From secret escapes through the deserts of Sudan and Iraq, to the upheaval in Iran and the Zionist decision of 2026: the story of Israel’s immigrants, or olim in Hebrew, is the story of all of us. A glimpse into life stories that prove that no matter where you came from, or how hard the journey was, home was always waiting for us.
Despite the rise in emigration, Israel continues to grow thanks to educated Olim and experienced returning residents. Claims of collapse are exaggerated, and the nation's resilience remains intact.
At the height of Operation Roaring Lion, a special flight from France and Britain landed at Ben Gurion Airport carrying more than 20 young families. Also on board were a 5-month-old baby and a 92-year-old immigrant. Since Oct. 7, 60,000 people have made Aliyah to Israel, and another 1,000 have opened Aliyah files in recent days.
For over a decade, Hen Mazzig has fought the delegitimization of Israel. Now, he tells Israel Hayom that Israel's global image has reached an all-time low, fueled by hate he calls "a mental illness." Against the backdrop of two Iran operations, he explains why diaspora Jews are undeterred by missiles – but not by antisemitism.
