The collapse within: Israel faces record wave of emigration

The Israeli daily Maariv reported on Monday that a “deeply troubling” report by the Knesset’s Research and Information Center has documented a sharp rise in emigration from the occupied Palestinian territories, particularly among educated young adults aged 20 to 39 — the core of Israel’s economy and military reserves.

According to the study, which is set to be presented before the Knesset’s Committee on Immigration and Absorption today, the number of Israelis leaving the occupied territories has reached unprecedented levels, while the number of returnees remains minimal.

Official data from Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics shows that the average annual emigration between 2009 and 2021 stood at around 36,000 people — but in recent years, the figures have surged dramatically:

2022: 55,300 emigrants (a 46% increase over the previous year)

2023: 82,700 emigrants (a nearly 50% rise)

Between 2020 and 2024 — a period that includes the aftermath of the Gaza war — roughly 145,000 Israelis have left the occupied territories, marking what experts call “the largest migration wave in Israel’s modern history.”

Researchers warn that this exodus is draining Israel’s skilled labor force and key sectors of its economy, posing long-term risks to growth and productivity. The study found that 54% of those emigrating come from Tel Aviv and central Israel — areas with high living and housing costs that have become increasingly unbearable for young professionals despite their economic importance.

Gilad Kariv, head of the Knesset’s Immigration and Absorption Committee, warned:

“This is no longer a trend — it’s a migration tsunami.”

He added that “a growing number of Israelis have decided to build their future abroad,” calling the situation a strategic threat to Israel’s social cohesion. Kariv blamed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government for deepening internal divisions before the Gaza war and neglecting domestic needs over the past two years.

The report concludes that the departure of this young generation — the backbone of Israel’s economy and reserve army — could severely weaken the nation’s military and economic strength, especially as more than 12% of the population are elderly and groups such as the Haredim and Arab citizens in central areas have limited participation in the military or labor market — creating an increasing economic and security burden for Israel.