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Netanyahu: Pensions cut – Arabs' birth rate declined
Neta Sela
Published: 03.01.07, 00:16
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31 Talkbacks for this article
1. Racist and disgusting strategy
Qassam Brigades ,   Gaza   (01.03.07)
How can Israel claim to be a democratic state when it intentionally aims to drop the birth-rate of non-jews while simultaneously doing all it could to encourage the jewish population to get in bed and start making babies? And you guys claim that you want peace and encourage the establishment of a palestinian state living side by side with Israel ? Liars! You want a jewish majority on our lands...your sick and twisted ideology is why we cant have peace.. Thus, we are left with no chance but to defend our selves and expel you racists out of the holy land.
2. Time for the arab to work on their own problems.
Micha   (01.03.07)
Don't be a slave to your internal problems. Look deep in yourselves and try to figure out what ails your people.
3. Birth rate-to #1
mark ,   westfield usa   (01.03.07)
When jews are allowed to live in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, etc as equal citizens, then your position will hold some water. Until then, Israel treats its non jewish citizens much better than jews were treated by the muslims. You are right that there is no chance for peace. The only alternative is to throw the arabs out of Eretz Israel!!
4. an idea
gabriela ben ari   (01.03.07)
what if parents who DO work and do not make a decent living get that kind of money as well ? As an incentive for people to go out to work (depending on amount and age of children ect) ? what about significantly increasing child money for single parents who find it much more difficult to make do in all aspects of life ?
5. Untrue #1 - Bibi SERIOUSLY quoted out of context
NL ,   Israel   (01.03.07)
Netanyahu's statement about positive effect on non-Jewish demographic is an ECONOMIC statement, not a racist one. It is a widely acknowledged phenomenon around the world that welfare benefits per child encourage people to have more children. Problem is, the benefits only encourage this among the already poor populations and are not sufficient to fully cover the cost of each child, thus requiring a reallocation of funds formerly invested in the previously born children. This results in a phenomenon of more poor children, each receiving less money per child. The non-Jewish sectors among Israeli society are among the poorest in Israel, hence their previous birthrate was increasing poverty in that sector. As such, encouraging the rising birthrate can, in essence, be seen as encouraging poverty. Thus, a lowered birthrate is emperically a positive aspect because it is a proven way of increasing the income level among the poorest sectors. (Note: Why do you think people there are so many birth control initiatives in poverty-torn nations in Africa? Bc fewer children = more money per child = fewer poor children) FYI, many of Bibi's general statements regarding finance/budget cuts indicate that, from an economic standpoint, he would like Haredis (the other huge segment of Israel's poor) to chill out with the child-bearing - for the same reasons stated above. He can't actually phrase it that way because he is a politician and, as Pindrus states in the article, Haredis are an important voter demographic if he ever wants to have a future coalition with UTJ and Shas. Notice that, even though he allegedly sympathizes with their hardships, he still doesn't want their funds to come from the government (it messes up his aforementioned economic approach) and suggested turning to charity organizations for such funds. In actuality, Haredi communities already have a very developed charity network, including fundraising organizations abroad, which is a possible reason why their demographic was less affected than the non-Jewish sectors of the Israeli population (a sort of existing safety net).
6. We live well without "Qassam Brigades" . . .
David ,   Jerusalem / Israel   (01.03.07)
and we need for soure no children from "Qassam Brigades", because that gives just more Qassams. We are not at all interested in sending you mony and the day will come where everybody in Israel want to get rid of you. You have only one chance: accept that you have to behave, otherwise the price will be very high for you.
7. ?????
M. Hartley ,   Atlanta, US   (01.03.07)
Could you, please, explain what Israel's birthrate and their welfare programs have to do with people who are not Israeli citizens?
8. #1 Racist is NO Jews in Gaza, 100% Arab
David ,   Boston, USA   (01.03.07)
Racist is no Jews allowed in Jordan Palestine. Racist is Arabs and British kicking Jews out of Judea and Samaria in the 20s. Smart economics are reducing child allowances for more than 3 or 4 children..it applied to both Arabs and Jews. When Arabs stop putting restriction on Jews in our native land, then you can talk. Otherwise, go back to Arabia.
9. #1 racism
dana ,   ny   (01.03.07)
Arabians=white semites Jews =white semites Hmmm.... same race. someone needs a dictionary.
10. anti-semetic
amer ,   Jerusalem   (01.03.07)
if Mr. Netanyahu remarks were said by an Arab or a European leader he/she would be accused by Jewish groups of anti-semetisim. but when a Jewish leader says something against Arabs he/she is considered democratic and anti-terrorist. isnt it a hypocratic world?
11. Aren't Hareidi and Arab birth rates similar ?
(01.03.07)
AND income - economic situations similar? So if one group showed decline in BR, may be it's also due to something else that child monies
12. Not surprising
MK ,   USA   (01.03.07)
For someone who once said " the Arabs of Israel are more dangerous than those of Palestine" I am not surprised at all by his recent remarks. Bibi is notorious for his racism.
13. whats the shock?
to number 1 ,   beirut, lebanon   (01.03.07)
Why does this artcle come as a surprise to you? The whole world knows that Israeli politics, like Arab or any other politics are rotten to the extreme core? These freaks dont represent the majority of the Israeli people, unfortunately they are in power and we've got to deal with their hatred until the better people of israel decide to throw their political rotten trash into the mega toilet of the world along with the better people of Iran, Syria and Lebanon. We all deserve better, and the politicians deserve the worst. Peace
14. #12idiot
dana ,   ny   (01.03.07)
Before engaging in racial McCarthyism consult a dictionary. Not even dhimmitude would constitute racism. Of course the Arabs running the slave trade would.
15. #5 A very well educated and thought out..
Connie ,   VA, USA   (01.03.07)
response. The same reasons you gave for Bibi's economic stategies are the same as when republicans took control of congress back in 1994. Also when Bush came into office he stressed for faith-based organizations to help out with welfare/social needs here.
16. #1 typical arab propaganda
Lemmings Hotline ,   L J USA   (01.03.07)
You said"...intentionally aims to drop the birth-rate of non-jews " Is this a baby police? Was birth control slipped into their water pipes? Were not everyone affected by the same cuts. Face it, when Arabs are faced with financial stress , they start taking birth control. YOUR LIES ARE ENDLESS.
17. #10 What real Muslim calls Jerusalem Jerusalem? LOL
(01.03.07)
What a joke, I dont know who you are but you truly arent a muslim. No real muslim would call Jerusalem Jerusalem, they would call it Al Quds. So nice try fool.
18. bb-politics as usual
Tony ,   Raanana, Israel   (01.03.07)
He figures that he made his former blind following mad because a lot of them were hurt badly by his economic policies. He also figures he can re-capture "the magic" by a somewhat subtle and sophisticated anti-Arab ploy like this. This is one disgusting and dangerous politician. Pity and shame on whoever puts their faith in this guy.
19. 1 I dont think so.. If youre from Gaza you already
freedom ,   canada   (01.03.07)
in my book are causing many problems to the Christian minority in Bethlehem and Nazareth. You should be truly ashamed and disgusted. Oh wait how about the Sudan.
20. 10 A squatter in east jerusalem???
freedom ,   canada   (01.03.07)
21. 11 Why pay for someone elses kids anyways.
freedom ,   canada   (01.03.07)
22. 13 True we know the arab nations policies in the
freedom ,   canada   (01.03.07)
Sudan. How about the policies of the PA and Hamas in Bethlehem and Nazareth. Those people deserve much better. I have a solution. The PA and its squatters should evacuate these cities and move somewhere else where they belong.
23. The Real Racist Strategy
David M. ,   Rhode Island   (01.03.07)
There's 250 million Arabs and 4.5 million Jews in the middle east and Israel only uses 1/4 of 1% of the land mass. The Arabs teach their children that Jews and Christians are descended from apes and pigs and if you blow yourself up and kill people you get an amusement park or virgins, depending on your age. You could have had some pretty good infrastructure and businesses going by now with the billions Arafat and his ilk stole from you. Then you get Gaza handed to you along with 14 million dollars worth of greenhouses capable of producing 100 million dollars worth of exports annually and you screw up that opportunity royally. I''ll bet there are Africans, Asians and South Americans that would have loved to put those greenhouses to good use.
24. to no 1
fish ,   t-a   (01.03.07)
Israelis will never forget what arafat said - our best weapon is the womb of palestinian woman.I for the life of me, can't understand why I have to finance with my taxes the weapon which is out end Israel. If you guys are so keen on making kids pay for it with your own money, I have to take care of my own children, not yours.
25. Racist Israelis never cease to astonish the world
Hebron   (01.03.07)
Racist Israelis never cease to astonish the world. So, Stop whining about Iran, Arabs, Nazis and look at your leaders. Why do you even call Israel a state? But hey, thanks bibi for giving us another reason to have sex tonight.
26. no.1 is a fraud
mordechai ,   jerusalem   (01.03.07)
In all of my years in Israel I have nerver heard an arab from Gaza call Israerl "the holy land." gotya!!
27. To #7 M. Hartley
(01.03.07)
FYI, there is a 20% Arab population within Israel's green line who are full citizens enjoying welfare system, state benefits, unemployment money, representation in the Israeli parliament, autonomous local muncipalities, autonomous Arab schools and curriculum, etc etc.
28. Something We've All Seen ...
Terry ,   Eilat - Israel   (01.03.07)
How many times have you seen some idiot journalist interviewing people in some Third-World country or in Gaza & the person interviewed says " Oh, I'm so poor I can't even feed my 20 children?" "I don't have a job, how will I support my 4 wives and my 30 children?" And the journalist starts with "Look, the gov't doesn't help them BS" Now, how stupid can people be? They should eliminate all child subsidies. If you can't afford to have children, don't.
29. #1 Since when is democracy related to birth rates?
daniel ,   amsterdam   (01.03.07)
A state can claim to be a democracy if it allows free and fair elections ever now and then. This is what makes a democracy, not the attempts of the goverment to influence birthrates. Israel is under no obligation to commit suicide in a misguiged attempt to become the perfect society. The only obligation that Israel does have, is to face reality and deal with it. If Israel is a racist and disgusting state for trying to influence the birthrates of a hostile population, then Holland too is a disgusting racist state. Because here too there are laws to limit the amount of Muslims which enter the country. Not because we are racists, but because Muslims seek to alter the demographic situation. We are allowed to defend ourselves from warfare of the womb.
30. i want to tell the Netanyahu one thing
meni avraham ,   haifa   (01.03.07)
i know that you want to start speak if ultra urtoudocs but i want to tell you that i dont belive you acsully there is some difrence of opinion but my opinion that you lie men i hate you i lot but the public in israel he is stupid in any case i wish you i lot od succees bye
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