For thousands of Jews, Israel doesn't feel safe after Oct. 7. So they're leaving

For thousands of Jews , Israel doesn't feel safe after Oct. 7 , 2023 Hamas attack shattered any sense of safety.

Thousands of Israelis have opted to pay the financial, emotional and social costs of moving out.

Experts say it's possible people leaving Israel will surpass the number of immigrants to Israel in 2024 .

A website to help Israelis navigate moving, which can cost at least 100,000 Israeli shekels, or about $28,000 .

Michal Harel , who moved with her husband to Toronto in 2019 , said almost immediately after the attacks the phone began ringing.

For Israel 's first decades of independence, the government strongly discouraged departing Israelis , who were seen as cowardly and treasonous.

“We don't define it as forever,’" Carmel said Tuesday . “But we are for sure staying for the foreseeable future.” ___ Associated Press writers Melanie Lidman in Jerusalem and Tia Goldenberg in Tel Aviv contributed to this report. Laurie Kellman is based in London and has been writing about politics and global affairs for the AP for 27 years . She reported from Israel from 2020 to 2023..