Reframing the Israeli Government's Narrative and Policies towards the Israeli Diaspora: A Novel Approach based on the Kübler-Ross Grief Theory

ABSTRACT: This article explores the evolving dynamics of the Israeli government's narrative and policies toward the Israeli diaspora from the early years of statehood until the early 2000s. Whereas the term "diaspora" has historically referred to Jewish communities outside Israel, the "Israeli diaspora" concept is relatively new, emerging only within the past few decades. This study examines Israeli official political discourse and policies directed toward Israelis living abroad, and how this engagement has redefined the boundaries of Israel's national community beyond its borders. Given the significant changes in the Israeli government's conceptions, perceptions, and attitudes toward the Israeli diaspora over the years, the study employs a comprehensive qualitative longitudinal methodology. A chronological "trajectory" was selected as the primary research tool, enabling the systematic analysis of changes, continuities, and disruptions in governmental narrative and policies concerning emigration. Ultimately, the article presents a novel approach to understanding Israeli state-migrant relations, drawing on Kübler-Ross's stages of grief model. Although originally developed to describe the stages of grief individuals go through, it has been adapted by some scholars to analyze broader societal behaviors, public sentiments, and policy.