Tel aviv: Since Oct. 7, 2023, security has dominated political discourse in Israel, with the government presenting its military actions as essential to national survival. But for some Israeli critics, the outcome has been the opposite: deeper fear, growing distrust in the state's ability to protect its citizens, and a sense that daily life has become more unstable.
According to Anadolu Agency, recent findings by professors Itai Ater and Nitai Bergman at Tel Aviv University point to a notable rise in emigration from Israel in 2023 and 2024. Their research indicates that around 99,000 Israelis left the country over that period, while fewer than 20,000 returned in 2024. More than three-quarters of those who left were under 40. For some observers, those figures reflect not only economic or political discontent but also a broader erosion of public confidence in Israel's future.
Hila Amit, an Israeli researcher who moved to Germany in 2011 for political reasons, told Anadolu that ordinary Israelis are 'definitely not' safer today than they were before Israel's attacks on Gaza and its latest confrontation with Iran. Amit criticized the Israeli government's policies for the deepening sense of insecurity and questioned the perception that Israel's defense systems can provide protection.
Amit also noted that qualified individuals, including nearly 950 doctors and over 3,300 engineers, have emigrated in the two years since October 2023. The professors' research supports her observation, showing that more than 21,000 emigrants held bachelor's degrees, including over 7,400 STEM graduates.
Amit further commented on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's focus on political preservation over the safety of Israelis. She suggested that a continuous state of war benefits Netanyahu's position, as it keeps Israeli society focused on an 'external enemy' rather than internal opposition.
The ongoing conflict has seen Iran respond with drone and missile attacks targeting Israel and locations hosting US military assets, causing casualties and damage. Israel has also conducted strikes in Lebanon, where Hezbollah has launched rockets in response, raising fears of wider regional escalation.
In Gaza, Israel's military actions since October 2023 have resulted in more than 72,000 deaths, according to local authorities. Amit stated that Israel's actions have contributed to hostility toward Israelis abroad, with incidents of Jewish people being insulted in other countries linked to anger over Israeli government policies.