Study: Half of J'lem haredi within 10 years

[bemildred]

A new study forecasts that haredim will make up half of the population of Jerusalem in 20 years, "endangering" the pluralistic makeup of the capital.

The study, which will be published later this week by the Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies, finds that haredim will make up 44 percent of the city's population in a decade and, if the demographic trends continue, over half of the city's residents by 2030, according to a press release put out earlier in the week by the research center.

The demographic forecast, which is much higher than those of previous studies, comes at a time of growing concern among secular residents over the increased "haredization" of Jerusalem.

Earlier studies have estimated that the haredi population in the city will stand at 34% in a decade, a spokesman for the Jerusalem think-tank said.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1232292919405&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

[Vegasaurus]

1. This isn't surprising

The more radical and fundamentalist the Palestinians become, the more right wing and fundamentalist the Jews become.

Very unfortunate, all the way around.

And those haredi Jews are the ones least likely to make peace or concessions.

Hamas has also turned moderates more right wing.

[cali]

2. yes, it's all the fault of the Palestinians.

Bzzzt. It's the illegal and brutal occupation.

[bemildred]

3. It's a problem.

The Haredi, last time I read about it, are the only Israeli sub-demographic that keeps up with the Palestinians in terms of reproductive rates. (There are six or seven sub-demographics, as I read about it, IIRC, one of which is the Israeli Arabs.) This situation has existed for some time now, and the Israeli government does not seem to have any clue. It does not bode well for the future if current demographic trends continue, and political divisions continue to become more extreme. There are severe environmental issues on the horizon, too.

Edit: no, that's not right, the settlers do too. But in fairness, it's hard to get good recent numbers, so I ought to say these are all guesses. The subject gets little attention except by bigots like Lieberman, who mainly want to talk about the Palestinians.

But it is a problem. Demographic competition is a bad political meme in itself, and it's doubly bad when what you really need is demographic stabilization.

[endarkenment]

4. what a remarkably obtuse post