As many as 1 million Israelis have left for the U.S.
By Philip Weiss, Mondoweiss, August 24, 2017.
“Can Israel bring home its 1 million US Expats?” was the headline on an article
in
the Jerusalem Post 3 weeks ago; and it has gotten very little attention,
though the article states bluntly that as many as 1 million Israelis are now
living in the U.S.
A promotion by Nefesh b’Nefesh, an Israeli group
that promotes aliyah, or Jews moving to Israel. Screenshot.
that promotes aliyah, or Jews moving to Israel. Screenshot.
“[B]etween 750,000 and 1 million Israelis live in the
country,” says Israel’s US Embassy, though others put the figure as low as
200,000.
country,” says Israel’s US Embassy, though others put the figure as low as
200,000.
If
you walk around the Upper West Side, you know something’s up, from the Hebrew
you can hear on Broadway; but this is an important story for two reasons,
demographic and spiritual.
you walk around the Upper West Side, you know something’s up, from the Hebrew
you can hear on Broadway; but this is an important story for two reasons,
demographic and spiritual.
First,
Israel has long claimed to be a majority Jewish state (as if that justifies
Jews’ higher status). Right
now the numbers of Jews and Palestinians between the river and the sea
are said to be equal, 6.5 million to 6.5 million. If 1 million Jews are living
outside the country– and
the Post article refers to the expats as “Jews” — that means it’s
likely that there are more Palestinians than Jews in the lands over which
Israel is exercising sovereignty.
Israel has long claimed to be a majority Jewish state (as if that justifies
Jews’ higher status). Right
now the numbers of Jews and Palestinians between the river and the sea
are said to be equal, 6.5 million to 6.5 million. If 1 million Jews are living
outside the country– and
the Post article refers to the expats as “Jews” — that means it’s
likely that there are more Palestinians than Jews in the lands over which
Israel is exercising sovereignty.
That
would mean a Jewish minority ruling a non-Jewish majority under the aegis of
“the Jewish state”: which just seals the deal on the contested “apartheid”
label.
would mean a Jewish minority ruling a non-Jewish majority under the aegis of
“the Jewish state”: which just seals the deal on the contested “apartheid”
label.
The
other reason this story is important is that it shows that for all the
propaganda about Israel being the safest place in the world for Jews, and
Israel being the Jewish “home,” and Jews in Israel
“living the dream,” Jews themselves do not seem to be swayed by the
argument. Israel has never traditionally been the top choice for emigrating
Jews; and it’s not now, either.
other reason this story is important is that it shows that for all the
propaganda about Israel being the safest place in the world for Jews, and
Israel being the Jewish “home,” and Jews in Israel
“living the dream,” Jews themselves do not seem to be swayed by the
argument. Israel has never traditionally been the top choice for emigrating
Jews; and it’s not now, either.
“In
recent years, Israel has lost more people to the United States than it has
gained,” the article says– by 17,700 to 13,000 over three years.
recent years, Israel has lost more people to the United States than it has
gained,” the article says– by 17,700 to 13,000 over three years.
That
outflow apparently came in the latest year on record, 2015; 16,700 Israelis
left while
8,500 came in, Haaretz
reports. In talks, John Mearsheimer has called the trend “reverse
aliyah.”
outflow apparently came in the latest year on record, 2015; 16,700 Israelis
left while
8,500 came in, Haaretz
reports. In talks, John Mearsheimer has called the trend “reverse
aliyah.”
Back
in 2011 Gideon Levy reported
that 100,000 Israelis hold German passports; and he noted the irony that
Israel is not a safe place for Jews (or non-Jews either):
in 2011 Gideon Levy reported
that 100,000 Israelis hold German passports; and he noted the irony that
Israel is not a safe place for Jews (or non-Jews either):
If
our forefathers dreamt of an Israeli passport to escape from Europe, there are
many among us who are now dreaming of a second passport to escape to Europe.
our forefathers dreamt of an Israeli passport to escape from Europe, there are
many among us who are now dreaming of a second passport to escape to Europe.
He
also said the crisis was generated by the fact that Israel hadn’t figured out
its constitutional structure:
also said the crisis was generated by the fact that Israel hadn’t figured out
its constitutional structure:
If
the Palestinian people already had one real passport, maybe the Israelis
wouldn’t need two.
the Palestinian people already had one real passport, maybe the Israelis
wouldn’t need two.
We
have heard many anecdotal stories about Israelis leaving, because they do not
see a future in living in a state increasingly isolated from the world. This
article is more evidence of that trend. It deserves a lot more attention– a 60 Minutes report exposing the
claim that Israel is the safest place for Jews, or some other investigative
project on why these Israelis are leaving. Don’t hold your breath.
have heard many anecdotal stories about Israelis leaving, because they do not
see a future in living in a state increasingly isolated from the world. This
article is more evidence of that trend. It deserves a lot more attention– a 60 Minutes report exposing the
claim that Israel is the safest place for Jews, or some other investigative
project on why these Israelis are leaving. Don’t hold your breath.
Thanks
to Scott Roth.
to Scott Roth.
