At a recent conference in Herzliya, Finance Minister Binyamin
Netanyahu spoke about the demographic threat to the State of
Israel and its future existence as a Jewish state, based on
the gap between the birthrate among Israeli Arabs and the
birthrate among Israeli Jews. I would like to present what I
believe is the only existing solution to this existential
problem.
Mr. Netanyahu and others have disregarded the reasons that
led us to the demographic threat--a diminished birthrate on
one hand and unnecessary abortions on the other--and they
believe the solution lies in encouraging aliyah from the
former Soviet Union, Argentina and according to some, even
from well- off countries like France and Belgium.
Of course we are very pleased to welcome every Jewish oleh
chodosh, but in reality all of the data points to a
constant and steep drop in the number of Jewish immigrants
arriving in the State of Israel and there is no visible
reason why this trend would change substantially.
To illustrate this point, in the year 2000 the number of
immigrants arriving in Israel came to 61,452. In 2001 this
number dropped to 44,633 and in 2002 it decreased further to
just 35,168 immigrants. A mere 25,000 immigrants came in
2003, well below last year's figure.
Therefore, in my opinion, the only real solution to the
demographic problem lies in encouraging internal aliyah, or
to put it simply--encouraging childbearing among the Jewish
people and preventing non-vital abortions. Though it may be
hard to admit it, there is no other realistic option.
Israel's first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, took note of
the demographic problem, 50 years ago, and took steps to
boost the birthrate, including grants to families with more
than four children. Furthermore, 35 years ago the government
reached the conclusion that the State of Israel was facing a
demographic crisis and therefore, in its meeting of April 9,
1967 decided to set up a Center for Demographics under the
Prime Minister's Office and then transferred to the Ministry
of Labor and Welfare in 1979.
The goal of setting up the center was to raise the birthrate
in Am Yisroel. According to the language of the
official decision, "The government sees a need to act
systematically to realize a demographic policy directed
toward creating an atmosphere that will encourage [a higher]
birthrate, in consideration of its vital importance to the
future of the Jewish people."
On May 11, 1986, in the Peres-Shamir unity government, the
government held a comprehensive meeting on the issue of
demographics and the Jewish people. In light of the decrease
in the number of Jews, a series of decisions were made,
including a comprehensive, long-term demographic policy. "The
policy will be built on direction, coordination and measures
likely to affect population growth, such as encouraging large
families and the desire to have children, strengthening
families and removing the obstacles standing in the way,
preventing unneeded abortions through appropriate counselling
and information, assistance in the area of welfare for
families having difficulties raising their children . . .
"
Unfortunately, in practice all of the government's decisions
remained solely on paper. The Center for Demographics, which
receives annual government funding, has not done a thing, and
the demographic problem remains and has even worsened.
Since the State's founding, the Jewish people in the State of
Israel have lost over two million children to abortions, most
of which were due to financial considerations and could have
been prevented. If just a few hundred thousand of those
children were alive today the demographic problem would not
exist.
We must be honest with ourselves by openly admitting that
encouraging the birthrate among Jews is the only way to help
solve the demographic problem in the coming years. Studies
conducted in Israel show most families would be willing to
enlarge their family by one child if there was a positive
atmosphere and if grants were given to families in need of
them.
An organization called Efrat, which I have had the honor of
heading for over 25 years, has long been issuing warnings
about the demographic problem threatening the state as a
Jewish state which Finance Minister Netanyahu spoke about at
the conference in Herzliya. Yet unlike others we not only
talk but we also act.
In the last 25 years, over 15,000 children were born as a
result of Efrat's activities. In 2002 as a result of our
assistance 1,336 children were born. During the previous year
1,207, etc. In 2003 we estimate to have saved 1,400 children.
And this is without government, municipal or public
assistance of any kind. All of our activities are carried out
through donations by Jews who recognize the importance of the
issue and by thousands of women volunteers acting out of a
sense of a holy mission--granting children life.
Now that the demographic threat has been raised for public
debate, elected officials and the country's leadership should
adopt our approach and our solution to this existential
problem of preserving the State of Israel as a Jewish state.
There is no other genuine solution to this problem which,
rather than going away, will only worsen over the years.
Nobody intends to prevent Arab Israelis from continuing to
multiply as much as they like. Increasing the birthrate in
Am Yisroel is the only possible answer to the
demographic threat.
From an economic standpoint as well, undoubtedly investing in
internal aliyah costs much less than aliyah from the Diaspora
-- which does not always arrive in the end -- and is
definitely less than the amount the State of Israel will be
forced to spend in the coming years when the demographic
threat becomes a reality, choliloh.
Furthermore, in 1987, when President Moshe Katzav was serving
as Minister of Labor and Welfare, he concluded a speech to
the First World Conference for Demographics with a call to
set up a worldwide foundation to encourage Jewish
childbearing. Unfortunately this fabulous idea has yet to go
into effect to this day. I would be very glad to see somebody
raise this issue and bring it to fruition. Such an endeavor
could contribute greatly to internal aliyah and to solving
the demographic threat.
