[Ynet News-Hebrew/IMRA] Yoram Ettinger - In contrast with the figures reported for the 2007 Palestinian census, the number of Arabs in the West Bank is 1.5 million, not 2.3 million, and the number of Gaza Arabs is 1.1 million, not 1.5 million. While the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics contends a 30% population growth during the last ten years, the World Bank documents a substantial erosion of the Palestinian fertility rate and a significant escalation of emigration. Israel's Border Police and European observers have documented net Palestinian emigration of 12,000 in 2004, 16,000 in 2005, and 25,000 in 2006, with expectation of a significant rise in 2007. The 1997-2003 average annual net emigration was over 10,000. The actual population west of the Jordan River - without Gaza - shows a Jewish majority of 67%, compared with a 33% Jewish minority in 1947, including Gaza.
2008-02-12 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive