Settlers flocking out of 'Israel' amid wars, threats
4 Min Read
The number of Israeli settlers leaving occupied Palestine is leaving other Israelis shocked as the high figures reflect fear and insecurity.
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Travelers line up at Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv, occupied Palestine, Monday Sept. 2, 2024. (AP)
A recent report by the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics has intensified political discord within the Israeli occupation, highlighting a significant surge in reverse migration at the start of 2025.
According to the report, some 82,000 individuals have left the occupied Palestinian territories, a figure that has shaken its political and security circles. This outflow, prominently featured in Israeli media, underscores a growing disenchantment among Israelis, particularly professionals, doctors, and technicians, with the occupation's current trajectory.
The data in question led to intense political discourse. Right-wing factions have been particularly vocal, condemning those leaving as government opponents use the data to criticize the incumbent regime. The phenomenon has become yet another battleground in the Israeli occupation's already fractured political landscape.
Experts attribute this migration to several factors, including restrictive laws, stifling personal freedoms, and a lack of opportunities for creativity and economic growth. The exodus reportedly began during protests against judicial reforms, with the ongoing war on Gaza and the accompanying threats further cementing the decision for many to leave.
Additional contributing factors include the government’s economic policies, the refusal of Haredi communities to perform military service, and attacks on institutions like the Supreme Court. These issues, combined with the war on Gaza and the unresolved fate of the captured soldiers, have exacerbated fears among Israelis about the future.
Israeli research centers have noted a troubling trend: the emigrants are predominantly young, educated individuals aged between 20 and 45, with a significant portion being children and adolescents. This demographic shift threatens to weaken the Israeli occupation's economy and social structure. High living costs, limited housing and employment opportunities, and inadequate public services are driving these individuals to seek a better quality of life elsewhere.
Despite the alarming implications, the right-wing government has responded with superficial criticisms rather than substantive solutions. The emigration highlights a diminished sense of belonging and trust among those leaving, further strained by war, economic instability, and internal divisions.
Impact of the war on Gaza
The October 2023 war on Gaza triggered a surge in departures, with 14,816 settlers leaving that month alone—more than double the monthly average of 7,145 for the rest of the year.
The northern territories were particularly impacted as heightened tensions and the war on Lebanon, which saw Hezbollah wreaking havoc along the borders drove significant numbers of settlers to abandon these areas.
