by Hillel Fendel and Chaim Silberstein

Here’s a new statistic, one that will gladden some and alarm others: The number of Jerusalem Arab students in Hebrew University this year has practically doubled since last year. True, we’re not talking large numbers in terms of the total number of students in the university, nor in terms of the total number of Arabs in Jerusalem – 420 Arabs are registered this year, compared to 220 the year before – but the trend is more than clear. It means that the Arab population is becoming increasingly more at home in Israel’s Jewish society.

This is a phenomenon not only of Hebrew University. Other colleges in which Jerusalem Arabs are increasing their presence are the Azrieli College of Engineering, the David Yellin College of Education, and Hadassah College.

For those of us who are looking forward to and working diligently for a united Jerusalem under Israeli sovereignty, what exactly does this mean? Is it good news, or less so?

Many people would agree that in many ways, it is a positive development: Arabs are receiving better education, which will hopefully bring them to better respect democratic and humanistic values, will help decrease violence in their own communities, will improve their economic status, and will enable them to better contribute to Israeli society.

On the other hand, in terms of Israel’s capital city, this statistic comes on the back of a worrying demographic trend:  an increasing proportion of the city’s population is Arab.  At present, Arabs comprise about 40% of all the residents of Jerusalem. If this continues, and Arab residents actually become a majority in the city, it is clear that this will have serious ramifications in terms of municipal political control, the infiltration of hostile elements in the management and finances of the city, assimilation, and more.

There are those who feel that because of the sharp divide between the city’s Jewish and Arab sections, Jerusalem must “inevitably” be divided – one part for each of the “two states” that they would like to see arise. This is worrisome, for division of Jerusalem is fraught with dangers on many levels: Armed terrorist groups would be strengthened and Israeli security control would be weakened; Jews would leave the city for other parts of Israel; the Arab population on both sides of the partition would increase; hostile PA elements would take over many Jewish holy sites; Jewish pride around the world would suffer a great blow; and more. We have elaborated on these points here <https://keepjerusalem.org/> and here <https://www.jewishpress.com/author/hillel-fendel-and-chaim-silberstein/>.

However, given the increasing number of Arab students in Jerusalem colleges, it appears that this Jewish-Arab divide is not quite as sharp as was thought. The increase of Arabs in higher learning means that they no longer rely only upon Arab colleges in Hebron, Nablus, and the like; that their Hebrew is getting better; and that they are stepping up to take their place in Israeli society.

Clearly, as more and more Arabs find their place in Jewish Jerusalem, the prospect of dividing the city becomes more distant. But this welcome result appears to come at a great cost, namely demographic, sociological, and religious dangers.

In truth, we invite feedback from our readers on this topic: Do the advantages outweigh the dangers? Should we welcome increased Arab involvement in Jerusalem, for itself and in order to prevent a catastrophic division of our eternal city? Or should we promote Israeli sovereignty only over areas that do not present these dangers? Please share your opinions with us at <info@keepjerusalem.com>.

The Jewish Nation has never shied away from challenges, and the situation described here presents a particularly critical one. There are no two ways about it: We absolutely must find ways to significantly increase the Jewish majority in the Holy City!

 

Illegal Arab Construction

The problem of the shrinking Jewish majority in Jerusalem has many causes, of which possibly the most important is widespread illegal Arab construction. This leads to cheap Arab housing costs, expensive Jewish housing costs, Arab fertility rates (shrinking, but still high), insufficient employment opportunities, and more.

The phenomenon of illegal Arab building also encroaches upon adjacent Jewish neighborhoods and prevents them from expanding. Add this to low employment opportunities and high housing costs in the city, and we have several thousand more Jews leaving the city each year than moving in.

The city is addressing some of these problems to varying extents, but the troubling fact is that over the past 30 years, the Jewish majority in the city has decreased by a staggering 12%, from 72% in 1990 to 60% in 2019!

 

Aliyah

The straightforward solutions, as outlined in the Jerusalem Shield program <https://www.jewishpress.com/indepth/columns/keeping-jerusalem/understanding-jerusalem-today/2019/09/06/>, involve tremendous national efforts directed at stemming the tide of emigration from the city, as well as detracting from the city boundaries Arab neighborhoods located “behind” the security barrier. In addition, Aliyah to Israel, and especially to Jerusalem, must be more prioritized than it currently is, both among official Israeli institutions working with Jews abroad and among the Jewish communities themselves.

 

Housing

Still, the number-one approach to increasing Jerusalem’s Jewish majority is found in the matter of housing. More affordable apartments are needed, period! None of the other solutions can “ensure a renewed growth of the Jewish majority, if the added Jewish population has nowhere to live.” So states long-time Jerusalem expert Nadav Shragai.

Dozens of government decisions intended to strengthen Jerusalem and attract population have remained on paper, in whole or in part. A recent decision to raise municipal tax rates on empty apartments will add thousands of new apartments to the supply – but keep in mind that at least 2,000 new apartments are needed each year, above and beyond those under construction.

Another suggestion that has been raised is the formation of a separate local authority, under Israeli sovereignty, for Arab neighborhoods that are “outside the fence.” This would formally subtract approximately 140,000 Arabs from Jerusalem territory, without compromising Israeli sovereignty over the area. We would also strongly recommend the implementation of an already-approved government decision to build another bedroom suburb. This would add about 120,000 Jews to Jerusalem, in administrative terms.

Yes, Yerushalayim is becoming a more “open” city, and this brings challenges. We need to prepare multifaceted responses to the Arab demographic developments, and we need to significantly increase and expand the Jewish demographic and urban presence. Only a strong Jewish majority will ensure and secure Jerusalem for generations and enable us to continue to advance toward the Jerusalem envisaged by our Prophets: “Jerusalem shall be inhabited like unwalled towns, for the multitude of men and cattle therein… The Lord shall grant Judah his inheritance in the Holy Land, and He shall again choose Jerusalem.” (Zechariah 2)

 To share your opinions with us on current Jerusalem events, or to learn about our bus tours in Jerusalem, please email us at <info@keepjerusalem.com>.