Thursday, September 10, 2015

Population Parity in Historic Palestine Raises Hard Questions for Israel



 
Reuters, 10/09 20:24 CET

By Luke Baker

JERUSALEM (Reuters) – While Israel remains predominantly Jewish, Arab numbers within the area of historic Palestine are now close to eclipsing the Jewish population, creating a dilemma for supporters of a “one-state solution” to the region’s conflict.

Long-term demographic trends mean that those who want Jews and Palestinians to live together in a single, enlarged Israeli state – including President Reuben Rivlin – face a difficult question: how could Israel remain both democratic and Jewish if Arab voters became a majority within its borders?

The United States and European Union still support a two-state solution: Israel and Palestine side-by-side. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has recommitted himself to the goal despite appearing to abandon it before elections in March.

But some Middle East scholars regard it as a diminishing prospect, raising the possibility of more radical alternatives. Population parity, however, challenges advocates of an enlarged state that would comprise Israel, the West Bank and Gaza.

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Source: Euronews

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