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From overt rejection to enthusiastic embracement: changing state discourses on Israeli emigration

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Abstract

This paper deploys a critical discourse analysis methodology to examine the emergence of three (sometimes overlapping) discourses on emigration in Israel. It examines the linkages between the various discursive phases and processes of (trans-) national identity formation among emigrants. It argues that emigration discourses have often been strong predictors of subsequent changes in state policies—and other programmatic initiatives—aimed at Israeli citizens abroad. By juxtaposing the discursive construction of emigration (and its linkages to nation-forming political strategies in Israel) and the effects they have had on emigrant identities the paper contributes to the emerging literature on state-diaspora relations and transnational politics.

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Notes

  1. Transnational politics is defined “as a realm of recurrent and institutionalized interactions and exchanges between, on the one hand, immigrants and their social and political organizations and, on the other hand, the political institutions and the state apparatus of the country of origin” (p. 1130).

  2. The Minister of Interior estimated that in Israel’s first 5 years of independence (1948–1953) roughly three quarters of emigrants were Jewish immigrants and only one quarter were Israeli-born Jews (Protocol of the Proceedings of the 197th session of the 2nd Knesset, 02/25/1953, p. 817).

  3. Minister of Immigrant Absorption Nathan Peled in response to a query by Member of Knesset, R. Arazi in Divrey HaKnesset, 12/14/1970, p. 485 (Hebrew).

  4. Shmuel Lahis, the Jewish Agency’s General Manager accompanied the Israeli Vice Prime Minister (Simcha Ehrlich) to ‘a tour to study Israeli emigration’ in New York and Los Angeles. His findings from the 10-day 1980 tour were published the following year in a report bearing his name.

  5. In a 1982 interview to the Jerusalem Post Lahis was asked how—in the absence of reliable data—he arrived at these figures. His reply was, “There was no argument about the claim that there were at least 300,000 yordim. Everyone in the US insisted that the figure was closer to 500,000. But because no one really had proof, I resorted in my report to the range of 300,000 to 500,000” (in Goel (1982).

  6. Bar-Yosef, Y. [Salchanut Muzara Bemiktzat] A somewhat strange forgiveness. Davar, 12/17/1957 (Hebrew).

  7. Leket, Y. (1980) Neged HaYeridah [Against the Emigration]. LaMabir: HaHistadrut HaKlalit shel HaOvdim B’Eretz Yisrael [General Federation of Laborers in the Land of Israel] (Hebrew).

  8. Steuchinski, A. [Matzavam Shel Hayordim MeYisrael] The conditions of Israeli emigrants. Davar, 2/3/1953 (Hebrew).

  9. Aviel, Y. [Yordim “Yerudim” BeOstryia] Morally diminished emigrants in Austria. HaBoker,1/4/1955 (Hebrew).

  10. Proceedings of the Parliamentary Committee on Immigrant Absorption, 2/15/1983, p. 10 (Hebrew).

  11. Proceedings of the Parliamentary Committee on Immigrant Absorption, 2/10/1997, p. 24–25 (Hebrew).

  12. Metzapim Lecha Babait, [Waiting for You at Home] (2005). (The Department for Returning Residents, Jerusalem: Ministry for Immigrant Absorption Press). (Hebrew).

  13. Ibid.

  14. Member of Knesset Collete Avital, Proceedings of the Parliamentary Committee on Immigrant Absorption, 12/20/2004 (Hebrew).

  15. Bo Habayta website [http://bohabayta.com/portal/home/default_Eng.asp]; last accessed on 09/01/2006 (Hebrew).

  16. Ministry of Immigrant Absorption English website [http://www.moia.gov.il/english/index_en.asp]; last accessed on 08/12/05.

  17. Israelis AbroadForum; [http://www.tapuz.co.il/tapuzforum/main/anashim.asp?forum=25&pass=1]; last accessed on 08/21/05 (Hebrew).

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  1. Department of Geography & Regional Development, The University of Arizona in Tucson, Harvill Building Box #2, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA

    Nir Cohen

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Cohen, N. From overt rejection to enthusiastic embracement: changing state discourses on Israeli emigration. GeoJournal 68, 267–278 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-007-9075-y

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