Care about Israel? Make Aliyah
Once again, Netanyahu has worked his magic and he will probably manage to pass a bogus draft law which will enable the ultra-orthodox to continue to evade army service, and Netanyahu’s coalition to survive and pass a budget by the end of March, thus avoiding early elections. It would seem, however, that Netanyahu does not have the magical skills required, to stop the elections from occurring on October 27th, 2026, as required by Israeli law.
In my last blog, I listed several things that I think Israelis should do to make sure that Netanyahu is not reelected, such as join a political party in the opposition; once a member, make your voice heard; vote of course; and encourage Israeli friends who live abroad to come home to vote. At this point, I am wary of recommending that joining and voting for any party currently in the opposition will increase the probability that Netanyahu will not be the next Prime Minister. Unfortunately, some of the pronouncements being made by leaders of the centrist parties hint at their willingness to join a Netanyahu-led government. To be safe, join and vote Democrats, the new unified Labor and Meretz Party, led by Yair Golan.
This is important advice for those Israeli citizens who read my blog. I realize, however, that there are many non-Israelis who read my blog. As in the US, the next election in Israel is a critical election for the future of democracy. The mid-terms in the US will determine whether the US Democratic Party wins back the House of Representatives and possibly makes gains in the Senate, enabling the party to rein in the madness of the current US Administration. In parallel, the next Israeli election will determine whether Benjamin Netanyahu continues his reign of corruption and self-serving actions, while empowering his gang of right-wing extremist and ultra-orthodox partners.
This is not a drill. Anyone who cares about the future of the democratic State of Israel should be alarmed and ready to do what is necessary to ensure that democracy in Israel does not deteriorate. That is why I want to propose to my non-Israeli friends a radical idea: make Aliyah. I know that some of you may have been thinking about moving to Israel at some point in the future but most of you do not have plans to do so right now.
I certainly don’t think that because you read my blog, you will immediately pack your bags and head for the airport. Moving to Israel is a big commitment. Making Aliyah… a little less so. Perhaps I am being heretical, but I think that right now is a time for extreme measures. Of course, to make Aliyah, there is a procedure, documents, interviews, there may also be tax implications of which I am not an expert, and yes you do have to come to Israel. However, there is no requirement to stay. From the Jewish Agency website:
“While intent to live in Israel is an integral part of the Law of Return, there is no limitation on going in and out of the country after your Aliyah. However, some of your Aliyah benefits may be affected. During the first 3 months of your Aliyah you may use a passport from your country of origin, along with a document from the Population and Immigration Authority to travel. After that period, you will need an Israeli passport to travel in and out of Israel.” https://www.jewishagency.org/aliyah/
There are hundreds of thousands of Israeli citizens who live outside of Israel. There are thousands of Israelis who made Aliyah and then left the country. Over the past two years it is estimated that 80,000 Israelis left the country. It is unknown how many view this as a permanent move and how many view this as temporary. During every Israeli election, thousands of Israelis return to Israel to vote. Most of them are ultra-orthodox whose flight back to Israel is paid for by the ultra-orthodox parties.
The world is a very different place than 1978 when I made Aliyah. Back then, making Aliyah was a major life choice. It was a decision to leave my family, my home, my culture, and everything that was familiar to me for a country whose language I spoke poorly and whose culture and politics were foreign to me. Today, I am in touch with family, friends and colleagues from around the world in real time. I can do my job from my office, my home, a coffee shop in Tel Aviv or a square in Brussels. I have children and grandchildren in Israel and the US who visit me on Ketura or who I visit in Ramat Gan or New Jersey. There is a certain fluidity about the world we live in today. If some people can be gender fluid, perhaps there is a place to be nationally fluid.
If the idea of making Aliyah to be eligible to vote in the next Israeli election in October 2026 is intriguing to you, don’t sit on it too long. Aliyah is about a three-month process, and we are only 9 months away from an election which will determine Israel’s future as a democracy or not.