AlonTalThe Land Is Full: Addressing Overpopulation in IsraelNew Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2016. 408 p. $40.00.

Abstract

There are two core arguments about the patterns of nation-building in Israel. First, socio-demographic transformations—changes in immigration, health and mortality, fertility and family structure, internal migration and residential concentration—have been critical in shaping nation-building and economic development in Israeli society and in that society's generational renewal. Second, population changes have had wide-ranging consequences for the emergence and expansion of inequalities within Israel over time and have shaped new divisions and conflicts among Jews and between Jews and Arabs. At the same time, religious institutions and ideological developments that often create a common set of values and culture have been sources of conflict and polarization within Israeli society. This book focuses in particular on the notion of “overpopulation” in Israel, highlighting key ecological and environmental consequences of population density and past rapid growth in Israel. This discussion is placed in the context of broad demographic trends and political-environmental changes with a concern about future population growth and expansion. Alon Tal, founder of the Israel Union for Environmental Defense, proposes solutions and policies to address these broad macro issues and especially the challenges of the divergent policies that would be required to take into consideration demographic variation among the major ethnic and religious subpopulations of Israel. However, the synthesis is presented without a critical reading of past research or attempts at systematic or in-depth analysis. The author's goal is largely to summarize what is known in order to highlight one general point: population growth and density conflict with the quality of the environment, resources, and life in Israel. Tal reviews the major demographic changes since the establishment of Israel and links these to the growing density of populations and the resultant environmental problems, including pollution, waste, greenhouse gas emissions, and water scarcity. Problems exacerbated (or, in the author's view, caused) by population pressure have continued, leading to impaired public services, housing shortages, high levels of poverty, and crowded classrooms. The two sources of demographic growth—immigration (as the primary source of Jewish population growth) and high fertility (as the major factor in Arab, particularly Muslim, population growth)—are reviewed. Immigration to Israel has slowed in recent years following the large movement of Jews from the former Soviet Union. Fertility changes are reviewed with an emphasis on the ideological, religious, and normative implications of early marriage and large families and government subsidies that encourage high fertility. The significant reduction in Muslim fertility and the changes in family formation and the role of women are noted, as are the large families among Ultra-Orthodox (or Haredi) Jews and Bedouin. The implication that these minority groups within Israel are the major source of environmental problems seems disproportionate to their size. The inclusion in Tal's review of population growth among Palestinians and Jewish settlers in territories administered by Israel (Gaza and the West Bank) is confusing and perhaps distorting without addressing the political issues involved. The notion of optimal population size when applied to Israel is especially problematic given that the political and geographic borders of the state remain controversial and questions about who is an Israeli are left vague. Not surprisingly, a final chapter that presents an agenda and policy recommendations for stabilizing Israel's population is general with little attention to implementation at the political level. There is little comparison with other countries in the Middle East with significantly larger populations, more pressing ecological and environmental problems, and more serious current and potentially future demographic and ecological challenges. Israel is not yet full or overpopulated, but population growth and density together with other political and social processes will likely exacerbate environmental problems in the future, especially if rates of growth continue as in the past. Tal presents the current and potential future environmental consequences of population dynamics in Israel in unique ways. The author admits that his book is more polemic than analysis. Nevertheless, the presentation has value in highlighting significant consequences often neglected in discussions of Israel's demographic history. Many of the recommendations are appropriate for a wide range of objectives and indirectly would have a positive effect on the control and the reduction of future population growth. Yet the major challenges of developing and implementing differential policies for subgroups within a democratic political context remain. Tal identifies key ecological and environmental consequences of population density and growth using Israel as a case study. A more balanced analysis would also discuss the socio-political effects of population growth and distribution, which are often positive for small states. It follows that solutions to the negative environmental consequences of population density and growth have to be pursued in arenas in addition to the demographic. Policies that pinpoint demographic control mechanisms are unlikely to be effective or fully implemented unless these broader systems are addressed as well.