Rising Emigration Concerns Among Israelis Amid Al-Aqsa Intifada
A recent poll conducted by Kan Channel reveals that approximately 23% of Israelis have contemplated emigrating over the past year, largely driven by the ongoing political and security challenges following the Al-Aqsa Flood initiated by Palestinian resistance. This significant figure highlights a growing sentiment of uncertainty among the populace regarding their future in Israel.
The poll, which surveyed attitudes from October 2023 to October 2024, indicated that 67% of respondents had not considered leaving the country, while a notable portion chose not to respond. Among those contemplating emigration, 14% identified as supporters of the current government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in contrast to 36% of opposition supporters expressing similar thoughts. Furthermore, the data suggests that secular Israelis are more inclined to leave than their Haredi counterparts.
Kan Channel noted that the trend of negative immigration in Israel predates the recent conflict, with historical data showing that emigration rates have surpassed immigration rates in recent years. Although official statistics for 2024 remain unavailable, the channel suggests that this worrying trend is likely to persist, indicating deeper underlying issues that must be addressed.
Recent statistics from the Central Bureau of Statistics highlighted an alarming surge in Israeli emigration, with over 40,000 individuals leaving the country in the first seven months of 2024 alone. This follows a year in which approximately 55,300 Israelis emigrated, a stark increase from the 38,000 who left in 2022.
