Interesantísimo artículo este que publica el diario económico británico Financial Times. Trata sobre un tema bien conocido pero no por eso las consecuencias del mismo están muy claras. Israel, cuna de tres civilizaciones, tiene un gravísimo problema demográfico que si no se remedia, puede poner en peligro su propia existencia. Algunos datos aportados por el artículo dicen que:
• ‘The problem, in short, is that the two fastest growing groups – the Haredim [ultra-orthodox] and Israel’s Arab minority – are also the poorest, least productive and least educated. Both include a disproportionately large number who do not work and depend on welfare. The problem is particularly acute among ultra-orthodox men, 65 per cent of whom do not participate in the labour force, and Israeli-Palestinian women, 76 per cent of whom are outside the workforce.’
• ‘The average ultra-orthodox woman has no fewer than six children, while Israeli-Palestinian women tend to raise between three and four each.’
• ‘Prof Ben-David maintains that the demographic shift is starting to pose an “existential danger” to the state.’ • ‘So far, however, all attempts to force the ultra-orthodox into the workplace have ultimately failed as a result of the second factor that distinguishes the Haredim: political influence.’
• ‘Over the years, their efforts [ultra-orthodox’s one] have been extremely successful: welfare payments per head have increased more than fivefold since 1970, far outpacing the growth in national output.’
• ‘“There is a point of no return, and when we cross it we will not be able to change things democratically – and maybe not at all.”’
