title: Demography and the shaping of Israel's borders.
abstract: "This paper will show that the demographic map of the Land of Israel in its present form is essentially the principal factor in shaping the extent of Jewish settlement in this generation, and that there is little possibility of changing this pattern except for making small and insignificant adjustments."  The author describes the changing demographic picture in Palestine from the late nineteenth century to the present day, particularly changes in the ethnic composition of the population.  He concludes that the presence of a majority Arab population in the Occupied Territories of Judea, Samaria, and the Gaza Strip will oblige Israel to compromise with regard to granting cultural and political autonomy. Furthermore, three large Arab enclaves in Israel proper--Galilee, the triangle, and the Bedouin Negev--will have to be given up if current settlement patterns do not radically change, which is itself unlikely.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soffer
mesh_terms: D001208:Asia; D001211:Asia, Western; D003469:Culture; D003710:Demography; D019049:Developed Countries; D003906:Developing Countries; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005006:Ethnicity; D005843:Geography; D007557:Israel; D008877:Middle East; D011057:Politics; D011153:Population; D011154:Population Characteristics; D011157:Population Dynamics
keywords: Arab Countries; Asia; Cultural Background; Demographic Factors; Developed Countries; Developing Countries; Ethnic Groups; Gaza Strip (palestine); Geographic Factors; Israel; Mediterranean Countries; Migration; Political Factors; Population; Population Characteristics; Population Dynamics; Settlement And Resettlement; Spatial Distribution--changes; Western Asia