Start with east LA

Demographics in California, the third largest state in the union, are seen by many as strategically problematic for the United States. Founded in 1781 by Spanish governor Felipe de Neve, the City of Angels was a sovereign part of Mexico until the US Army conquered it in 1846 as a bi-product of the Mexican-American War.

Today, about 10 million people live in LA County, 46.8% of which are of Hispanic or Latino descent. Only 29.5% of the area’s residents are non-Hispanic whites. The most significant Hispanic majority is in east LA, where English has practically become a foreign language. The current demographic trends show that the growing Hispanic population will soon become an absolute majority not only in LA, but the entire state of California.

The demographic data on LA dwarfs the oft-mentioned “demographic problem” in Israel’s capital, Jerusalem. Established by King David more than 3,000 years ago, it has always been the capital of the Jewish People. In the context of the Arab-Israeli conflict, it is interesting to note that not only has there never been a Palestinian state, but that "the City of God" has never served as the capital of any Arab, Muslim or Christian state.

Jerusalem has benefited from a Jewish majority since 1844 and today approximately 70% of its 720,000 residents are Jews. The "American-Israeli Demographic Studies Team" recently found that for the first time since 1948, Jews and Arabs in Jerusalem have equal birth rates: In 2006, on average 3.9 children per woman (Jewish and Arab alike) were born, compared to 4.5 children per Arab woman in 2004. Some argue the cutbacks in outrageous child allowances, daringly implemented by Benjamin Netanyahu as Finance Minister in 2003, had a pivotal effect on this trend.

Renewed hope

Subsequent to recent demands that Jewish construction in Jerusalem be limited, Prime Minister Netanyahu made it clear that Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem "cannot be challenged." He emphasized that "residents of Jerusalem may purchase apartments in all parts of the city" and that "in recent years hundreds of apartments in Jewish neighborhoods and in the western part of the city have been purchased by - or rented to - Arab residents without interference … there is no ban on Arabs buying apartments in the western part of the city and there is no ban on Jews buying or building apartments in the eastern part of the city. This is the policy of an open city, an undivided city that is not separated according to religious affiliation."

Netanyahu pointedly concluded: "We cannot accept the idea that Jews will not have the right to live and purchase (land or housing) in Jerusalem. I can only imagine what would happen if someone would propose that Jews could not live in certain neighborhoods in New York, London, Paris or Rome. There would certainly be a major international outcry. Accordingly, we cannot agree to such a decree in Jerusalem."

In light of historical facts and the demographic data, Jerusalem and its Jewish majority have renewed hope. After more than 40 years of free access to all religions – for the first time in the city’s long history - there is no need to divide it or limit Jewish presence there. Jerusalem should instead be developed and fostered.

So next time someone in Washington suggests limitations in east Jerusalem, perhaps he should instead be referred to East LA!