Israelis are increasingly not returning to the country: here are the reasons

The number of Israelis returning home after long stays abroad fell by 53% between 2022 and 2024, according to a Knesset research center report. Key obstacles include bureaucracy, high cost of living, employment difficulties, and insufficient help for children. In 2024, only 3,800 returned—the lowest figure. The report was prepared at the request of MK Gilad Kariv, who criticizes the government for inaction.

The number of Israelis returning home after prolonged residence abroad fell by 53% between 2022 and 2024, according to a new report by the Knesset Research and Information Center. In 2024, only 3,800 people returned—the lowest figure in recent years, compared with about 8,000 in 2020. The sharpest drop occurred in 2023. The report's authors highlight several main reasons hindering return: bureaucratic obstacles, high cost of living, employment difficulties, and insufficient help for children entering Israeli schools. They note a significant gap in assistance between new immigrants and returning citizens: the latter receive less financial support and are not eligible for housing aid. A separate issue is health insurance. An Israeli who has lived abroad for a long time must wait up to six months after returning before becoming eligible for state health services. The waiting period can be waived by paying 16,860 shekels, but in 2022–2024, 94% of Israelis did not pay this amount. The report was prepared at the request of MK Gilad Kariv, chairman of the Knesset Committee for Aliyah, Absorption, and Diaspora. He criticizes the government for failing to develop a strategic program to bring citizens back, linking the decline in returnees to the judicial overhaul and the government's actions during three years of war.