Leaving Israel, the “plan B” of the Israelis in the face of the drift of the extreme right

A “plan B”, as liberal and secular Israelis describe the option of leaving the country before far-right drift what are you taking They have no intention of leaving immediately, but they see it increasingly plausible in the face of the religious and conservative current that dominates Israeli politics under the new government of Benjamin Netanyahu.

“I haven’t made the decision yet or arranged to leave, but you have to think about it,” Itamar, a 26-year-old student from Jerusalem who is pondering whether to go to Europe in the future, told EFE. This year he will marry his partner and they both wear a secular life with progressive positions in a country increasingly anchored to a traditionalist right and to an orthodox Judaism that does not represent them.

Netanyahu’s victory in the last election and the formation of the the most right-wing and religious government in Israel’s history -with ultra-Orthodox and far-right forces- was the trigger for more and more Israelis who considered emigration as a viable alternative.

Other citizenships

After the November 1 elections, which confirmed the majority of Netanyahu’s bloc with religious and extremist parties, appeals from people interested in start the procedures for obtaining foreign citizenships they have increased greatly in law firms such as Eran Wagner’s.

“On a normal day we would receive between 10 and 15 calls, but the day after the elections they called about 200 people,” this Tel Aviv lawyer told EFE.

His office has been “overflowing” ever since, his own clientele increased “by more than 100%” and the demand for those interested in applying for services to obtain foreign passports is very high, he explains.

Under this executive “many feel that the country is not safe and that democracy is in danger”, he adds.

This perception was already reflected last Saturday in a large protest in Tel Aviv, where more than 80,000 people showed their opposition to the Executive’s judicial reform plan, which would reduce the powers of the judiciary and erode democracy and the separation of powers in the country. New demonstrations are being called this Saturday.

All in all, thousands of Israelis are now taking advantage of the fact that their parents or grandparents were born in Europe to apply for citizenship in states such as Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland or Romania, where there were large Jewish communities until to the Holocaust.

“In recent years these types of orders have increased a lot, but they have skyrocketed in recent months even more,” says Wagner.

Applications to obtain French, German or Polish citizenship increased by at least 10% in November, a dynamic that other countries of the European Union have also seen, according to official data collected by the Jewish media.

Despite the dissatisfaction of many with the current political situation, “only a few think of emigrating immediately”, clarifies the lawyer, but the majority consult to have more options and another possible way out for the future uncertain in Israel.

This is the case of Itamar, who obtained German citizenship together with his sisters a few years ago, given that one of his grandmothers was born in Berlin.

“Leaving Israel is not an easy decision, but there are many things that have been getting worse for a long time. It’s a problem because I don’t know if it’s worth the wait,” she notes.

supremacist discourse

Itamar also regrets the lack of ways to end the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territory, “the most serious problem”, which according to him will have negative consequences in the future; as well as the normalization of the ultranationalist and supremacist discourse of forces such as Jewish Power, led by the Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir.

“Society as a whole is increasingly racist, nationalist and religious”, a reality that worries the young man because he could leave his values ​​without a place in the country.

Added to this is the demographic growth of ultra-Orthodox Jews, which in 2030 will be 16% of the population. Many in this sector are limited to studying and receiving state subsidies, rumors that Netanyahu has now promised to increase in exchange for his support for the government.

For Itamar it is a “ballast” for the rest of the population, who work and pay taxes for most of the costs of maintaining the religious community, an unsustainable burden in the long term.

“Having children here in 20 years, when the situation is as I imagine it, will be very difficult,” the student complains.

“The the political class acts irresponsibly towards the new generations”, says Itamar, a perception also shared by other young people who organize themselves to go abroad with the platform leave the country.

It was created shortly after the election and brings together hundreds of people who communicate via WhatsApp to find their way out.

“People are wondering if he has a future in the country and if he can survive as it is now, but many think not They are already looking for a place to emigrate“, explains to Efe Moti Kahana, a member of the group and an Israeli businessman living in the US, who offers support to those who want to start a new life in another place.

The author is an EFE journalist

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