DistantNews
Support us
🇮🇱 Israel /Elections & Politics

Israelis immigrate abroad to find quiet away from constant war and political uncertainty

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • A growing number of Israelis are emigrating due to political and social uncertainty, with one couple citing a "fascist current" moving into the mainstream.
  • Israeli immigration has remained at record levels, with an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 citizens leaving annually since 2023.
  • While the emigration trend raises concerns about a "brain drain," the country also continues to receive new immigrants, particularly from Western nations.

Iris Meiri-Snir and Hagai Agmon-Snir left their lives in Israel for northern Italy, an "explicitly ideological choice" driven by increasing disillusionment with their homeland's direction. Meiri-Snir, a former vice principal, and Agmon-Snir, a neuroscientist involved in coexistence initiatives, felt increasingly marginalized as Israeli society shifted rightward.

Leaving is our way of expressing our opposition.

— Hagai Agmon-SnirExplaining the ideological motivation behind his and his wife's decision to emigrate from Israel.

"Leaving is our way of expressing our opposition," Agmon-Snir told JTA, adding that he would encourage others who felt similarly to emigrate. Despite comfortable lives, the couple could no longer "justify staying" as they perceived a "fascist current" entering the mainstream in Israel. They had previously held onto optimism that Israeli society could return to liberal values but lost that conviction.

Their departure reflects a broader trend: Israeli emigration has remained at record highs since the political upheaval of 2023. An estimated 40,000 to 50,000 citizens have left annually for at least a year in each of the past three years. A Tel Aviv University study noted this trend continued through the wars following the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack.

If I ignore all the political and social crap happening around me, what do I have to complain about here? We’ve got it pretty good.

— Hagai Agmon-SnirReflecting on their comfortable life in Israel before deciding to leave due to political and social reasons.

While current numbers do not pose a significant economic or security risk, researchers warn this could change if emigration escalates. The study highlighted a "dangerous" increase in the "brain drain" – the departure of highly educated and high-earning Israelis. Data indicates emigrants' incomes were about 50% higher than the national average, with doctors and engineers disproportionately represented among those leaving.

But it’s no longer possible to be part of what’s happening here.

— Hagai Agmon-SnirDescribing the feeling of alienation that led to their decision to move abroad.

Despite the outflow, Israel continues to attract immigrants. In 2025, over 22,500 new immigrants arrived, including approximately 8,500 from Western countries like the United States, France, Britain, and Canada. However, overall aliyah (immigration to Israel) fell by about a third.

a 'fascist current' in Israel had moved into the mainstream.

— Hagai Agmon-SnirCharacterizing the political climate in Israel that contributed to their emigration.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog