ISRAEL'S POPULATION BATTLE

Jerusalem's Arab population rising twice as fast as its Jewish (AFP)
The number of Arabs living in Jerusalem grew twice as fast as the city's Jewish population over the past decade, according to a report by an Israeli research institute. At current growth rates, Jews will comprise 60 percent of the holy city's population by 2020 compared with 66 percent now, according to projections by the Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies. It said the Arab population would rise from 34 percent to 40 percent over the same period.

Orthodox birthrate seen saving Jewish majority in Israel (WorldTribune)
WASHINGTON — The Jewish birth rate was expected to exceed that of Muslims in Israel over the next 18 years, a report said. A study by the Washington-based American-Israel Demographic Research Group said Jewish fertility, the highest in the developed world, was rapidly approaching that of Arabs in Israel. The group, in a report entitled "Forecast for Israel 2025," projected a 79 percent Jewish majority as well as long-term population stability between Jewish-Arab population groups in Israel.

The report, in contrast to the forecasts by Israeli demographers, said Jewish growth would be based on the Orthodox community. The group said that by 2025, Israel's ultra-Orthodox Jewish sector would grow from 16 percent to 23 percent of the nation's population. The ultra-Orthodox was expected to increase to 29 percent of the Jewish sector.

"Israel's Arab sector will grow from 20 percent to 21 percent of Israel's total population," the report said. "After 2025, the Jewish majority will rebound past its current 80 percent position as natural growth in high growth Jewish sectors overtakes growth in Arab population groups."

The so-called secular and traditional Jews would drop from the current 64 percent to 56 percent of Israel's population. The secular-traditional sector would decrease from the current 80 percent to 71 percent of the Jewish community.