The demographic problem

The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics warned a few days ago that in seven years there will be an equal number of Arabs and Jews between the Jordan River and Mediterranean Sea.

Even though the Bureau is not known for an impressive track record in respect to demographic predictions, and despite suspicions that at times it functions as a secret arm of the propaganda ministry, the media around here seriously addressed its warnings. Only at the margins of the reports did we see the opinion of other experts, who argue that the actual number of residents in the Palestinian Authority is 1.2 million lower than what the Bureau’s data indicates.

Nonetheless, let’s assume that the statisticians in Ramallah are correct, and that in seven years from now, the number of Arabs and Jews between the Jordan River and Mediterranean Sea will be equal. Seemingly, the conclusion here is in line with the common leftist supposition: An immediate withdrawal to the 1967 borders, in order to preempt the demographic threat.

However, the 1967 borders are not a contraceptive. The Palestinians will not stop having babies even if we allow them to establish a state. Even if we quickly uproot all the settlements and happily destroy all the outposts, in seven years there will be an equal number of Arabs and Jews here. Moreover, 4.7 million refugees from Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan may flock here. The sovereign Palestine is supposed to absorb them, according to the Geneva Initiative and Obama’s plans.

Berlin Wall lessons

Or in other words: The number of Arabs between the Jordan River and Mediterranean Sea will only grow after the two-state solution is implemented. If anyone believes that the security fence would be able to prevent them from infiltrating the Green Line, they apparently have not learned the lessons of the Berlin Wall or the legacy of the Gaza Strip withdrawal.

In the long run, one cannot resolve demographic problems via walls or fences. The fact is that both the Palestinian Bureau of Statistics and the Jewish leftist camp continue to include the Palestinians in Gaza when they issue demographic warnings.

Seemingly, ever since the Gaza disengagement we were supposed to discount Gaza residents from all such calculations. However, they are still being counted, because we cannot really disengage from them. There’s nothing we can do about it – they live here with us between the Jordan River and Mediterranean Sea.

This area is barely sufficient for one state. It will be much more crowded if we are foolish enough to squeeze another state in there.