Tension between Jewish denominations in Israeli town

[Glucose]

Ultra-orthodox (or religious fundamentalists as they'd be called elsewhere) make up about 10% of the Jewish population of Israel at present. At their current rate of population expansion, they'll make up about 20% of the Jewish population of Israel within 20 years and probably a majority of Israel's Jewish population by mid-century.

If the ultra-Orthodox come to rule Israel, it'll become a fundamentalist religious state with nuclear weapons within the next 30 to 50 years.

Not going to happen.

[sondagefaux]

They have an awful lot of shagging to do then.

90%-10%.

Some how I can't see anywhere near Tel Aviv, Eilat, haifa, netanya, tiberias etc becoming an orthodox stronghold.

Tel Aviv or its satellite towns don't do orthodox.

They do an awful lot of shagging - they've got an average of about 8 kids per couple, compared to an average of less than 2 kids per secular or moderately religious couple.

I don't know why you're so reluctant to acknowledge that simple demography will lead the ultra-Orthodox to becoming a more significant minority within 20 years, and probably a majority by mid-century.

The only way that this won't happen is if non-ultra-Orthodox Israelis have much larger families and if vast majority of ultra-Orthodox children reject their religion.

Neither is likely to happen.

Therefore, the most likely outcome is that the ultra-Orthodox gain more and more influence and eventually come to rule Israel.

[sondagefaux]

Not going to happen.

Why not? What demographic evidence can you point to that precludes this from happening?

[meriwether]

Your ignorance....
You seemed to be shocked that the orthodox had parliamentary support.

Where did you get this impression?

I am not shocked. I knew this as old news.

[murkeyside]

Probably will happen

ultra orthodox usually have huge families - average Israeli citizen is much more like the rest of us with our 1.2 - 2.1 children per family.

and lots of them avoid military service, spending their life reading the Torah and other religious tracts.

Ultra Orthodox can be very unpleasant people - one of the only rows I've ever got into on the street was with a group of big hatted students in Israel as one of them spat at my wife and daughter as we walked along a street.

[Analyzer]

They do an awful lot of shagging - they've got an average of about 8 kids per couple, compared to an average of less than 2 kids per secular or moderately religious couple.

I don't know why you're so reluctant to acknowledge that simple demography will lead the ultra-Orthodox to becoming a more significant minority within 20 years, and probably a majority by mid-century.

The only way that this won't happen is if non-ultra-Orthodox Israelis have much larger families and if vast majority of ultra-Orthodox children reject their religion.

Neither is likely to happen.

Therefore, the most likely outcome is that the ultra-Orthodox gain more and more influence and eventually come to rule Israel.

I think you are correct in your assessment. Bearing in mind that Orthodox practitioners do not serve in the military, and that Israel is under continual attack, it becomes clear that the secular segment of the population gets their boys stuck in the firing line while the others are voting for policies that put their lives in danger.

[pinemartin]

Of course they have, they make up just over 10% of the population. They only vote for extreme orthodox parties.

Sinn fein have circa 10% of support in the republic.

.......and shock horror sinn fein have 14 seats in the Dail.

what 10% ethnic minority are you speaking of?

[pinemartin]

Where's L'chaim when you need him.

let sleeping dogs lie.

[Glucose]

They do an awful lot of shagging - they've got an average of about 8 kids per couple, compared to an average of less than 2 kids per secular or moderately religious couple.

I don't know why you're so reluctant to acknowledge that simple demography will lead the ultra-Orthodox to becoming a more significant minority within 20 years, and probably a majority by mid-century.

The only way that this won't happen is if non-ultra-Orthodox Israelis have much larger families and if vast majority of ultra-A children reject their religion.

Neither is likely to happen.

Therefore, the most likely outcome is that the ultra-Orthodox gain more and more influence and eventually come to rule Israel.

Was in Tel Aviv a few months ago, a metropolitan city of greater than 600000. Saw no orthodox.

Saw plenty of people working like they do everyday in dublin

Also saw lots and lots of women in bikini's and gays making out on the beach.

You don't see that in Dublin.

Liberal Israel is going nowhere.

[pinemartin]

Was in Tel Aviv a few months ago, a metropolitan city of greater than 600000. Saw no orthodox.

Saw plenty of people working like they do everyday in dublin

Also saw lots and lots of women in bikini's and gays making out on the beach.

You don't see that in Dublin.

Liberal Israel is going nowhere.

lots of orthodox in Tel Aviv.