For decades, Israel has been celebrated as a global innovation hub, dubbed “the Startup Nation” for its groundbreaking technology and medical advancements. But the events of Oct. 7, 2023, and the subsequent bloody conflicts with Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran have triggered a profound shift in the psyche of many Israelis. What began as a major exodus spurred by immediate security concerns has evolved into a broader migration pattern, with waves of top Israeli talent seeking refuge and stability in Europe and beyond.
The numbers tell the story: 285% increase
In the immediate aftermath of Oct. 7 there was a staggering 285% increase in Israelis leaving the country permanently, according to Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics. Although this rate has since stabilized, the outflow of Israelis remains significant, underscoring deeper concerns about safety, governance, and social cohesion. The migration trend predates the war, with departures surging by 51% in the months leading up to the Oct. 7 attacks, amid widespread protests against the government’s controversial judicial overhaul.
Notably, the demographic profile of those leaving reveals the departure of Israel’s most educated and economically mobile citizens. Data indicates that many are married professionals working in tech, medicine, academia, and business—key sectors vital to Israel’s economy.
For Jewish Israelis, ancestral passports—primarily from Germany, Poland, and other European nations—allow for easier relocation to the European Union. Germany and Portugal have emerged as top destinations, appealing for their robust economies and political stability.
Tech talent in transit
For Israel’s flourishing tech sector, this migration is having ripple effects across the globe. The country has long been a hub for Fortune Global 500 giants like Google, Microsoft, and Intel, which operate thriving offices in Tel Aviv and beyond. Employees at these companies often have the advantage of transferring to international offices, allowing them to relocate swiftly to other hubs in popular destination countries like the United Kingdom.
This mobility of tech workers has been pivotal for professionals like Shlomy Green, a software engineer who says he and his family left Israel the day of the Oct. 7 attacks, so panicked by the ongoing violence that they boarded one of the last flights to Cyprus before midday. “We felt like we were fleeing. We were basically just thankful that we left in time,” Green told NPR. “We want to feel safe and secure in our home. And we’re not willing to compromise on that.”
The phenomenon isn’t limited to Jewish Israelis. Arab Israelis, who have traditionally faced social and economic challenges, are also expressing a heightened desire to emigrate. A recent report from the Ruppin Academic Center found this sentiment has doubled to 14% of all Arab Israelis since Oct. 7. However, for Arab Israelis lacking the dual citizenship many Jewish Israelis possess, leaving is a more complex endeavor.
Silent departures
Doctors, in particular, are among the professionals quietly departing. Amid ongoing security risks and uncertainty over Israel’s future, many are opting to relocate to Europe, where overburdened health care systems actively recruit skilled practitioners from abroad.
“I feel that something is happening to us that didn’t happen in the past, something different from what went on in the period of the judicial reform [protests in 2023],” professor Gil Fire, an internist and senior administrator at one of Israel’s largest hospitals, said in an interview with Haaretz. “People are ashamed of [leaving the country], they’re disguising it. But this time the leaving is large scale and significant. I call that ‘quiet leaving,’ because most of them say they intend to return.”
Cyprus: A safety valve
For Israelis unable or unwilling to leave permanently, neighboring Cyprus has become a haven. The Mediterranean island has long been a favorite for Israeli real estate investors, and the major turmoil of the past year has only accelerated interest. Limassol, a coastal city popular with Israelis, has seen property prices surge as buyers seek second homes for security and stability.
Rising property prices have sparked pushback from locals, with some Cypriots expressing frustration over being priced out of their own markets. “We feel like foreigners in our city. Israelis and Russians have driven prices up, and we can’t compete,” a local resident told The Times of Israel.
The cost of departure
The broader implications of this migration wave are profound. Israel risks a significant brain drain and potential pressure on its tax base with some of its brightest and highest-earning citizens seeking opportunities abroad.
The societal and political consequences could be far-reaching, as recent trends indicate secular and liberal Israelis disillusioned with the country’s direction are most likely to emigrate, potentially changing the voting bloc and extending the right wing’s current domination of Israeli politics.
Many Israelis dismiss the departure of their compatriots and point to the influx of people who’ve immigrated to the country since the Oct. 7 attacks; tens of thousands of immigrants—primarily from Russia—continue to move to Israel, contributing to a complex migration dynamic. Others fear that once the reservists who’ve been called to serve in the ongoing conflicts return home, there could be another surge in Israelis relocating to more stable countries.
Professor Karin Amit, dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration at the Ruppin Academic Center, contextualized this migration surge to Ynet: “In times of war or threat, there’s a sense of unity … We will, of course, need to examine this in the medium term and also see what will happen economically after the war—a critical factor in migration decisions.”
For Israel, the challenge ahead is clear: how to retain its talent and restore a sense of security for those who call it home. How and when there’s a cessation to the conflicts Israel faces will be pivotal in determining whether current migration trends represent a temporary spike—or a lasting shift in the country’s future.
