A study published in February 2026 by researchers at Tel Aviv University’s Coller School of Management indicates that approximately 50,000 Israeli graduates have emigrated annually since 2023. According to France 24, this trend has resulted in a total of 150,000 departures over the past three years, with the majority of emigrants being doctors or engineers under the age of 40. Itai Ater, an economist who led the research, attributes this sharp increase in brain drain primarily to political factors rather than economic constraints, specifically citing the judicial overhaul introduced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in January 2023. Ater noted that the phenomenon began in the summer of 2023, preceding the October 7 Hamas attack, and is driven by secular Israelis questioning their future in the country due to the influence of ultra-Orthodox political factions.
With legislative elections scheduled for October 27, 2026, many residents are considering exile if the current right-wing coalition retains power. Tamar, a 32-year-old product manager, stated that the "endless wars" and the influence of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir have made the political climate unbearable for her family. She is currently evaluating office locations in Europe and the United States, noting that the government's foreign policy has strained international relationships. Similarly, Maya, a general practitioner in Tel Aviv, expressed concern about the impact of reserve duty mobilizations on healthcare staffing and the perceived rise of violence in society. Maya’s parents, who support the left-wing Democrats party, have faced public scrutiny, including a social media campaign that highlighted her mother’s legal work defending West Bank Palestinians.
Both women plan to vote for opposition candidates on October 27, hoping to avoid a long-term departure from their homeland. The election is viewed as a critical test for a society fractured by the legacy of the 2023 Hamas attack and ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. Maya specifically mentioned visiting friends who moved to Portugal and considering Athens, while Tamar is looking at offices in the United States. The report highlights that these decisions are not just economic but deeply rooted in a sense of political disillusionment and fear of further societal polarization under the current leadership.