The number of Israelis emigrating from the country is at a historic low, according to data released by the Central Bureau of Statistics on Monday. Only 15,600 Israelis moved away from the country in 2010, the lowest level of emigration in the past 40 years.
The data also shows that over the past three years a record high number of emigrants have been returning to Israel. This is largely due to the severe economic crises in Europe and the United States. Returning emigrants have found that the economic situation in Israel is much better than newspaper headlines suggest.
Since the founding of Israel 64 years ago, 684,000 Israelis have emigrated from the country. Today, around 570,000 Israelis live overseas, mainly in the United States and Canada. That number does not include children born overseas to Israeli parents or those born in "mixed" marriages. Including these categories, the number of Israelis living overseas rises to more than 800,000.
Since 2001, the trend has seen a decline in emigration and increase in returning citizens. The migration rate is currently at its lowest point in 40 years, at only 0.7 emigrants for every 1,000 Israeli residents.
Jewish Agency to open career center for returning emissaries
The Jewish Agency has decided to establish a career center for its emissaries returning to Israel after serving abroad.
Every year, hundreds of Jewish Agency emissaries work in dozens of locations throughout the world. The new career center is intended to help returning emissaries find suitable employment and educational opportunities in Israel.
"The goal is twofold," said Ofer Isarov, the head of the Jewish Agency's emissaries department. "To enable the emissaries to contribute with their capabilities and high motivation and to ease their integration into Israel."
