By trying to attract more Jewish immigrants from Europe, Israel could also help offset the rising number of citizens who are leaving the country. The number moving abroad is small: About 7,100 people emigrate annually, less than one-tenth of 1 percent of the country’s population of 8 million, according to the most recent data from Israel’s central statistics bureau. That figure is based on the number of Israeli citizens, other than students, who leave the country and haven’t come back after a year; the count includes many young people just starting their careers. While the total number remains small, the émigré tally has crept up steadily over the past few years. In a 2013 survey, about one-third of Israelis said they had considered emigrating.
Berlin has become one of the most popular destinations for young Israeli expatriates, who praise the city’s vibrant cultural scene and its comparatively low cost of living. Some 17,000 Israelis now live in the German capital, according to the German embassy in Tel Aviv. Berlin authorities say the number has risen 40 percent since 2006 . “Many Israelis relocate to Berlin—and Europe in general—due to both good job opportunities and because Israelis like to explore,” says Elad Jacob, a 32-year-old Israeli musician who now lives in Munich. “As a musician singing in English, I found more crowds here in Europe.” Another Israeli immigrant to Germany, Naor Narkis, sparked an uproar last year when he set up a Facebook page encouraging Israelis to move to Berlin.
Will European Jews who accept Netanyahu’s invitation end up staying in Israel? The Israeli government doesn’t publish figures on that question, and unofficial estimates on immigrant retention vary widely. The Jerusalem-based Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute, a leading research group, estimates that 12 percent of the 1.5 million immigrants from the former Soviet Union eventually left, most going on to other countries rather than returning to their former homes.