99,000 Israelis Depart as Election Approaches

99,000 Israelis left the country between January 2023 and December 2024, according to a study published in February by researchers at Tel Aviv University. This figure represents the highest recorded departure rate in the nation's history for a three-year period. The study relied on data from the Central Bureau of Statistics to count individuals who remained abroad for at least three consecutive months and spent more than 270 days outside during their first year of departure. Approximately 50,000 citizens exited in 2023, while 49,000 left in 2024. Itai Ater, a professor at the Coller School of Management, noted that preliminary figures indicate this pattern continued through 2025.

The exodus occurs against a backdrop of intense political and military strain. Ater described the years since 2023 as turbulent for a nation of roughly 10 million people. He pointed to the war that began after the Hamas attack on southern Israel in 2023, an event that killed roughly 1,200 people and resulted in 250 hostages. Israel’s military campaign in the Gaza Strip followed, and while a fragile ceasefire took effect in October 2025, Israel still controls about 60 percent of the enclave. Ater observed that many residents are questioning whether they want to raise their children in such an environment.

Next week's national election adds another layer of uncertainty to the decision-making process. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking power again after serving as the country's longest-serving leader for three decades. Current polls suggest his far-right bloc will fall short of the 61 Knesset seats required to form a government. Gadi Eisenkot, who leads the Yashar party, is positioned to win the most seats for a rival bloc but is also expected to lack a majority. Because coalitions are typically necessary to govern, the post-election maneuvering often favors Netanyahu, who has long been considered skilled in such negotiations.

Ater warned that without a political shift, departure numbers could climb dramatically. He cited a sharp rise in the exit of skilled professionals, including doctors, engineers, and Ph.D. holders. The data shows net departures of 2,360 engineers and 509 doctors in 2023 and 2024. Ater emphasized that Israel's economy relies heavily on this human capital, particularly in the tech industry, academia, and health care sectors.

Corporate leaders are also feeling the pressure. Liam Schwartz, head of the corporate immigration department at the Tel Aviv law firm Goldfarb, Gross, Seligman, said some firms are shifting workforce components to North America or Europe. He attributed this trend to pressure from non-Israeli shareholders and investors who worry about the viability of operating from Israel. Schwartz traced the discontent to January 2023, when the government proposed judicial reforms that would have reduced the powers of the Supreme Court.

For residents on the front lines, the decision to leave is often dictated by proximity to conflict. Avigail Ben-Porat, a 50-year-old single mother living in Kiryat Shmona near the Lebanese border, said she dreams of leaving but lacks the financial means. She still regularly hears rocket fire and has watched many friends move to Portugal, Canada, Thailand, and India. Schwartz called the upcoming vote a potential watershed moment that will determine whether emigration rates rise further.