Israeli Exodus: 99,000 Departures Recorded Ahead of National Vote

Itai Ater, a professor at the Coller School of Management at Tel Aviv University, reports that 99,000 Israelis left the country between January 2023 and December 2024. This figure represents the highest departure count in the nation's recorded history. Ater’s team published these findings in February, drawing on data from the Central Bureau of Statistics.

The researchers defined emigrants as individuals who remained outside the country for at least three consecutive months and spent more than 270 days abroad during their first year of departure. Approximately 50,000 citizens left in 2023, followed by 49,000 in 2024. Ater stated that preliminary data indicates the trend continued through 2025.

The departure surge coincided with major geopolitical and political shifts. The year 2023 began with the Hamas attack on southern Israel, which killed roughly 1,200 people and resulted in the capture of 250 hostages. Israel subsequently launched a military campaign in the Gaza Strip. Although a ceasefire took effect in October 2025, Israel still controls about 60 percent of the enclave and maintains regular military activity there.

Next week’s national election adds another layer of uncertainty to the situation. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has led the country for three decades, is seeking to retain power. Polls indicate his far-right bloc will not reach the 61 Knesset seats required to form a government. A rival coalition led by Gadi Eisenkot of the Yashar party is expected to win the most seats but also fall short of a majority. Coalition negotiations typically follow the vote, a process in which Netanyahu has extensive experience.

Ater warned that emigration numbers could rise sharply if the current political and security environment persists. He noted that many citizens are questioning whether they want to raise children in a country facing war, economic instability, and a prime minister whose corruption trial, started in 2020, remains undecided. "Israelis are thinking, 'do I want to raise my kids in a country like this?'" Ater said.

The demographic profile of those leaving has shifted toward high-skilled workers. The study identified a sharp increase in departures of doctors, Ph.D. holders, and engineers during 2023 and 2024. Net departures included 2,360 engineers and 509 doctors. Ater emphasized that Israel’s economy relies heavily on this human capital in sectors such as technology, academia, and healthcare.

Corporate leaders are also evaluating their operational presence in Israel. Liam Schwartz, head of the corporate immigration department at the Tel Aviv law firm Goldfarb, Gross, Seligman, said some companies face pressure from non-Israeli investors concerned about viability. These firms are increasingly willing to move parts of their workforce to North America or Europe. Schwartz linked this discontent to the judicial reform proposals introduced in January 2023, which sought to reduce the powers of the Supreme Court. "They feel like the Israeli government is no longer meeting its part of the social contract," Schwartz said.

Avigail Ben-Porat, a 50-year-old single mother in Kiryat Shmona near the Lebanese border, stated that she dreams of leaving but lacks the financial resources to do so. She continues to hear rocket fire regularly and noted that many of her friends have relocated to countries including Portugal, Canada, Thailand, and India.