Israel is facing an unprecedented wave of emigration, with record numbers of citizens leaving the country since 2020. A report by the Knesset’s Research and Information Center (RIC) reveals that between 2020 and 2024, approximately 145,900 more Israelis departed for the long term than returned. This alarming trend has sparked concern among policymakers, who fear the implications of a declining Jewish population in the state. The exodus has been particularly pronounced in recent years, with 59,400 Israelis leaving in 2022 and 82,800 in 2023—a surge partly attributed to the onset of the Gaza war in October 2023. Cities like Tel Aviv, Haifa, Netanya, and Jerusalem have seen significant numbers of residents departing. The report was prepared for a session of the Knesset Committee for Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora Affairs, where MP Gilad Kariv described the situation as a ‘tsunami.’ Kariv emphasized that the trend threatens the resilience of Israeli society and is a direct result of government actions that have fractured society and neglected civilian concerns. He called for urgent intervention from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address the issue, warning that the current government’s priorities are exacerbating the problem and undermining Zionist values.
Record number of Israelis leaving and not returning since 2020, Knesset report says
