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Children playing Monday in the ultra-Orthodox settlement of Modi'in Ilit. (Nir Kafri) Last update - 20:18 14/08/2007 Ultra-Orthodox Jews deliver a population boom to the West Bank By Nadav Shragai, Haaretz Correspondent The settler population is growing twice as fast as the rest of the country every year, and the ultra-Orthodox community is responsible for approximately half its annual growth, according to Haaretz's analysis of Interior Ministry figures for 2006. In the last year, the settler population has grown by 5.45 percent, from 260,932 to 275,156. Without the ultra-Orthodox community the West Bank settlements' growth is 3.7 percent, only a little more than the natural growth the settlements would see, which stands at 3.5 percent. The growth rate in the ultra-Orthodox Beitar Ilit and Modi'in Ilit is higher than most places in Israel. Modi'in Ilit's population, some 40,000, grows annually by about 11 percent (this year it has grown by 12.5 percent). Advertisement Beitar Ilit's population, some 35,000, grows annually by some 10 percent - five to six times more than Jerusalem and Tel Aviv's population growth respectively and twice as much as the growth of many other settlements. By the end of June, 72,106 people - more than a quarter of the West Bank settlers - were concentrated in Beitar Ilit, Modi'in Ilit and Kochav Yaakov, another ultra-Orthodox settlement, according to Interior Ministry figures. Most of the ultra-Orthodox settlers - young couples or young families with numerous children - do not live in the West Bank for ideological reasons. They moved to the settlements due to the soaring real estate prices in the ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods of Jerusalem and Bnei Brak, which created an acute housing shortage. The local authorities predict that in 10 to 15 years Betar Ilit's population may consist of some 17,500 families totaling some 100,000 residents. Today the town has 5,828 occupied housing units, 1,102 units are under construction and another 5,800 are being planned. Modi'in Ilit has 6,800 occupied housing units and its population is expected to reach 150,000 in the near future. The ultra-Orthodox rabbis sanctioned living in these settlements in view of the housing shortage, but they also assumed these territories would be annexed to Israel sometime in the future. Yankel, about 30 years old, was born in Jerusalem and lives in Beitar Ilit with his six children. When he reached marrying age, he could not afford an apartment in Jerusalem. A few years ago, with the help of his parents and a mortgage, he purchased a four-room apartment in the town for $115,000. A few months ago his brother also married, left Jerusalem and moved next door to Yankel. Their parents are now considering moving to Beitar Ilit as well. Yankel is a teacher. His wife and sister-in-law found high-tech jobs, as have many ultra-Orthodox women in recent years. His brother found work driving children to school. Every year 60 new classrooms open in Beitar Ilit, where the children make up 63 percent of the population. In Jerusalem, by comparison, the children make up 45 percent of the population. Some 48 babies are born in Modi'in Ilit weekly - some 2,700 a year - and every year an average of 57 new first-grade classes open. Between the end of June 2006 and June 2007, the number of settlers in the West Bank grew by 5.45 percent. Last year the growth of the ultra-Orthodox population made up 40 percent of the increase in the settlers' numbers, and this year its contribution is bigger. Beitar Ilit and Modi'in Ilit are in the settlement bloc earmarked to be annexed to Israel, according to this government and the plans of previous ones. Before retiring, former GOC Central Command Yair Naveh signed an order joining Beitar Ilit's area with Jerusalem's municipal area. Ilit, the region's busiest transport company, makes some 400 trips to and from Jerusalem daily. Modi'in Ilit, which is on Highway 443 between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, is also near Highway 6 and will be on the future Tel Aviv-Modi'in-Jerusalem railway line. Bookmark to del.icio.us   The gift of dignity T.A. charity provides female drug addicts with shower, meal and counseling. Sign of life Hamas leader says Gilad Shalit is still alive after two years in captivity.   1.   Encouraging exports 11:28  |  Yonatan 14/08/07   2.   Let Them Stay There 11:45  |  Moshe 14/08/07   3.   Judea And Samaria Would Be Growing MUCH Faster 12:04  |  Yishai Kohen 14/08/07   4.   jonathan 12:07  |  hillel 14/08/07   5.   Israel should not allow this! 12:23  |  Yered Shmuel 14/08/07   6.   Exporting Haredim 12:42  |  MP Pick 14/08/07   7.   Disgusting 12:53  |  Julian 14/08/07   8.   Disgusting? Amen, Pick 13:27  |  Jak Black 14/08/07   9.   Baruch Hashem 13:27  |  Eddie 14/08/07   10.   1st commandment given in the Torah... 13:29  |  Akiva Patysh 14/08/07   11.   Hareidi Population 13:38  |  ap 14/08/07   12.   Moshe (#2): 13:40  |  Michael Steiner 14/08/07   13.   future trouble in sight 13:42  |  Jacob 14/08/07   14.   Julian #7 13:50  |  Scientist 14/08/07   15.   The world needs more bigoted & intolerant Ultra Orthodox 14:32  |  Tim 14/08/07   16.   whats your problem 14:45  |  Dada 14/08/07   17.   Hear hear #1 15:13  |  David 14/08/07   18.   Yered #5 15:20  |  jjvanka 14/08/07   19.   chareidi 15:21  |  iletzter 14/08/07   20.   The Peace Never Movement 15:23  |  Mark Lincoln 14/08/07   21.   to # 10 and in addition 15:32  |  JS 14/08/07   22.   #4 hillel 15:58  |  Yonatan 14/08/07   23.   Divisions 16:06  |  Peter 14/08/07   24.   #6 MP Pick - an example of haredi racism 16:09  |  Yonatan 14/08/07   25.   #11 ap - on being human 16:14  |  Yonatan 14/08/07   26.   With So Many Kids - Let Them Defend Themselves 16:16  |  Bill Foonman 14/08/07   27.   #14 Scientist - survivla of the fittest 16:21  |  Yonatan 14/08/07   28.   GREAT, THEY CAN LEECH OFF THE PALESTINIANS SOON 16:24  |  b`galil 14/08/07   29.   Strange how none of these posters..... 16:25  |  Sherman 14/08/07   30.   #19 iletzter 16:25  |  Yonatan 14/08/07   31.   #21 JS - the haredim forget other things as well 16:34  |  Yonatan 14/08/07   32.   No contribution to society 16:40  |  Robert 14/08/07   33.   Politics, my friend 16:40  |  Leo 14/08/07   34.   doesn`t include liberated east Jerusalem 16:42  |  Noah 14/08/07   35.   religious Jews & Moshe 16:46  |  sptz 14/08/07   36.   To 22 17:10  |  ap 14/08/07   37.   to all you talkbackers 17:14  |  moshe 14/08/07   38.   I am shocked by such hatred on both sides. Be fruitful, multiply 17:21  |  David 14/08/07   39.   Moshe in Jerusalem 17:31  |  rich 14/08/07   40.   Yonatan of Kfar-Saba, JS fo Tel Aviv, and Michael Steiner 17:33  |  Akiva Patysh 14/08/07   41.   reply to # 37 and the real reason is 17:34  |  JS 14/08/07   42.   After reading story and reading responses I`m feelin` real good.. 17:49  |  bat yam 14/08/07   43.   Jews in eastern areas of Jerusalem number about 200,000 people 17:50  |  Avraham 14/08/07   44.   Ultra-Orthodox Jews deliver a population boom to the West Bank 17:50  |  Menachem Petrushka 14/08/07   45.   To Moshe and Rich 17:53  |  Danalogue 14/08/07   46.   #20 Lincoln 17:57  |  * BEN JABO 14/08/07   47.   moshe and hatred 17:59  |  david 14/08/07   48.   What is the growth of the Palestinians in the occuppied territory 18:00  |  ??? 14/08/07   49.   One plus one makes a lot 18:14  |  * BEN JABO 14/08/07   50.   Those wicked settlers ensure Israel will never be at peace 18:30  |  Stephen Murray 14/08/07   51.   Hysteria over nothing 18:34  |  john 14/08/07   52.   This shouldnt be a problem 18:39  |  danite 14/08/07   53.   To B`galil at no.28 18:46  |  Reuven 14/08/07   54.   Ultra Orthhodox Jews deliver a population boom 18:55  |  Steve Gure 14/08/07   55.   Danalogue 19:16  |  rich 14/08/07   56.   Steve Gure 19:18  |  rich 14/08/07   57.   Menachem Petrushka 19:19  |  rich 14/08/07   58.   Julian totally disgusting of Jews to have children 19:31  |  Hannah 14/08/07   59.   To Akiva, Michael and other anti semites 20:20  |  Joshua 14/08/07   60.   Good! Give Beitar, Modiin Illit to P.A. 20:28  |  Moshe 14/08/07   61.   Looks like Palestinians prefer Jewish settlers to making peace 20:37  |  Sam 14/08/07   62.   Jewish self-haters report 20:39  |  Boris 14/08/07   63.   #45 20:40  |  moshe 14/08/07   64.   #47 david 20:54  |  Moshe 14/08/07   65.   Haredi Population Boom 21:04  |  Yoske 14/08/07   66.   Another try 21:09  |  Leo 14/08/07   67.   "..settler population grows twice as fast AS THE REST OF ISRAEL". 21:15  |  Dr. L. Brnd 14/08/07   68.   "Birthing the Nation" -- Palestinian women have shown the way 21:36  |  Breeder 14/08/07   69.   AM HANETZACH!!!!!!!!! 21:46  |  yonni ezra 14/08/07   70.   #45 Moshe, you`re almost there 21:51  |  Leo 14/08/07   71.   THE MORE NOT TO SERVE IN THE ARMY. 21:57  |  Ayton Eller 14/08/07   72.   To `Breeder` 22:04  |  Robert 14/08/07   73.   A two or three child policy will be needed in this century 22:06  |  Suetonius 14/08/07   74.   If Haredim and dati leumi... 22:21  |  Avi Yerushalmi 14/08/07   75.   Joshua of saddle river, NJ 22:30  |  Akiva Patysh 14/08/07   76.   "Birthing The Nation": Religious Jews Have FAR More Kids 22:32  |  Yishai Kohen 14/08/07   77.   #68, actually it is Israeli Jews....Ultra Orthodox 22:47  |  David 14/08/07   78.   Surprising reactions 22:53  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 14/08/07   79.   #8 Jak black 23:10  |  Labhras 14/08/07   80.   to Reuven #53 23:19  |  b`galil 14/08/07   81.   Population boom in Shomron (West Bank?!) 00:01  |  Jay 15/08/07   82.   Margie in Tel Aviv 00:02  |  Danite 15/08/07   83.   Six million missing jews 00:07  |  Yiddish Mame 15/08/07   84.   Thank you haredim from Mr Secular 00:13  |  rich 15/08/07   85.   Amazing Narrow mindedness 00:31  |  Schtarker Yid 15/08/07   86.   Birth rate 00:32  |  Irving Schaffer 15/08/07   87.   great news,,,,,, 00:46  |  gays4israel 15/08/07   88.   Population Boom 01:01  |  Simcha 15/08/07   89.   "annexation" 01:05  |  Pssd Off American 15/08/07   90.   DONT BE AFRAID 02:00  |  TOBIA 15/08/07   91.   Condoms for the Orthodox! 02:26  |  Michael Katz 15/08/07   92.   Pssd Off American 02:39  |  Akiva Patysh 15/08/07   93.   #10, ! איזה בושה 02:41  |  Hannah 15/08/07   94.   #14, Scientist 02:45  |  Hannah 15/08/07   95.   FAKE HANNAH (aka Ms Kohn) ALERT! #58 02:47  |  Hannah 15/08/07   96.   Of course they have nothing to do but have sex 02:51  |  El-Birawi 15/08/07   97.   Just what I`ve been saying... 03:18  |  Silvienne 15/08/07   98.   Most of the Charedim live up to a few km from the border 04:41  |  Jabadini 15/08/07   99.   Hannah 05:06  |  Akiva Patysh 15/08/07   100.   Hannah 05:09  |  Akiva Patysh 15/08/07   101.   Praise G-D! people is best asset. don`t forget JERUSALEM. 05:28  |  FSS 15/08/07   102.   #99, Akiva Patysh to Hannah 06:05  |  Silvienne 15/08/07   103.   El-Birawi, where ever you are... 06:12  |  Akiva Patysh 15/08/07   104.   Let them live in Israel not our last bargaining chip 06:48  |  david 15/08/07   105.   #103, Akiva Patysh 07:05  |  Silvienne 15/08/07   106.   Silvienne 07:09  |  Akiva Patysh 15/08/07   107.   God bless the aboriginal Jews of Judea! 08:20  |  AV 15/08/07   108.   Ultra- Orthodox Jewish Population Boom 08:26  |  Gary Pineda 15/08/07   109.   El -Birawi -- Does it bother you when Palestinians have sex? 08:45  |  Gina 15/08/07   110.   #52 No problems, says danite 10:04  |  Johnboy 15/08/07   111.   El Birawi 10:18  |  New, improved Hannah 15/08/07   112.   Israelis who Schnorr II 15:04  |  MP Pick 15/08/07   113.   No West Bank Settlements for Israelis 18:26  |  Bitter Truth 15/08/07   114.   #106, Akiva Patysh 00:55  |  Silvienne 16/08/07   115.   can palestinians label settlers a terrorist group 01:35  |  Billy Jack 16/08/07   116.   Many of you don`t read too well! 03:54  |  Moises 17/08/07   117.   Why are ultra-Orthodox "bigoted"? 04:03  |  Moises 17/08/07   118.   Prejudiced comments about ultra-orthodox 04:08  |  Moises 17/08/07   119.   Billy Jack #115 - because they are not 05:03  |  Moises 17/08/07   120.   The Hatred of God 00:32  |  Shevet Peh 01/04/08   121.   To El Bra Wee 00:37  |  Simeon ben Jacob 01/04/08   122.   To El Bra Wee 00:37  |  Simeon ben Jacob 01/04/08   123.   = 01:49  |  fred 01/04/08   124.   Jews of faith are winning the demographic war. 04:14  |  Chaim 01/04/08

Today Online Jerusalem council okays 600 new Jewish homes in Arab area Responses: 254 Yishai: Israel must negotiate with Hamas over Shalit release Responses: 148 Editorial: Peace talks, even on Jerusalem, must be secret Responses: 58 MK Swaid: Demolition of Arab homes will lead to an explosion Responses: 63 Rosner's Domain New Guest: Rabbis who don't officiate intermarriage should refer to rabbis who do Poll: What percentage of Jews will vote McCain? 38% for pressuring Palestinians, 25% for pressuring Israel (WTR) Can McCain get a boost from the new dovish Jewish lobby? More Headlines 04:27 Russia's UN envoy: Moscow summit would energize peace process 21:34 Israeli kills Palestinian knifeman in attempted West Bank attack 01:43 Barak heeds Rice call, reverses course to back PA border plan 02:51 Hamas TV puppet 'kills' Bush as revenge for U.S., Israeli actions 03:03 PMO to bear financial cost of Israel Radio's Farsi broadcasts 03:20 Vatican looks to assuage Jews' anger over controversial prayer 03:42 U.K. archives shed light on female spy who led anti-Nazi resistance 03:57 Coming soon - kosher financial instruments 00:17 Abducted soldier's mother: PM must pay price to retrieve them 04:16 Palestinians approve $3.337 billion draft budget for 2008 04:42 Restless Druze employ boycotts, arson to combat cellular antennas 04:52 Court extends remand of Ramle couple suspected of abusing their eight children 05:00 How did the bee cross the road? Via a bee bridge, of course 05:04 Court to rule in former minister Benizri bribery case on Tuesday Previous Editions Select Day 31 mar 30 mar 28 mar 27 mar 26 mar 25 mar 24 mar 23 mar 21 mar 20 mar 19 mar 18 mar

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