The Unmaking of Israel (37 page)

177
small drop in childbearing:
Toledano,
Effect of Child Allowances
9.

177
deepening the social crisis:
Na’amah Tzifroni and Bambi Sheleg, “Ani Hared Me’od Legoral Hayehadut Haharedit,”
Eretz Aheret
, Aug.–Sept. 2007: 25; Bezalel Cohen, interview.

178
65 percent in 2008:
Ben-David,
Israel’s Labor Market
233.

178
occupation of adult men:
Gottlieb,
Ha’oni Vehahitnahagut
11, using figures from the Central Bureau of Statistics. In a 26 Dec. 2010 statement, the Education Ministry spokesperson said 70,000 men were receiving ministry stipends as
kollel
students. It is unlikely that the discrepancy in figures is due to an increase of nearly 15,000 students in two years. At least part of the discrepancy may be due to fraudulent listing of students, including men who are working off the books while registered as
kollel
students.

178
among ultra-Orthodox women:
Ben-David,
Israel’s Labor Market
242. In 2008, less than half of ultra-Orthodox women in the 35–54 age bracket were employed.

178
two-thirds of ultra-Orthodox families:
Miri Endewald et al.,
2008: Poverty and Social Gaps, Annual Report
(Jerusalem: National Insurance Institute, 2009): 1, 15.

178
aged four or less:
Gottlieb,
Ha’oni Vehahitnahagut
13.

178
ultra-Orthodox institutions in 2009:
Nachum Blass,
Israel’s Educational System: A Domestic Perspective
(Jerusalem: Taub Center for Social Policy Studies in Israel, 2010): 165.

181
no alternative for divorce:
Religious jurisdiction over marriage and divorce applies to other faith communities in Israel.
Sharia
courts, for instance, control divorce among Muslims. A particularly extreme consequence is that Catholic couples have no legal path to divorce.

181
posts with their appointees:
Friedman, interview.

181
Jewish law to solve the problem:
Center for Women’s Justice, “The Problem and Our Solutions,” www.cwj.org.il/the-problem-and-our-solutions, acc. 1 Dec. 2010.

182
Jewishness into those frames:
Avi Sagi and Zvi Zohar,
Transforming Identity: The Ritual Transformation from Gentile to Jew—Structure and Meaning
(London: Continuum, 2007); Zvi Zohar, interview.

182
annul her conversion:
Sagi and Zohar,
Transforming Identity
252–63; Zohar, interview. Regulations on conversion by Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar in 2006, in his role as head of the rabbinical courts, describe the process for annulling conversion—itself a radical concept—though without describing the grounds for doing so. Shlomo Amar, “Klalei Hadiun Bevakashot Legiur,” 17 Shvat 5766 (15 Feb. 2006).

183
in fact, converted properly:
Susan Weiss et al.,
The Interrogation of the Convert “X” by the Israeli Rabbinic Courts
(Jerusalem: Center for Women’s Justice, 2010); Zohar, interview.

183
alliances with the ultra-Orthodox:
After the 1999 election, Ehud Barak also included
haredi
parties in his coalition. However, that election took place under the two-ballot system. While Barak won a majority in the vote for prime minister, the ultra-Orthodox and right-wing parties had a majority in parliament.

184
five seats in parliament:
The Communist-led Hadash list draws most but not all of its support from Arab voters, and always includes a Jew in its Knesset delegation.

184
ultra-Orthodox can charge more:
The theoretical basis for this discussion is Philip D. Straffin, “Topics in the Theory of Voting” (Boston: Birkhauser, 1980): 1–17.

184
but hardly sufficient:
Interview, anonymity requested.

185
haredim
into the settlement enterprise:
Shilhav, interview; Eliahu Naeh, interview. Immanuel, a settlement designated entirely for ultra-Orthodox residents, was established earlier, but failed to attract large numbers of settlers.

185
$50,000 interest-free mortgage:
Anonymous interviews, Beitar Illit.

185
settlement population outside East Jerusalem:
Central Bureau of Statistics, “Population in Municipalities and Local Councils,” www.cbs.gov.il/ishuvim/ishuv2009/table7.xls, acc. 1 Dec. 2010. Modi’in Illit had 46,200 residents and Beitar Illit 35,000. The municipality of Beitar Illit gave slightly higher figures, listing 36,757 residents as of 18 Oct. 2010 in a printout given to me by the municipal spokesman.

185
aged four or under:
Central Bureau of Statistics, “Modi’in Illit,” www.cbs.gov.il/publications/local_authorities2007/pdf/552_3797.pdf, acc. 29 Dec. 2010. The precise proportion, as of 2007, was 28.9 percent. In Beitar Illit, as of 18 Oct. 2010, 28.1 percent of residents were age five or under, according to the municipality. See previous note.

186
“further to the extreme”:
Shilhav, interview.

187
haredi
education succeeds:
Yosef Rozovsky and Eran Ben-Porat, interviews.

188
“sealed it hermetically”:
Tikochinski, interview; Bezalel Cohen,
Economic Hardship and Gainful Employment in Haredi Society in Israel: An Insider’s Perspective
(Jerusalem: Floersheimer Institute for Policy Studies, 2006): 32.

188
help haredim do that:
Naomi Darom, “Haredim Lefarnasatam,”
The Marker
, 27 May 2010: 30–34; Bezalel Cohen, interview; Shilhav, interview.

189
getting a mainstream job:
Bezalel Cohen,
Economic Hardship
50.

189
meager kollel
salary:
Bezalel Cohen,
Economic Hardship
48–50.

189
“economy of the next world”:
Friedman, interview.

189
state ignored the first one:
HCJ 10296/02 (judgment delivered 11 Aug., 2004); HCJ 4805/07 (judgment delivered 27 July 2008).

189
only teach religious subjects:
Hok Mosdot Hinukh Tarbutiim Yihudiim, 2008.

191
to understand human complexity:
The debate over what an education in humanities should include and how it should be conducted is much too wide to sum up here. For a brief introduction, see Martha C. Nussbaum,
Not for Profit: Why Democracy Needs the Humanities
(Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 2010).

191
moral complexity of everyday life:
Joshua Gutoff, private communication.

192
yeshivah students sign up:
Drori,
Bein Emunah Letzava
26–41, 51–78; Ze’ev Drori, interview; interviews with soldiers and officers in Netzah Yehudah.

193
to keep religious commandments:
Drori,
Bein Emunah Letzava
75.

193
“[defending] the Jewish people”:
Drori, interview; Lt. Col. Dror Spiegel, interview.

193
“historical and divine decree”:
Lt. Ariel Eliahu, interview.

194
“ideological and political credo”:
Drori, interview.

194
soldiers in that bind:
Drori, interview; Spiegel, interview.

VII. Importing the Revolution

197
immigrants to join them:
Benny Morris,
1948
: The First Arab-Israeli War (New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 2008): 164–66; Johayna Saifi, interview; ISA 2196/14-Gimel, document 8B, Report on Activities of the Nahariyah District Administration.

197
martyrs of the Israeli right:
Tom Segev,
One Palestine, Complete: Jews and Arabs under the British Mandate
(New York: Metropolitan, 2000): 457; Shimon Cohen, “Hayom Ha’azkarah Le‘Shnei Eliahu,’”
Arutz Sheva
, 27 Mar. 2007, www.inn.co.il/News/News.aspx/160911, acc. 12 Jan 2010. In 2009, Education Minister Gideon Sa’ar of the Likud launched a new educational unit for eighth and ninth graders on “those who ascended to the gallows”—twelve members of the Irgun and Lehi who were either executed or who committed suicide in prison. They included the “two Eliahus.” A ministry letter to school principals described the unit as promoting the “values of heroism, self-sacrifice and devotion to national rebirth, based on the character and actions” of the twelve. The program fit the martyrdom narrative promoted by the political heirs of the Irgun and Lehi since 1948. “Haf’alat Tokhnit Yihudit Benose Olei Hagardom,” 20 Nov. 2009, cms.education.gov.il/NR/rdonlyres/125B367F-3304-4174-A710-FC61B439B5D7/104647/MictavMenahalim.doc, acc. 10 Jan. 2010;
Olei Hagardom
(Jerusalem: Education Ministry, 2009), cms.education.gov.il/NR/rdonlyres/125B367F-3304-4174-A710-FC61B439B5D7/104645/oleyGardom.pdf, acc. 10 Jan. 2010.

197
town of Nahariyah:
Meron Rapoport, “Mitzvat Yishuv Ha’aretz Etzel Ahmad Basalon,”
Ha’aretz
, 10 Oct. 2006, www.haaretz.co.il/hasite/pages/ShArtPE.jhtml, acc. 14 Oct. 2008.

197
mosques outside the walls:
Sami Hawary, Suheila Khalil, and Suheil Omari, interviews.

198
majority in the town:
As of 9 Dec. 2009, according to Akko municipal spokesperson Sharon Dahan, the city’s population was 53,252, of whom 72 percent were Jews. The Central Bureau of Statistics gives lower figures for the total population and Jewish portion: at the end of 2009, it listed 46,300 residents, of whom 30,600—65 percent—were Jews. Central Bureau of Statistics,
Statistical Abstract of Israel 2010
, table 2.15. A 2002 Knesset report, however, listed the city’s population at that time as 51,825, of whom 12,956—25 percent—were Arabs. Yossi Zulfan,
Ha’ir Akko
(Jerusalem: Knesset, Merkaz Hamehkar Vehameda, 2002).

198
“settlement groups”:
The Hebrew term I have translated as “settlement group” is
garin
, literally “seed” or “nucleus,” and is the standard term for a group organized to establish a settlement or to strengthen an existing one.

198
native of Elon Moreh:
Avishag Adari, “Te’atron Aher,”
Besheva
, 13 Oct. 2008: 10; Nachshon Cohen, interview.

198
more than eighty families:
Naftali Reznikovich, interview.

199
“stopped the Arab encroachment”:
Adari, “Te’atron.”

199
“to invade into Akko”:
Sara Paparin, interview.

199
“Akko is a Jewish city”:
Nachshon Cohen, interview.

199
“highest in the country”:
“Odot Hayeshivah,” www.yakko.co.il/about.asp, acc. 6 Jan. 2011.

199
“power, determination and confidence”:
Ori Tal,
Hametihut Bein Yehudim Le’aravim Bishkhunat Wolfson Be’akko
(Jerusalem: Knesset, Merkaz Hamehkar Vehameda, 2006): 3, quoting the Web page cited in the previous note as it appeared on 26 Oct. 2006.

199
their military assault rifles:
Tal, “Hemetihut” 2, 4. Some soldiers are required to take their guns while traveling to and from their bases, though the IDF has reduced the number required to do so. After arriving at his destination, the soldier must either follow strict rules on locking up his gun or carry it with him. Some of the soldiers arriving at the yeshivah, therefore, had no choice but to carry their rifles. Once they were there, however, carrying the guns was a matter of choice. On changes in IDF policy on carrying guns, see Hanan Greenberg, “Hamahapekhah Nimshekhet: Anshei Keva Yistovevu Lelo Neshek,”
Ynet
, 12 Dec. 2005, www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3183248,00.html, acc. 29 Jan. 2011.

200
the peace in Wolfson:
Tal, “Hametihut” 3–4.

201
“Akko and raised morale”:
Ynet
and
Ha’aretz
, 9–12 Oct. 2008; Ala Hlehel, ed.,
October 2008 in Akka (Acre): Course of Events
(Akko: Akka Residents Coalition, 2008), www.ittijah.org/UserFiles/File/Report-English.pdf, acc. 1 Dec. 2009; Elyashiv Reichner, “Garinim Birgashot Me’uravot,”
Nekuda
, Oct. 2009: 22–26; Noam Wreshner, Ahmed Odeh, interviews.

202
Beit El, Elon Moreh, and Yitzhar:
Reichner, “Garinim.”

202
connect to local Jews:
Eliyahu Mali, interview; Reichner, “Garinim.”

203
“settling in Jaffa”:
Gideon Dokov, “Mitnahalim Beyaffo,” 16 Iyyar 5769 (10 May 2009), www.kipa.co.il/now/show.asp?id=32851, acc. 11 Jan. 2011; “Proyekt Yaffo Letzibur Dati Le’umi,” bemuna.co.il/project.asp?id=66, acc. 11 Jan. 2011. The firm describes the East Jerusalem project as being in the Jewish neighborhood of East Talpiot (www.bemuna.co.il/english/project.asp?id=53), but it is actually located in the adjacent Palestinian neighborhood of Arab a-Sawahra. Arab and Jewish residents of Jaffa unsuccessfully challenged the Israel Lands Authority’s decision to sell development rights to a firm intending to sell the apartments in a discriminatory manner. The Supreme Court rejected the suit on the grounds that it was filed after the company’s sale of apartments was “an accomplished fact.” Administrative Appeal 1789/10.