A report highlighting a sharp rise in the number of citizens leaving Israel since 2022, showing a decrease in the country’s migration balance by 125,200 people, was presented on Monday to the Knesset Committee on Immigration, Absorption, and Diaspora Affairs, reports The Jerusalem Post.

The report was prepared by the Knesset Research and Information Center (RIC) and presented at a committee meeting chaired by MK Gilad Kariv (Democrats).

“Over the past two years, tens of thousands of Israelis have decided to leave the country. This is not just a wave of emigration; it is a tsunami of Israelis choosing to leave,” he said.

During the committee session, Kariv urged the government “to acknowledge the seriousness of this trend and focus efforts on halting it.” He added, “A comprehensive government plan is needed to encourage the return of Israelis who have lived abroad for extended periods.”

Since early 2022, the migration balance of Israelis has decreased by approximately 125,200 people, the report states.

This figure was calculated by subtracting the number of long-term departures from the number of long-term returns, excluding new immigrants and naturalized citizens. Dr. Ayala Eliyahu of the Knesset RIC noted, “Since 2022, we are seeing a clear increase in the number of Israelis choosing to leave the country for long-term stays abroad, along with a decrease in those returning.”

She added that over many years, the number of departures has been steadily increasing.

“The population of Israel decreased by 29,700 due to emigration in one year, by 58,600 in 2023, and by 36,900 Israelis in 2024 up to August,” she said.