Comments on: Does violence pay in Israel? http://josephdana.com/2009/07/does-violence-pay-in-israel/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=does-violence-pay-in-israel commentary from Israel & the West Bank Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:20:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Aggression suits the Israeli style | Antony Loewenstein http://josephdana.com/2009/07/does-violence-pay-in-israel/comment-page-1/#comment-206 Aggression suits the Israeli style | Antony Loewenstein Thu, 23 Jul 2009 20:50:40 +0000 http://josephdana.com/?p=728#comment-206 [...] Joseph Dana, residing in Jerusalem, asks a profound question about modern-day Israel: does violence pay and are religious, Jewish fundamentalists the acceptable face of mainstream [...] [...] Joseph Dana, residing in Jerusalem, asks a profound question about modern-day Israel: does violence pay and are religious, Jewish fundamentalists the acceptable face of mainstream [...]

]]> By: dana http://josephdana.com/2009/07/does-violence-pay-in-israel/comment-page-1/#comment-187 dana Sun, 19 Jul 2009 13:35:37 +0000 http://josephdana.com/?p=728#comment-187 I think Israel will come to greatly regret its short sighted policy of coddling the ultra-orthodox and national religious. The fault lines between them and israel's secular are increasing by the day, undermining any consensus regarding the state and its instruments.. The extent of the gap is bound to increase because of the disproportionate birth rate. I read somewhere that the ultra-orthodox as a group are now 20% of Israeli society - which would seem to be reflected in the percentage of votes shas, united torah etc win in Israeli elections. Another 5-10% can be counted among the national religious, including immigrants from north america (an underestimate, surely). Anyone has actual numbers? I did BTW, a little back of the envelope calculation using a factor of 2.0 (a good average, i think) for disparate birth rates between the ultra-religious and secular . I get that in less than 20 years the ultra-orthodox and national religious together reach over 35% of the total jewish population. Add to that 10-15% Russian who are still likely to be right wing in one generation, and one gets half of the total population on the side that has limited respect for law. Given the increasing trend of emmigration by Israel's secular (an underreported trend) one can only wonder what kind of government will be in place 10-15 years from now. Looks like resistance to the forces of darkness is a pretty secure career path. You better find some way of making money with it, Joseph. I think Israel will come to greatly regret its short sighted policy of coddling the ultra-orthodox and national religious. The fault lines between them and israel’s secular are increasing by the day, undermining any consensus regarding the state and its instruments.. The extent of the gap is bound to increase because of the disproportionate birth rate.

I read somewhere that the ultra-orthodox as a group are now 20% of Israeli society – which would seem to be reflected in the percentage of votes shas, united torah etc win in Israeli elections. Another 5-10% can be counted among the national religious, including immigrants from north america (an underestimate, surely). Anyone has actual numbers?

I did BTW, a little back of the envelope calculation using a factor of 2.0 (a good average, i think) for disparate birth rates between the ultra-religious and secular . I get that in less than 20 years the ultra-orthodox and national religious together reach over 35% of the total jewish population. Add to that 10-15% Russian who are still likely to be right wing in one generation, and one gets half of the total population on the side that has limited respect for law. Given the increasing trend of emmigration by Israel’s secular (an underreported trend) one can only wonder what kind of government will be in place 10-15 years from now.

Looks like resistance to the forces of darkness is a pretty secure career path. You better find some way of making money with it, Joseph.

]]> By: Chadwick Meyer http://josephdana.com/2009/07/does-violence-pay-in-israel/comment-page-1/#comment-185 Chadwick Meyer Sat, 18 Jul 2009 15:20:05 +0000 http://josephdana.com/?p=728#comment-185 You make a great contrast between the unequal enforcement of law. A nation cannot tolerate preferential use of justice like this, it undermines the entire legitimacy of the state. It's so frustrating to see the authorities manipulated by the religious right and go to extreme lengths to tolerate their self destructive agenda. You make a great contrast between the unequal enforcement of law. A nation cannot tolerate preferential use of justice like this, it undermines the entire legitimacy of the state. It’s so frustrating to see the authorities manipulated by the religious right and go to extreme lengths to tolerate their self destructive agenda.

]]> By: Global Voices Online » Israel: Does Violence Pay? http://josephdana.com/2009/07/does-violence-pay-in-israel/comment-page-1/#comment-183 Global Voices Online » Israel: Does Violence Pay? Sat, 18 Jul 2009 08:45:20 +0000 http://josephdana.com/?p=728#comment-183 [...] successful - while non-violent leftist Israelis are often attacked with grave force by the state authorities.” Cancel this [...] [...] successful – while non-violent leftist Israelis are often attacked with grave force by the state authorities.” Cancel this [...]

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