Mass Exodus Raises Concerns Over Economic and Political Consequences in Israel

Avraham Beninfield was so disappointed with Israeli politicians that he was preparing to move abroad when the October 7, 2023 attack turned his plans upside down. But now, after weeks of a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, Beninfield is starting to pack his bags to leave.

Beninfield says, "Being just a few hours away from a siren, or a terrorist attack, or a regional war, or a missile from Iran or Gaza or Lebanon, is just too much," explaining that he could cope with all of that if he believed the government was leading Israel in the right direction. He said, "I need to know that all this suffering is for a good cause."

The Washington Post reports that Beninfield is preparing to leave with his friend towards Switzerland to join tens of thousands of Israelis who have chosen to move abroad, as more than 80,000 of Israel's 10 million residents moved overseas in 2024, with similar numbers expected this year.

The newspaper cites Israeli sociologists and demographers stating that most of the new immigrants are well-educated, have high incomes, are secular, lean left, and strongly criticize the path taken by Israeli leaders. Many of them are employees in startups, doctors, and students seeking advanced degrees.

These experts fear economic, social, and political repercussions that could affect Israel for decades to come. Itai Atar, an economics professor at Tel Aviv University, says, "There is a brain drain in other parts of the world, but there is a uniqueness in light of the Israeli demographic composition."

He cited workers in Israel's advanced technology sector, who make up a significant portion of the migrants. Although they represent only 11% of the workforce, they pay a third of the country's taxes.

Politically, the newspaper states that the departure of these Israelis, most of whom have leftist leanings, could affect the close elections in the country, as most expatriates do not have the right to vote from abroad.

Dafna Patishi-Brailoc, who runs an agency that helps Israelis emigrate, confirms that she is receiving an unprecedented volume of requests, with a greater urgency to leave compared to the past.

Patishi-Brailoc explains that most Israelis were emigrating abroad before the recent war for professional reasons, but her clients recently are seeking a break from the ongoing wars and political turmoil in Israel. She noted that inquiries doubled after the 12-day war with Iran last June when Tel Aviv was bombarded with Iranian missiles.

According to figures published by the Washington Post, about 200,000 Israelis currently live in Europe. For years, Israelis have obtained second passports from EU countries, including Germany and Poland, which granted citizenship to descendants of Holocaust survivors, as well as Spain and Portugal, which opened the door to citizenship in 2015 for Jews whose ancestors were expelled from those countries in the 15th century.

The newspaper reported that in cities like Lisbon and Berlin, newcomers from Israel find vibrant communities of Israeli expatriates, where information about real estate is exchanged and job advice is shared in Facebook groups like "Israelis in Portugal" with over 50,000 members, or "Israelis in Berlin" with 38,000 members.

Some Israelis said they feel uncertain about how long they intend to stay away, whether it is temporary or permanent emigration, and whether they made the right decision for themselves and their families.

Additionally, those who have made the decision to emigrate find themselves facing social stigma, as immigrants to Israel are known in Hebrew as "Olim," or "the ascenders," while those leaving are called "Yordim," or "the descendents."