Israeli Lawmakers Urge Government Action on Declining Citizen Returns
A Knesset committee convened on September 7 to address the significant drop in Israelis returning to their home country. Data presented revealed that while an average of 7,000 Israelis returned annually between 2005 and 2025, only 4,483 returned in 2025, a 58% decrease from 10,903 in 2009. Approximately 70% of returnees had lived abroad for five years or more, with 45% coming from the United States.
Overall, between 2005 and 2024, about 141,000 former residents returned to Israel, excluding new immigrants. The U.S. was the primary country of origin for returnees, followed by the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Russia, Romania, and Ukraine. Over a quarter of those returning were minors, and a significant portion, 47%, were between 28 and 60 years old.
Committee Chairman Gilad Kariv highlighted that the trend of declining returns is continuing and urged the government to develop a five-year program to encourage Israelis living abroad to come back. He criticized the lack of a government body coordinating efforts to prevent citizens from leaving and stressed the need for a strategic return program.
Ayala Eliyahu from the Knesset Research and Information Center defined a "returning resident" as an Israeli who lived abroad for over two years before returning and normalizing their status. It is estimated that around one million Israelis currently live abroad.
Professor Itai Ater of Tel Aviv University noted a concerning rise in doctors leaving Israel, with senior physicians making up about 20% of those departing. He pointed out that other countries offer incentives to medical professionals, while Israel lags in this regard.
Dafna Koren from the National Insurance Institute mentioned a new group is examining the possibility of revoking residency status for Israelis living abroad for over five years, potentially extending this period. She also observed a notable increase in Israelis voluntarily renouncing their residency, though the reasons remain unclear. Kariv concluded by stating that without comprehensive government action, emigration will likely increase, and emphasized that the return of native-born Israelis should be a top priority for the next government, contrasting it with the current focus on Jewish immigration from abroad.
