Issued on the first day of 2026, a report by “Israel Hayom” exposes a deepening demographic crisis, challenging core Zionist claims of attraction and permanence.
A report published by the Zionist daily Israel Hayom on Thursday acknowledges a growing reverse migration, revealing that tens of thousands of Zionist settlers have left occupied Palestine in recent months.
The newspaper presented the findings starkly, stating that the Israeli occupation entity is “bleeding people” abroad as the new civil year begins. Instead of fulfilling the Zionist objective of attracting immigrants, it said, “Israel” is exporting human capital, losing valuable skills, and weakening the foundations of its power.
Net Exodus Over 30 Months
Citing a study by the Taub Institute, which it urged readers to examine closely, the paper reported that between January 2023 and September 2025, some 230,000 Israelis left, while only about 70,000 returned.
In net terms, roughly 150,000 Israelis departed. The paper noted that some attempt to downplay the figures by arguing that many emigrants fall under the Law of Return and are “not Jewish,” suggesting the trend is “not dramatic.” Yet, it countered, this ignores the reality that many of those leaving are tax-paying settlers who contribute economically and serve in reserve forces.
Even after excluding those not recognized as Jewish who emigrated shortly after obtaining citizenship, the numbers remain striking. Over the 30-month period, more than 80,000 Israeli-born Jews left, along with over 50,000 Jews born abroad, in addition to about 15,000 Israeli-born individuals not recognized as Jewish. In total, nearly 150,000 people left—around 5,000 every month.
Long-Term Impact
According to the report, about 60,000 people returned, leaving a net loss of 90,000 over 30 months—equivalent, it said, to erasing a city the size of Hadera, Ra’anana, or Modi’in. At the Israeli enemy’s current natural growth rate, the paper warned, this period leaves a negative legacy for future generations: in 30 years, the state would have nearly 150,000 fewer Israelis. The burden, it concluded, would fall on the next generation through higher birth rates, longer reserve service, and heavier taxes.
The paper ended with a note of alarm—an implicit criticism underscored by the timing—stressing that this bleak assessment, issued on the very first day of 2026, marks the year’s first report and a troubling opening to the new year.
Source: Al-Ahed News (Edited and translated by Al-Manar News Website)