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del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 04:44 11/10/2006 Despite high turnover, West Bank settlements keep growing By Nadav Shragai, Haaretz Correspondent Jewish communities in the West Bank have a greater population turnover than do Jewish communities elsewhere in the country, according to migration statistics. Many of those who leave are young people after army service. However, this turnover rate - more than five percent a year - has not affected the settlements' growth rate: Over the past two decades, they have grown at a faster rate than most other communities in Israel. The average annual growth rate in the settlements is five to six percent, as opposed to two to three percent in the Jerusalem area and central Israel, and even lower rates in Tel Aviv, Bnei Brak, Petah Tikva, Ashdod or Ra'anana. Advertisement Aside from high natural growth rates, throughout the years, more people have moved to the territories than to other places in the country, and fewer have left. The stories of Yossi and Racheli are typical. Yossi grew up in Ofra in the northern West Bank and left the settlement after the army. He now lives in a rented apartment in Jerusalem and studies economics and business administration at Hebrew University. Racheli, 22, also comes from a northern West Bank settlement, Kedumim, and is studying law at a college in central Israel. Racheli has eight brothers and sisters, at least half of whom, she says, are considering leaving home at age 18. Neither Yossi or Racheli have decided where they will live permanently. Some of their friends, from settlements like Beit El or Yitzhar, left after they got married because there was no suitable housing for them. Outposts, once magnets for young married couples, are full, due to limitations on bringing additional prefabricated housing to the sites. But Racheli and Yossi believe that most of those who leave will come back to their home settlements the first chance they get. In large settlements like Ariel, Ma'aleh Adumim and Givat Zeev, and in urban settlements whose residents are mainly secular, most of those who leave are older, and they generally decide to move to cities such as Jerusalem, Tel Aviv or Netanya to improve their standard of living or their economic situation. A Haaretz examination of migration statistics for settlements over the past 19 years shows that on average, 5,100 more people came than left every year. On average, 7,600 people left, but 12,700 new residents moved in. In the Galilee, by comparison - including Safed, the Kinneret area, and the Upper Galilee, which have community settlements similar to those in the West Bank - the annual migration rate hovers at two to three percent, half the exit rate of Jews from the West Bank. In contrast, the rate of people leaving the Tel Aviv area, which is known for its high turnover, is almost the same as the West Bank (5.24 percent in 2002). Most of those leaving the West Bank are not married, although there are some newlyweds among them. According to a study by Dr. Miriam Bilig, a sociologist and urban planner, and Shelly Zorkraut of the College of Judea and Samaria in Ariel, 30 to 40 percent of the children of founders of settlements in the Benjamin and Samaria Regional Councils go to live within the Green Line, either temporarily or permanently. A comparison with specific population groups, such as kibbutzim or settlements in the Golan Heights, show that this is a low migration level. "Sixty-five to 70 percent stay, and that is not typical of community settlements elsewhere in the country," said Bilig. Bilig examined the departure rate from settlements at two different points in time: once after the first intifada, and the second time in 2000. Not surprisingly, she found that "the stronger religious faith and ideology was, the lower the risk was perceived to be. "Most young people leave to pursue higher education," she said. "Others can't find a housing solution in the community. These are large families - sometimes with 10 children or more - so it's only natural that a few of them will establish their homes elsewhere." Bilig and Zorkraut found that many leave the settlements for job opportunities, and therefore head for big cities like Tel Aviv. They also found that more men than women leave. Another trend is for young people to move to poor communities inside Israel, in order to make a contribution there. Bilig believes that the children of the settlements' founders will also begin to find the Negev attractive. Professor Dan Swan of the department of multidisciplinary studies at the College of Judea and Samaria described the younger generation of Jewish West Bank residents, like their peers elsewhere in Israel, as "more mobile than their elders. Therefore, their weight among those both moving in and moving out is great. In the United States, we see this to an even greater extent: There, 20 percent of the population moves from place to place, and the proportion of young people [among those who move] is great." Bookmark to del.icio.us Administrative orphans Six Hebron children, whose parents were arrested, were left with their grandmother. Change the past Father of Jewish psychology suggests avoiding picking away at the scars of the past.   1.   Nice Perspective for Peace 07:18  |  Karim 11/10/06   2.   Crimes for Ersatz Israel 08:33  |  Clickfool 11/10/06   3.   ANALYSIS Of ISRAEL`S "COMMITMENT" To Peace: Settlements, Etc. 09:39  |  Proud Pal Defender 11/10/06   4.   this needs to stop. 09:47  |  yonatan 11/10/06   5.   Ma`ale Adumim and Givat Zeev not just settlemenets! 10:01  |  Jerusalemite 11/10/06   6.   Karim: not expanding settlements 10:37  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 11/10/06   7.   again, its the occupation 11:43  |  freddy 11/10/06   8.   WATCH FOR PAID RESPONSES 12:13  |  nu 11/10/06   9.   to #5 most of Israel is illegal 12:18  |  andolini 11/10/06   10.   West bank is Israel land , it is the deal with Jordan peace 12:19  |  Joseph E . 11/10/06   11.   Palestinian apartheid tactics 13:23  |  Bennie 11/10/06   12.   Reply to Clickfool No. 2 13:30  |  Nate 11/10/06   13.   Response to #1 13:36  |  Jacob 11/10/06   14.   1# Karim 13:46  |  Josef 11/10/06   15.   PALS were given a chance for peace. They prefer HAMAS and TERROR. 13:51  |  Vittorio 11/10/06   16.   #2.Click-you-Fool. In Hebrew a word ERETZ is used, not ERSATZ. 13:55  |  Vittorio. 11/10/06   17.   #10: Joseph E: I agree 14:02  |  Stephen Murray 11/10/06   18.   #12: Nate: "My serving in the IDF ..." 14:06  |  Stephen Murray 11/10/06   19.   Jordan is "Palestine" 14:12  |  Paul Henzen 11/10/06   20.   To # 1 Karim 14:30  |  Yossi 11/10/06   21.   Growth of settlements 14:31  |  Choni 11/10/06   22.   To Karim 14:33  |  Yossi 11/10/06   23.   Big Deal...the land in question is the size of a farm 14:53  |  British academic 11/10/06   24.   # 17 Stephen Murray 15:13  |  Joseph E . 11/10/06   25.   And the Palestinians can`t even leave home 15:19  |  Marilyn 11/10/06   26.   # 12 MISSING IN ACTION? 15:26  |  Dutch 11/10/06   27.   Why Israel has no future ... 15:26  |  jsbach 11/10/06   28.   18# Stephen Murray 15:26  |  Josef 11/10/06   29.   To Karim 15:34  |  Yossi 11/10/06   30.   Peace - is not a permanently suggested option. 15:39  |  Vittorio 11/10/06   31.   Stephen Murray 15:48  |  Danite 11/10/06   32.   Nate 16:24  |  Jasmine Murphy 11/10/06   33.   Andolini where do you reach your funny percentages 17:10  |  Jabadini 11/10/06   34.   Maale Adumin, Psgat Zeev and Gilo 17:12  |  Lebanese admirer 11/10/06   35.   Stephen Murray - which homes in East Jerusalem and west bank 17:16  |  Jabadini 11/10/06   36.   Settlements as Jewish Baby Factories. 17:22  |  Ibrahim 11/10/06   37.   Settlements not obstacle to peace 17:41  |  Jabadini 11/10/06   38.   MA and GZ ARE settlements 17:44  |  Josh Goldman 11/10/06   39.   There is nothing wrong with building in the west bank 17:46  |  Jabadini 11/10/06   40.   Khalid: What is the Talmud? 17:50  |  Bruriah Sarah 11/10/06   41.   Great Jokesters of Talkback #1 18:05  |  Clickfool 11/10/06   42.   27 - Israel has a future 18:07  |  Bruriah Sarah 11/10/06   43.   What ` `Road Map`` to peace? 18:16  |  Lori Cowen 11/10/06   44.   Perhaps Dr. Bilig Could Refer to Algeria 18:29  |  Yaakov Sullivan 11/10/06   45.   For Dutch # 26. on the man proud to have been in the IDF 18:36  |  Clickfool 11/10/06   46.   Good News in a Judenrein World. 19:02  |  Bimmer 11/10/06   47.   Palestinians vote Hamas, Israel expands settlements 19:05  |  Voice of Reason 11/10/06   48.   #42 Doesn`t it also say somewhere.... 19:15  |  T A Sheppard 11/10/06   49.   Ibrahim "Baby factories" 19:19  |  Danite 11/10/06   50.   25 - Security Fence 19:30  |  Bruriah Sarah 11/10/06   51.   #16 Vittorio Ersatz Eretz 19:50  |  Boycott 11/10/06   52.   #19 Paul Henzen 19:55  |  Boycott 11/10/06   53.   #21 Choni the Devout 20:01  |  Jimmy 11/10/06   54.   PALS deny JEWS to live among ARABS. JEWS - DON`T DENY............ 20:14  |  Vittorio 11/10/06   55.   Answer;close palestinian schools. 20:16  |  Billy jack 11/10/06   56.   Billy jack bob and his KKK connections 20:25  |  British academic 11/10/06   57.   # 51 Boycott.re: Vittorio. NO NEED TO BE PATRONIZING BOYCOTT. 20:36  |  Kathy 11/10/06   58.   British NonAcademic. 20:39  |  Ibrahim 11/10/06   59.   British academic 20:43  |  Billy jack 11/10/06   60.   49: Sample of Talmudic Discussion 20:47  |  Bruriah Sarah 11/10/06   61.   Khalid did you study in the Hamas human bomb department? 20:50  |  British academic 11/10/06   62.   We were born here, not you 20:57  |  skylark 11/10/06   63.   Billy Jack..shouldnt you be sniffing something 20:57  |  British academic 11/10/06   64.   For Kathy #57 21:00  |  Clickfool 11/10/06   65.   One state or two, asks Ibrahim 21:04  |  Yair 11/10/06   66.   Jewish settlements (land grab) 21:09  |  Nathan 11/10/06   67.   Israel doesnt have to choose ..its your choice 21:09  |  British academic 11/10/06   68.   Have A Look At the YESHA 2006 Map 21:10  |  Yaakov Sullivan 11/10/06   69.   #57 Kathy 21:19  |  Boycott 11/10/06   70.   No 54. Racist state? 21:21  |  Lebanese admirer 11/10/06   71.   #57 Kathy re: Vittorio 21:27  |  Boycott 11/10/06   72.   ISREALITE JEWS HAVE THE RIGHT TO LIVE ANY PART OF THE HOLY LAND 21:42  |  GOD BLESS ISREAL 11/10/06   73.   Yair, my opinion on your Jordan Option 21:52  |  Ibrahim 11/10/06   74.   # 64 Clickfool. NEVERMIND ABOUT ME,I SENT YOU A POST AND HASN`T.. 21:54  |  Kathy 11/10/06   75.   Arabs are Racists - historically and presently 21:58  |  Bimmer 11/10/06   76.   # 71 Boycott.re:Vittorio. OKAY JUST READ IF IT COMES OUT,,, 22:06  |  Kathy 11/10/06   77.   Britis acheademic.Sniffer? 22:09  |  Billy Jack 11/10/06   78.   West Bank settlements keep growing 22:10  |  Yonatan 11/10/06   79.   #52 Boycott 22:11  |  Paul Henzen 11/10/06   80.   #75 Bimmer - More on Arab racism 22:13  |  Yonatan 11/10/06   81.   settlements, Jews, and antisemites 22:23  |  Joe Cohen 11/10/06   82.   66: Land Grab? 22:31  |  Bruriah Sarah 11/10/06   83.   48 - Not Our interpretation 22:35  |  Bruriah Sarah 11/10/06   84.   70: Jews 1st Class Citizens in Arab lands??? 22:38  |  Bruriah Sarah 11/10/06   85.   I meant huffing...Billy Jack..... 22:42  |  British academic 11/10/06   86.   Billy Jack to dream the impossible dream 22:49  |  peter 11/10/06   87.   Joe cohen 22:55  |  Billy Jack 11/10/06   88.   70, Lebanese admirer 22:59  |  Joe Cohen 11/10/06   89.   # 79 Paul Henzen. WELL BLOW ME DOWN AND PICK ME UP!! 23:04  |  Kathy 11/10/06   90.   Bruriah Sarah 23:13  |  Nathan 11/10/06   91.   Billy Jack 23:22  |  Joe Cohen 11/10/06   92.   #79 Paul Henzen 23:28  |  Boycott 11/10/06   93.   Peter i care. 23:32  |  Billy Jack 11/10/06   94.   #79 Paul Hentzen 23:35  |  Boycott 11/10/06   95.   Danite # 31 00:37  |  Gabe1 12/10/06   96.   # 60 Bruriah Sarah 00:38  |  Joseph E . 12/10/06   97.   Billy Jack doesn`t care, so what? 01:03  |  peter 12/10/06   98.   Yonatan and Bimmer 01:11  |  Ibrahim 12/10/06   99.   Way to a multicultural secular Israel 01:32  |  Siddhartha 12/10/06   100.   # 79 Paul Henzen. PLEASE READ IF IT COMES OUT.... 02:10  |  Kathy 12/10/06   101.   West Bank bad luck 05:22  |  Ethem 12/10/06   102.   HOW BADLY ISRAEL WANTS A ONE STATE SOLUTION! 05:46  |  janet 12/10/06   103.   Yair, will you drive them to Jordan? 05:49  |  janet 12/10/06   104.   Janet, Jordan as a Palestinian Arab state does not imply the 07:57  |  Yair 12/10/06   105.   For # 72 "God Bless Isreal" 07:58  |  Clickfool 12/10/06   106.   For Kathy # 74 08:06  |  Clickfool 12/10/06   107.   #34 Lebanese Admirer 08:08  |  Josef 12/10/06   108.   On WHO`S land are these settlements growing? 08:26  |  Maureen Ann 12/10/06   109.   #108 Maureen Ann 08:58  |  Josef 12/10/06   110.   #71 Boycott 09:04  |  Josef 12/10/06   111.   Kol Hakavod to the settlers 09:32  |  g.e. 12/10/06   112.   #100 Kathy 10:29  |  Paul Henzen 12/10/06   113.   To Margie No. 6 - Dismantling Not Expanding 10:30  |  Karim 12/10/06   114.   To Josef No. 14 - You Should Review Your Concept of History 10:35  |  Karim 12/10/06   115.   To Yossi - You Cannot Decide the Fate of Others 10:39  |  Karim 12/10/06   116.   Clickfool 13:35  |  Matteo 12/10/06   117.   #114 You need to review your concept! 14:59  |  Josef 12/10/06   118.   # 112 Paul Henzen. THANK YOU FOR THE REPLY,AND .... 17:32  |  Kathy 12/10/06   119.   peter 20:43  |  Billy jack 12/10/06   120.   # 38 Josh Goldman. I HAVE A VERY GOOD SUGGESTION... 23:49  |  Kathy 12/10/06   121.   always knew israelis dont want peace 14:22  |  cristina 21/10/07

Today Online Britain's chief rabbi: Multiculturalism is threat to democracy Responses: 67 PM: Annapolis summit will not bring historic breakthrough Responses: 50 Gideon Levy: The time has come for Israel to give up on Ron Arad Responses: 29 Prince Hassan of Jordan: Muslims must differentiate between Israeli action, Jews Responses: 11 Former Hamas spokesman blasts takeover of Gaza Strip Responses: 17 Rosner's Domain * Jumblatt to Bush: Send car bombs to Damascus * Israel's fear: Will Rice put a bridging proposal on the table? * WTR: 75% of Americans don't believe in peace process * Guest: Should the Saudis attend Annapolis? More Headlines 14:23 PM: Israel won't ignore Fatah plot to attack my convoy 13:05 Report: Lebanese Druze leader to seek Barak's help in toppling Syria gov't 13:59 PM: Annapolis conference will not bring historic breakthrough 14:04 Turkey mulls action as Kurdish rebels kill 12 of its troops 09:30 U.K. chief rabbi: Multiculturalism is a threat to liberal democracy 14:03 Livni to appoint Druze MK Whbee as deputy foreign minister 09:50 Ya'alon: British Gas natural gas deal in Gaza will finance terror 08:29 ANALYSIS / Annapolis summit will bring Hamas back into the fold 08:38 Report to address possible effects of dividing Jerusalem Previous Editions Select Day 19 oct 18 oct 17 oct 16 oct 15 oct 14 oct 12 oct 11 oct 10 oct 09 oct 08 oct 07 oct

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