Israeli Poll Reveals Rising Concerns Over ‘Reverse Migration’ Amidst Political Uncertainty
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, recent reports highlighting an escalating trend of ‘reverse migration’ among Israelis, especially following the Al-Aqsa Flood events and subsequent conflicts, have been accompanied by survey findings that underscore growing apprehension. A poll conducted by Israel’s Channel 1, as reported by Al-Arai 21 via Al-Arai News Agency, suggests that with elections approaching in October, the emigration of Israelis has emerged as a prominent issue, revealing considerable worry regarding the high numbers of individuals opting to reside abroad.
The survey results indicate that approximately one-third of participants know someone who has left the occupied Palestinian territories within the last two years. Furthermore, 18 percent, roughly one-fifth of respondents, stated that they themselves are contemplating emigration.
Earlier, the Central Bureau of Statistics of the Israeli regime had published demographic data for the beginning of 2026, indicating that the settler population stood at approximately 10,178,000 as of December 31, 2025.
The poll also delved into the potential impact of the forthcoming election results on the decisions of Israelis to remain in the occupied territories. Twelve percent of participants reported that the election outcomes, scheduled for October, might influence their choice regarding continuing to live in the area.
Conversely, about two-thirds of participants stated that election results would not affect their decisions, while approximately one-fifth said they were unsure if the election results would have an impact.
In another question, participants were asked to express their level of concern about emigration statistics. The results revealed a relatively close division of opinions, with 46 percent stating they were not worried about the number of emigrants, while 41 percent confirmed their concern about this phenomenon.
A discernible difference was observed between supporters of the ruling extremist coalition and its opponents. Seventy percent of supporters of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government said they were not concerned about emigration figures, with 22 percent expressing concern. In contrast, among opponents, the sentiment was almost reversed, with approximately 60 percent confirming their concern about the number of emigrants, while about a quarter of participants stated they were not worried.
These survey results are being released against a backdrop of information indicating a significant rise in the number of Israelis leaving the occupied Palestinian territories, a phenomenon referred to as ‘reverse migration.’ Research published last week by Tel Aviv University, based on data from the Central Bureau of Statistics, revealed that between 2023 and 2025, approximately 268,509 Israelis departed the occupied territories for extended periods, marking an unprecedented record in recent years.
This research also indicated that around 90,000 Israelis left the occupied Palestinian territories last year for at least three months, a figure that is also unprecedented and exceeds the average recorded in the past decade.
