Occupied Jerusalem – As the aggression on the Gaza Strip enters the third month, Israelis continue to search for refuge abroad, specifically in Europe, especially with their desire to buy real estate in several European countries. Data from the Immigration and Population Authority showed that about 370,000 Israelis have left the country since the start of the “Al-Aqsa Flood” battle. Until the end of last November.
A report by the economic newspaper “The Marker” shed light on the phenomenon of Israeli families’ interest in purchasing real estate and homes abroad, specifically in Europe, an interest that expanded with the continuation of the aggression on the Gaza Strip.
And immigrated towards 230,309 Israelis since the beginning of the aggression until the end of last October, while about 139,839 left during last November, according to data. The Immigration and Population Authority of the Israeli Ministry of Interior.
Escape from war
Estimates of the website “Zaman Yisrael” indicate that more than 500,000 Israelis left the country during the ongoing aggression, which is greater than the number of returnees and new immigrants. The website suggested that the number of departures is likely to rise, especially since there are many Israelis who lived abroad before the aggression, or traveled abroad during the Jewish holidays last September.
While the aggression against Gaza significantly reduced the import of Jews, since the beginning of the aggression only about 2,000 immigrants have arrived in Israel, compared to about 4,500 on average per month before the aggression, which indicates a decline of more than 70% in immigration rates to Israel, according to the editor on the site. Email Tani Goldstein.
These estimates and analysis of data and information conducted by Goldstein reinforced what journalist Shlomit Lin also documented in her report in The Marker newspaper.
From Ashkelon to Portugal
Jolie (34 years old) joined the Israeli community in Portugal just a few days ago, directly from Ashkelon after fleeing it because of the war on Gaza, and she has no intention of returning to live in the country, according to what was reported by The Marker newspaper.
Julie recounted her experience, saying, “I immigrated to Israel with my father in 1995 from France to Ashkelon, which is still in the range of fire and rockets fired from Gaza, where I escaped from it and returned there several times, and now I got a job in Lisbon, as a content filtering supervisor.” Abusive and violent in both Hebrew and English on one of the channels on social networks.”
Shlomit Lin says, “The Israelis who fled the country last October have already begun to search for the possibility of purchasing real estate in Greece, Cyprus and Portugal, not only for investment, but also for living and stability. They want to live near an Israeli community, and are looking for job opportunities.” “.
Like Jolie – according to the newspaper – there are many who have left Israel, for long or short periods, and are living in different rental options. The big question is what will the Israelis who can buy an apartment do? Will they continue to flock to Greece, Cyprus and Portugal as they did before the war?
Buying homes abroad
When the family of Vital and Omer Lafaei, owners of a real estate investment company, arrived in Porto, Portugal 6 years ago, they were one of 5 Israeli families there, and since then the influx of thousands of Israelis to Portugal has been on the rise.
During the war on Gaza, many Israelis came to Greece, Cyprus and Portugal, but it seems to me – Vital says – that they “came mainly to escape, to rent an apartment for a month or two and see what would happen. Some of them, especially those who came from the Gaza perimeter and the western Negev, got “Free apartments in Porto from investors, including those inquiring about ways to resettle in Portugal.”
Regarding the return of Israeli interest in purchasing real estate abroad, The Marker newspaper cited a survey conducted by the Geographic Mapping Group of the Real Estate Center last September, as the results showed that about 20% of families in Israel have become interested in purchasing an apartment outside the country.
This is mainly explained by the escalation of security tension with the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and the political crisis due to amendments to the Israeli judicial system, as real estate investments abroad were remarkable before the aggression, and Greece was first in terms of the number of interested people, about 38%, followed by the United States of America, 30%. Then Cyprus and Portugal.
Work and permanent residency options
A month after the aggression, real estate offices for Israelis abroad returned to receiving 4 to 10 inquiries daily from interested parties and Israeli families to buy real estate in Portugal, Greece, and even in Cyprus.
Before many Israelis talked mainly about investing in real estate and tourist apartments, they are now “looking for apartments with 3-4 rooms, which can also suit their families,” according to Nir Shmol, CEO of a real estate company in Athens, while speaking to the newspaper. The Marker Economic.
Schmoll pointed out, according to the same source, that “during the war on Gaza, many Israelis moved to live in tourist apartments in Athens, Cyprus, the Greek islands, Porto and Larnaca (in Cyprus), and also Copenhagen in Thailand, where there is a large Israeli community.”
Now, as the war enters the third month, Shammoul added, in the same statement, that Hundreds of Israeli families She began to think about whether a future permanent residence in Greece would be appropriate. The real estate agent concluded by saying, “They want to live among the Jewish community, and are investigating options for work, residence, and future stability abroad.”