Jewish communities, particularly Bukharan Jews, have lived in Central Asia for centuries and were an integral part of the social and cultural fabric of cities such as Bukhara, Samarkand, and Tashkent. Compared with many other regions, Jewish communities in Uzbekistan experienced relatively peaceful coexistence with their Muslim neighbors and were largely spared the widespread antisemitism and discrimination that affected Jewish populations elsewhere.

During the late Soviet period and especially following perestroika and the collapse of the Soviet Union, many Bukharan Jews emigrated to Israel, the United States, and other countries. Yet despite their departure, many continue to maintain strong cultural and emotional ties to Uzbekistan, often referring to it as their homeland and preserving Uzbek traditions, cuisine, and language within diaspora communities.

Meanwhile, a growing number of Uzbek citizens have migrated to Israel seeking work, particularly in the caregiving and elderly care sectors. This migration corridor remains underexplored in both media and research. Public discussions of Uzbek labor migration continue to focus on Russia, South Korea, Türkiye, or, more recently, Europe and the United States. Israel has emerged as something of an “invisible” migration destination, hosting thousands of Uzbek workers while receiving relatively little attention from policymakers, scholars, and journalists.  

Although a large share of Uzbek migrants in Israel are employed in the care sector, an occupation predominantly filled by women, the country is not commonly framed as a “feminized” migration destination for Uzbekistan. In contrast, destinations such as Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates are more often associated in public and academic discourse with feminized labor migration, in domestic work and service sectors. 

In 2022, Uzbekistan and Israel signed an agreement on the temporary employment of Uzbek workers in the Israeli labor market. By the end of 2025, Israel hosted 227,583 foreign workers, reflecting its continued reliance on migrant labor across key sectors of the economy. The home caregiving sector accounted for 62,944 foreign workers, underscoring its central role in the country’s long-term care system.  

According to Bahromjon Aloyev, Uzbekistan’s deputy minister of foreign affairs, more than 10,500 Uzbek citizens were residing in Israel in 2023.  The majority originate from the Samarkand region, and are employed in the elderly care sector. Uzbekistan was among the top ten nationalities entering Israel in 2025. 

Although the number of Uzbek migrants in Israel is far smaller than in traditional destinations such as Russia or Türkiye, their concentration in the care sector is remarkably high. More than 95 percent of Uzbek workers in Israel are employed in elderly care, making the country a specialized but increasingly important destination within Uzbekistan’s broader migration landscape. Within the legally employed caregiving workforce in Israel, India was the largest country of origin at 39 percent, followed by the Philippines (23 percent) and Uzbekistan (20 percent).

These trends point to a small but increasingly significant migration corridor between Uzbekistan and Israel. Although the scale remains limited compared to traditional destinations such as Russia or Türkiye, female Uzbek workers have established a clear niche in Israel’s care economy, where demand for foreign labor remains high and long-term care is heavily dependent on migrant workers. The combination of a formal bilateral agreement and a strong concentration of Uzbek migrants in elderly care suggests a steady institutionalization of this pathway. As Uzbekistan continues to diversify its labor migration destinations, Israel is likely to remain a specialized but growing destination within its broader migration landscape.