- 76% of the people are Jewish
- 21% Arab (this does not include Palestinians who do not identify themselves as Israeli) and
- 3% are "other" including different non-Arab Christian communities: Syriacs, Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, Samaratins, etc.
- 82% are Muslim, and this also includes Bedouin.
- 9% are Druze
- 9% are Christian.
- 8% are Ultra-Orthodox Haredi who are not Zionist
- 9% are orthodox Zionist
- 12% are "religious-traditionalists" (mostly adhering to Jewish religious law)
- 27% are "non-religious traditionalists" (only partly following Jewish religious law), and
- 43% are "secular" including a bit over half of those who believe in God.
**************
The statistics on both the Arab and Jewish populations are important:
Growing populations: As a percentage of the whole Israeli population, 21% is currently Arab non Jewish, however they are having more children per family than the Israeli Jewish population, so that percentage is growing. The growth rate of the Arab population in Israel is 2.6%, while the growth rate of the Jewish population in Israel is 1.7%. Over time, there will be more than 21% of Israel's population that is Arab.
Also, the growth rate within the Jewish population is leaning more to the Ultra-orthodox because they also have more kids than non-orthodox. So, over time, there will be even more orthodox than there is today.
So, what does this mean? In the future, there will be more Arab (Muslims) and more Orthodox Jews. This may make Peace harder because these groups have less in common with each other than regular, secular people on both sides. And it makes it harder for the Israelis to defend themselves because the ultra-Orthodox don't serve in the army.
Specific areas: The West Bank has 75% or 3/4 of its population as Arab Muslim and 1/4 Jewish. Gaza has almost all of its population Arab Muslim. And I was surprised to learn that the Old City of Jerusalem is 80% Muslim vs. Jewish, Christian or other. Coastal places like Tel Aviv and Netanya, and Negev cities like Beer Sheba and Eilat are almost all Jewish. Ultra-orthodox live in Meir Sherim in Jerusalem and Bnei Brak near Tel Aviv.
So, what does this mean? It means that most areas are not mixed neighborhoods and people of different backgrounds don't get to know each other.
Having unbalanced population growth and neighborhoods that are not mixed may make Peace more difficult over time, because people people get more different than alike over time and don't live near each other to get to know each other well.
Growing populations: As a percentage of the whole Israeli population, 21% is currently Arab non Jewish, however they are having more children per family than the Israeli Jewish population, so that percentage is growing. The growth rate of the Arab population in Israel is 2.6%, while the growth rate of the Jewish population in Israel is 1.7%. Over time, there will be more than 21% of Israel's population that is Arab.
Also, the growth rate within the Jewish population is leaning more to the Ultra-orthodox because they also have more kids than non-orthodox. So, over time, there will be even more orthodox than there is today.
So, what does this mean? In the future, there will be more Arab (Muslims) and more Orthodox Jews. This may make Peace harder because these groups have less in common with each other than regular, secular people on both sides. And it makes it harder for the Israelis to defend themselves because the ultra-Orthodox don't serve in the army.
Specific areas: The West Bank has 75% or 3/4 of its population as Arab Muslim and 1/4 Jewish. Gaza has almost all of its population Arab Muslim. And I was surprised to learn that the Old City of Jerusalem is 80% Muslim vs. Jewish, Christian or other. Coastal places like Tel Aviv and Netanya, and Negev cities like Beer Sheba and Eilat are almost all Jewish. Ultra-orthodox live in Meir Sherim in Jerusalem and Bnei Brak near Tel Aviv.
So, what does this mean? It means that most areas are not mixed neighborhoods and people of different backgrounds don't get to know each other.
Having unbalanced population growth and neighborhoods that are not mixed may make Peace more difficult over time, because people people get more different than alike over time and don't live near each other to get to know each other well.
No comments:
Post a Comment