London Job Fair: Israel Recruits British Doctors

Israeli government agencies held a recruitment fair in London on Sunday to attract British doctors. The event, named MedEx UK, aimed to counter a growing shortage of medical staff in Israel by recruiting professionals from the United Kingdom.

The gathering was hosted by Nefesh B’Nefesh, the Jewish Agency for Israel, and the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration. It took place at a Jewish community centre in the British capital. Organizers said the event is part of the International Medical Aliyah Program, or Imap, which launched in 2020.

The program targets a goal of bringing 2,000 doctors to Israel by 2029. Emails sent to attendees promised opportunities to meet representatives from Israeli hospitals and health funds. Participants were also offered on site YAEL Hebrew proficiency tests, a requirement for obtaining a medical license.

A survey by the Israeli Medical Association found that 1,369 doctors left the country for more than a year between 2023 and 2025. To address this exodus, the government introduced financial incentives and simplified licensing procedures for foreign nationals. In 2025, the Ministry of Health lowered the experience threshold for licensing exam exemptions from 14 years to 10 years.

In 2026, the ministry allocated up to 240 million NIS, or $76.7 million, for international recruitment. Meanwhile, regulations restricting the entry of Palestinian doctors into the healthcare system have tightened. The Yatziv Reform, adopted in 2019, revoked recognition for medical degrees from non OECD countries and Palestinian universities in the West Bank.

An activist from Jewish Anti Zionist Action, who attended the London event, told Middle East Eye that attendees received leaflets from medical providers such as Terem and Clalit. These organizations operate centres in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. A Terem flyer listed medical centres in the settlements of Modiin, Beit Shemesh, Ma’ale Adumim, and Beitar Illit.

The activist noted that a list of attendees included representatives from Leumit Health Services, which runs facilities in 30 communities across the West Bank. The group also included the head of obstetrics and gynaecology in the Israeli military. Shivat Zion, an organization that assists British citizens relocating to settlements, was also present.

Clalit representatives told attendees they could provide medical placements and accommodation anywhere in Israel, according to the activist. Nefesh B’Nefesh, the Jewish Agency, the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, and Clalit did not respond to requests for comment by the time of publication.

Shani Bar Tuvia, director of the health policy department at Physicians for Human Rights Israel, said the number of Palestinians among medical students in Israel has dropped to around nine percent. She noted that the ministry is aware the Yatziv Reform will reduce the number of licensed doctors. The ministry has opened new medical schools at Ariel University and Reichman University to train more domestic students.