JEWISH WORLD

30 JEWISH WORLD • APRIL 1 - 7, 2022 compared to 5,164,173, according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics) you get an entity with nearly 14.4 million people, and the percentage of Jews would fall under 50 percent. Even if the CIA figures were off by a million, a bare major- ity would be Jews. Some argue that Israel should not annex Gaza — what would happen to it then is unclear — in which case the Jewish population would increase to 56 percent of the population, but the Palestinians would still make up a significant minority (44 percent compared to 21 percent today). The traditional argument is that Israel would then face the dilemma of whether to deny the Palestinians the right to vote and cease being a democracy, or allow them equal rights and lose its Jewish charac- ter. The people who deny that the dilemma exists typically argue that the Jews will remain the majority and downplay or ignore the impact of a significantly larger Arab popu- lation than the one today. Consider, however, that unlike most of the Israeli Arabs today, the Palestinians in the territories would be a potential hostile fifth column. If they decided to par- ticipate in the political process, they would undoubtedly alter the character of the state. With just 21 percent of the population, the Arab parties hold 10 seats in the Knes- set, the third most, and the Ra’am Party is holding the coalition to- gether. If the population doubled and their Knesset representation did as well, the Arab parties would be the second-largest faction if the election outcome was similar to the last one. Israel could freeze settlements tomorrow and the demographic reality wouldn’t change, and the population would still continue to have natural growth. It was unpopular, but the Trump plan was the first to seriously take into account the demographics. Going back to the same old failed policies of the past, as Biden seems keen to do, will have as much suc- cess as convincing Polly to give him a cracker. Mitchell Bard is an authority on U.S.-Israel relations, and author of “The Arab Lobby, Death to the In- fidels: Radical Islam’s War Against the Jews.” The removal of Jewish settlers in Gaza in 2005 traumatized Israel, and there’s little chance that any government would take the same action against 100,000 settlers in the West Bank. All the settlers also know that even with the money they received, the lives and livelihoods of many Jews from Gaza were ruined. Demography doesn’t work for the Greater Israel enthusiasts ei- ther. I know there is a school of thought that all the Palestinian de- mographic statistics are inflated, that the Jewish birthrate now ex- ceeds that of the Arabs, and that Jews will immigrate in large num- bers in the coming years. Still, if we look at the demographics today, the picture is not favorable for an- nexationists. Despite the million Jews who came from the former Soviet Union, the percentage of the Israeli population that is Jewish has fallen from 85 percent in 1975 to 74 percent today. If you add Israel’s current pop- ulation of 9,450,000 (6,998,000 Jews) with the disputed territories (4.9 million, according to CIA data, Demography continued from page 12 The Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza would instantly become a hostile fth column if incorporated into Israel. Ben’s is Closed for the 8 Days of Passover • Not Kosher for Passover 2022 PASSOVER HOLIDAY SCHEDULE Friday, April 15th Dining Room Closes At 3pm; Takeout Counter/Catering Pickup Open Until 4pm; Reopen Sunday, April 24th Ceremonial Plate $17.99 $399.90 for 10 APPETIZER 10 pieces of Gefilte Fish & 1 qt. Chopped Liver SOUP 4 qts. Chicken Soup & 12 Matzo Balls ENTREE (Choose One) 5 Roast Chickens with 9” tin of Matzo Farfel Whole Roast Turkey (15 lb. avg.) 4 lbs. Sliced Fresh Brisket ACCOMPANIMENTS (All Included) 1 qt. Cranberry-Pineapple Compote 1 qt. Fresh-Cut Cole Slaw 1 qt. Carrot Tsimmes • 1 qt. Ben’s Homemade Gravy Large Relish Tray SIDES (Choose Two) Broccoli Almondine Matzo Farfel & Mushrooms Parsley Red Potatoes Sweet Potato Pudding • Potato Pudding *No BUY-1-GET-1 FREE meal rewards after April 10, 2022. Ben’s Preferred Patron Club Members: Order our package for 10 and receive three BUY-1-GET-1 FREE meal rewards or order our package for 6 and receive one BUY-1-GET-1 FREE meal reward for future use.* Don’t Pass Over Ben’s Catered Holiday Dinners for 6 or 10! $259.90 for 6 APPETIZER 6 pieces of Gefilte Fish & 1 pt. Chopped Liver SOUP 2 qts. Chicken Soup & 7 Matzo Balls ENTREE (Choose One) 3 Roast Chickens with 9” tin of Matzo Farfel 2.5 lbs. Fresh Turkey Breast 2.5 lbs. Sliced Fresh Brisket ACCOMPANIMENTS (All Included) 1 pt. Cranberry-Pineapple Compote 1 qt. Fresh-Cut Cole Slaw 1 pt. Carrot Tsimmes • 1 pt. Ben’s Homemade Gravy Small Relish Tray SIDES (Choose Two) Broccoli Almondine Matzo Farfel & Mushrooms Parsley Red Potatoes Sweet Potato Pudding • Potato Pudding Order By April 10, 2022 To Earn Rewards! © 2022 Ronald M. Dragoon