a professor of migration and demography at Oranim College, shows that those with the best innovation and development skills are disproportionately represented among those leaving, especially among those emigrating to the U.S. "More and more highly educated, successful young families are leaving the country—partly due to the judicial reform, the political-social climate, and the war," she said. She stressed that the emigration wave lasting nearly three years should be a "wake-up call."

Political economist Shir Hever agrees that mass emigration is a "huge story," but argues the debate focuses too much on the departure of high-income professionals like doctors and too little on nurses and other essential workers. He also questions Israel's reliance on its R&D advantage: "Why should that be true for Israel and not for Romania? Perhaps simply because Israel needs that advantage, because after all, this is a colonial project."