Election anxiety drives some Israelis to consider exit − for good

Key Points:

• Ronen Keler, whose grandfather fled Nazi Germany for Palestine in 1933, is contemplating leaving modern Israel for Germany amid political uncertainty following the upcoming Israeli election.
• The Oct. 27 election is highly contested, with neither Netanyahu’s nationalist bloc nor the opposition alliance led by Gadi Eisenkot projected to secure a clear majority, potentially leading to prolonged government formation talks.
• Many Israelis, including professionals and reservists like Keler, are concerned about Netanyahu’s judicial reforms, handling of the Hamas attack, and corruption charges, fearing these threaten democracy and accountability in Israel.
• Emigration from Israel has increased significantly since the Oct. 7 attacks, with around 50,000 Israelis leaving annually, including many high-skilled workers, raising concerns about a potential brain drain and economic impact.
• While some Israelis, especially in more conservative or religious communities, support Netanyahu’s policies and judicial changes, others, including expatriates returning to vote, express deep anxiety about Israel’s future direction and their personal decisions to stay or leave.