Several WhatsApp groups for professionals who want to emigrate have sprung up this week, including one called “Physician Relocation” that has gathered thousands of members. Unhappy with right wing leaders, some Israelis hatch escape plans:
TEL AVIV, Israel — Naama Levin and her partner had always dreamed about taking a break from Israel and going on an extended vacation abroad. But they did not start making concrete plans until late last year, when Benjamin Netanyahu returned to power and formed a coalition with extreme right-wing and religiously conservative partners.
They do not know where they will eventually end up, but would like it to be somewhere closer to Israel because they have family there. Ilan Viskin, a financial consultant, said he had helped private individuals transfer large sums of money to Europe and the United States from Israel in recent months. He said he had sold his apartment in the greater Tel Aviv area, and converted half of the proceeds into dollars.
And even though many people in Israel say they feel deeply betrayed by their government, they also are deeply attached to their country and its language, music, food, and, perhaps most important, its sense of intimacy and community. Many who are considering emigrating say they want to take their friends with them.
Obazanek said his clients used to be evenly divided between those immigrating to and emigrating from the country. Now over 90% are interested in leaving Israel, he said. “The motivation is so high that people are willing to compromise and leave even if they don’t have a job offer,” Obazanek said. “They’re willing to accept a drop in their standard of living because they’re so worried that their freedom of movement will be curtailed. In a word, they’re scared of a dictatorship, and they worry that if they wait, it may be too late.”
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