A sweeping new survey released Sunday paints a picture of a population increasingly contemplating life elsewhere. According to the findings, 27 percent of Israelis are now thinking about leaving the country, despite most respondents warning that a large-scale wave of departures would put Israel’s future at risk.
The research, compiled by the Israel Democracy Institute, surveyed 720 Jews and 187 Arabs in April. The results showed notable contrasts between communities, with 30% of Arab citizens considering emigration compared to 26% of Jewish citizens. Among Jews, respondents who described themselves as less religious — and those aligned with the political left — expressed far greater interest in leaving than religious or right-leaning counterparts.
A striking detail emerged among those contemplating relocation: 69% of Jews and 62.5% of Arabs said they were not drawn to any particular country at all, explaining that the appeal was simply “getting out of the country.”
The questionnaire was taken after a year and a half of conflict on several fronts, predating both June’s 12-day confrontation with Iran and the more recent Gaza ceasefire that facilitated the release of most hostages. Researchers acknowledged that these later developments may have shifted public attitudes, but the data does not yet reflect that.
When examining Jewish respondents by religious identity, the group least connected to religious observance showed the strongest inclination to leave. Non-religious Jews made up 39% of those considering emigration, followed by traditional but non-religious (24%), traditional religious (19%), Orthodox (14%), and just 4% among the ultra-Orthodox.
Younger, secular Jewish Israelis stood out even more. Among that demographic, 60% said they would think about moving away, and among high earners who also hold a foreign passport, the share rose to 80%.
The trend cut across both Jewish and Arab communities when education levels and income rose. Respondents in high-mobility professions — including high-tech, finance, and medicine — were the most open to relocating abroad.
Those holding a second passport unsurprisingly appeared more ready to consider leaving, but the report highlighted a more unexpected finding: 33% of Israelis born in the country were considering emigration, compared with 22% of those who had moved to Israel from abroad. The authors suggested that individuals who made the deliberate choice to immigrate are generally less inclined to reverse that decision.
Among Israeli-born Jews with dual citizenship, the likelihood of contemplating departure increased if they had previously lived abroad. The more time they had spent outside Israel, the higher the possibility they would consider doing so again.
Views on Israel’s current condition were mixed but leaned pessimistic. Forty-two percent of Jews and 33% of Arabs labeled the nation’s situation as “bad,” while 8% of Jews and 15% of Arabs described it as “good.”
Participants cited a familiar cluster of worries when explaining why they might leave: the soaring cost of living, fears over security, frustration with politics, and concerns about “the lack of a good future for my children.”
Europe emerged as the leading destination of interest among potential emigrants. Forty-three percent pointed to the European Union as their preferred option, noticeably above the 27% who chose North America or Canada.
Broader frustrations also appeared frequently, including dissatisfaction with public services, worries about global perceptions of Israel, alarm over the trajectory of democracy and free expression, and unease about the country’s identity as the Jewish state.
Yet despite the growing interest in living elsewhere, the most powerful anchor keeping both Jewish and Arab Israelis rooted remained the same: family. Many respondents said they would be far more likely to consider leaving if their relatives had already moved away.
{Matzav.com}
