Israel’s growing emigration rate has serious consequences

The consequences of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood for Israel and its economy are ongoing, and the confidence in security and the sense of superiority that disappeared on the morning of 7 October will probably take years to return, if they ever do. The supposed infallibility of the Israeli security services was exposed as a sham last October, and many companies have reacted by pulling their capital out of a country which will remain basically unstable as long as the illegal occupation continues.

Moreover, around half-a-million Israelis, Jews who were gathered from around the world with promises of stability, prosperity and the “Promised Land”, have fled, damaging the inflow of migrants that the occupation state needs to survive. The Israeli government is aware of the danger of reverse migration, having falsified history and tempted Jews to make “Aliyah” for the past 70 years with homes, jobs and financial aid on offer. It has removed the burden of the cost of the ongoing war against the Palestinians in Gaza — in excess of $60 billion, and counting — from Israeli citizens. Observers are aware that taxes have not been increased to cover this, apart from some small rises here and there, and that Israel has tried to fill the budget gaps caused by its isolation from Turkiye and other trading partners, through the seduction of, and treats against, neighbouring Arab countries that have increased their dealings with the occupation state, even during its genocide of the Palestinians in Gaza.

Those in power in Israel know that the declining Jewish population and the growing Palestinian population within the occupation state itself, as well as in the occupied West Bank, Jerusalem and Gaza Strip, poses a demographic threat to the “Jewish state”.

Despite all of the tempting offers to immigrants, the Israeli population is still less than 10 million, according to the latest census. This is unlikely to be helped by what those who are fleeing will say about Israel, and how this may influence Jews considering a move to the settler-colonial state.

In other words, the Israeli government has to think of new means of deception and seduction to attract Jewish immigrants, to restore confidence in the “Promised Land” and dismiss the fears which prompt Jews to go back to their homelands. The far-right regime in Israel, meanwhile, prefers to keep the conflict open and rejects any solutions that do justice to the usurped owners of the land — the Palestinians — and recognise their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Israel’s 1950 Basic Law of Return gives Jews born anywhere in the world the right to move to Israel and obtain citizenship immediately.

They are promised real estate grants in settlements built — illegally, according to international law — in the occupied Palestinian territories. According to Globes newspaper, the Israeli regime has announced tax exemptions on homes for new immigrants, starting this month, in recognition both that existing offers are not enough and that there is a need to reverse the migration trend of so many people leaving Israel, as well as the flight of investors.

New immigrants will pay no tax on homes valued at under two million shekels ($546,142). Taxes rise to 0.5 – 5 per cent if the price of the home exceeds two million shekels, and only reaches 8 per cent if the price exceeds six million shekels. This tempting offer is in addition to the discount stipulated by tax laws when purchasing investment property.

I think that it is reasonable to suggest that anyone with a conscience, who sees the killing, injustice and the potential for a regional war, would think twice before migrating to Israel. Normal, decent people with capital are welcomed in other, stable countries where social justice is the norm, so why opt to move to Israel?

The number of migrants to Israel fell by more than half between 7 October and 29 November last year, according to statistics provided by the Israeli Immigration Authority. The Times of Israel reported that half-a-million people have left the occupation state and not returned, which confirms the erosion of trust and the decline of the population which frightens the regime in Tel Aviv. Prophecies about the “curse of the eighth decade” loom ever more menacingly over the apartheid state of Israel.

This article first appeared in Arabic in Al-Araby Al-Jadeed on 29 August 2024

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