Israel’s Spectacular Immigration Own Goal
Every year, the Israeli government proudly publishes the number of new immigrants. Under Israel’s law of return, anyone with at least one Jewish grandparent is entitled to automatic Israeli citizenship. The law of return is core to the Zionist project of settling the land of Israel with diaspora Jews and providing a haven for Jews worldwide. In Hebrew, Jewish immigration to Israel is called “Aliyah,” meaning “going up or ascent.” The government organizes flights full of Jewish immigrants, which are often greeted with fanfare when they touch down in Tel Aviv.
The government doesn’t disclose the number of Israelis that emigrate from the country every year. In Hebrew, emigration is known as “yerida,” meaning “going down or descent.” In recent years, more Israelis than ever have chosen to leave the country and either return to their home countries or establish new roots in other foreign countries. Many Israelis of European origin, known as Ashkenazim, have dual citizenship and thus have options to live in other countries. Israelis that have made aliyah almost uniformly retain their former citizenship, making return straightforward.
Emigration has always been a touchy subject for Israeli authorities. From 1948 to 1961, the Israeli government imposed harsh restrictions on emigration through an exit visa, which was often denied. By 1967, Middle East…
