What Me Worry (About Israeli Elections)

After reading a number of reports about Israel’s next election and speculation on possible new political alignments, I thought it would be useful to look at some data concerning the US Jewish Diaspora, Israel’s last election, and recent Aliyah numbers. A few figures stand out:

1. US Jewish population – According to Pew Research Center and other studies, the most widely accepted mid-range estimate of those who identify as Jewish in the United States is 6–7.5 million.
2. Diaspora views of Netanyahu – A March 2025 Pew poll found that 53% (roughly 3.2–4 million US Jews) have little or no confidence in Prime Minister Netanyahu.
3. Israel’s 2022 election turnout – About 70.6% of Israel’s eligible voters (roughly 4.8 million out of 6.8 million) cast ballots.
4. The ruling coalition’s support – The current governing coalition received less than 34% of the votes cast for eligible parties (about 1.6 million votes). Nearly 284,000 votes (5.9%) went to parties that failed to cross the electoral threshold and were effectively “wasted.”
5. Aliyah from the US – According to Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics, fewer than 1 in 20 US Jews immigrate to Israel in any given year.

Two conclusions follow:

• Israel’s opposition leaders need to put aside ego and factionalism, and start building a credible alternative—otherwise, 2022 will repeat itself.
• For US Jews who are strongly critical of Israel’s government, there is a clear and direct way to influence its future: make Aliyah and vote. Criticism from abroad may raise voices, but only a ballot in Israel can shape outcomes.