Israel preparing for new wave of Jewish immigration, Aliyah Ministry director-general says

Aliyah and Integration Ministry Director-General Dganit Sankar-Langa says Israel expects 18,000–20,000 immigrants in 2026, rejecting claims of declining aliyah. She highlights rising interest from France, Britain, South Africa, and Australia, and outlines ministry efforts to recruit teachers and doctors, expand English-language academic programs, and attract senior scientists through targeted grants. The ministry is also running programs to attract senior scientists with grants of up to NIS 1.7 million.

Aliyah and Integration Ministry Director-General Dganit Sankar-Langa says Israel expects 18,000–20,000 immigrants in 2026, rejecting claims that immigration to Israel is in decline. In a holiday interview with Walla, she highlighted rising interest from France, Britain, South Africa, and Australia, with France expected to reach around 5,000 immigrants by year-end—a number not seen in many years. The ministry is working to recruit Jewish teachers from abroad, particularly in English and the sciences, through aliyah fairs and pre-arrival job placement. Over 1,000 doctors have immigrated in the past two years. The ministry is also expanding English-language academic programs at Israeli universities, including the Technion, Ben-Gurion University, and Ariel University, against the backdrop of rising antisemitism on some US campuses. Sankar-Langa identified the cost of living and the security situation as the two primary barriers to aliyah, but expressed optimism that difficult circumstances facing Jewish communities abroad will influence aliyah trends within one to three years. The ministry is also running the "Or" and "Bereshit" programs to attract senior scientists with grants of up to NIS 1.7 million.