Israel checks readiness for mass immigration amid rising global anti-Semitism

In the training center in Ramla, a wide-ranging exercise was conducted, simulating a scenario of a sharp increase in the number of immigrants. Participants — representatives of ministries, services, and NGOs — analyzed how the country would cope with the influx of people if crises intensify worldwide and Jewish communities are threatened. The model is extreme, but it no longer sounds like fantasy: the rise of anti-Semitism is recorded in dozens of countries.

The head of the Ministry of Immigration and Integration, Avichai Kahana, stated directly: such processes can happen faster than commonly thought. Preparation has become a necessity, not a theoretical task.

The scenario was analyzed in detail. The condition — to evacuate up to 800 people per day, for two consecutive weeks. Simple arithmetic shows the load: more than 10,000 people in a short window. Israel has already faced similar tasks. The 1991 operation to evacuate more than 14,000 people from Ethiopia remains the main example. In 2022, repatriation from Russia and Ukraine added another 75,000 people — a figure confirming that the system can operate at its limit.

Gaps were identified. One of the groups analyzed how to organize flights from countries where security might deteriorate and how to establish contact with local Jewish communities. Kahana reminded of the mistakes during the Gaza war period — data was collected chaotically, communication was weak. The task now is not to repeat this.

Discussions also addressed adaptation within the country. A large influx inevitably creates bottlenecks — reception, distribution, delivery to absorption centers. According to the ministry, since October 7, 2023, more than 54,000 new immigrants have already arrived in Israel, numbers comparable to pre-pandemic levels. In response, measures are being introduced: tax reliefs, professional adaptation programs, accelerated logistics.

Challenges begin later. Kahana emphasized: the reception crisis is only the beginning. The real work starts when media attention wanes, and people need housing, jobs, language, support. This is where the system must be resilient, otherwise, the effect of mass immigration will be severe.

The launch of new initiatives, including zero income tax for immigrants in 2026, offers a chance for a smoother integration of large groups of immigrants into the economy. Israel is building a strategy that takes into account the global dynamics of threats and emphasizes migration security.

This logic is an attempt to adapt to a world where anti-Semitism has once again become a risk factor. As experts note, only systematic preparation allows maintaining control over flows and preserving societal resilience. A full analysis of the exercise, context, and conclusions is published on NAnews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency, where we continue to monitor the development of the country’s immigration strategies.