Significant increase in Jews desiring to immigrate to Israel since Oct. 7 Hamas attack

Israel's Aliyah and Integration Ministry reported on Tuesday that there is a notable increase of people interested in immigrating to Israel since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, with the largest numbers of requests from France and North America.

Of those considering the possibility of moving to Israel, the ministry reported a 149% increase in interest from Jewish French citizens and and an 81% increase from North American Jews.

Ofir Sofer, the minister of Aliyah and Integration, said the Jewish state is ready to face what he called a “state of emergency” due to a 500% rise in global antisemitism, especially against Jewish youths on university campuses.

France has seen an unprecedented uptick in antisemitic attacks in the past month since the war began last month. The number of incidents has risen above peak numbers that were recorded in 2002.

Sofer says his ministry staff is prepared for a large wave of immigrants and a unified desire to support the State of Israel in the coming year.

"We are in a state of emergency," Sofer said in the ministry's statement. "The reports I have been receiving are very concerning. Our goal now is to strengthen the ties between us and support the communities that stand with Israel."

"Precisely now, we are seeing a surge in the number of people interested in aliyah. The waves of unity and Jewish solidarity are bolstering the aliyah movement and strengthening the State of Israel."

He also said new immigrants would receive strong support when they arrive in Israel.

“The State of Israel awaits everyone,” he added, inviting Jews around the world to move to the Jewish state.

While the numbers of those interested in making aliyah have risen since the war began, the first half of 2023 saw a decrease in immigration. 

In July, The Jewish Agency for Israel reported a significant drop in aliyah from Western countries from January to July in 2023, while interest from Russian Jews began to rise.

The war in Ukraine is said to be a significant factor in the rise and fall of immigration numbers and has significantly impacted a sharp rise in Russian immigration.  

The numbers of immigrants from Western European countries in the first half of 2023 dropped by 44% compared to the same time in 2022.

Some countries, such as France and Britain, revealed an even larger decrease in immigrants during 2023, prior to Oct. 7.

Only 383 French immigrants made aliyah so far in 2023, a 59% decrease from the previous year, and 171 British immigrants became Israeli citizens, a 40% drop from 2022.

At least 22,851 immigrants arrived in Israel in 2023, a 32% increase compared to the same period in the previous year. 

However, according to the Jewish Agency, only about 700 immigrants arrived in October since the war began, compared to last year during the same period, when 5,773 new immigrants made aliyah, 4,553 of them from Russia.