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Israel-Palestine
Gaza bursting at seams without West Bank link
2005-09-14
The Gaza Strip, one of the most overcrowded places in the world, faces demographic asphyxiation if it remains cut off from the rest of Palestinian territory after the Israeli pullout, experts say. "Gaza is already suffering from overpopulation and limited land space. Without a link to the West Bank, it won't be able to accommodate one more person," said Khalil Najm, an official in the Palestinian Planning Ministry.
I'm not familiar with 'demographic asphyxiation': is that a medical term? Can we make it one?
According to official Palestinian statistics, Gaza's population density is 3,457 people per square kilometer, comparable to Singapore.
As long as we remember that Gaza isn't comparable to Singapore.
The number of Palestinians living in the narrow sliver of east Mediterranean coast is expected to climb from its current level of 1.3 million to 2.2 million people in 10 years, reaching three million by the year 2025, Najm said. The fast growth is linked to the high fertility rate, which far outpaces the Middle East average, putting immense pressure on educational, health and housing facilities, not to mention natural resources. Each married Palestinian woman bears an average of 6.8 children, compared with a 4.4 Middle East average and just 1.6 in industrialized countries.
You'd think the average Mahmoud wouldn't have either time or energy to be a splodydope ...
Experts say population growth in the Palestinian territories - expected to reach 4.52 percent in 2005 - presents serious obstacles for the Gaza Strip. "Population growth presents enormous challenges in the Palestinian territories and in Gaza in particular, with regard to water resources, infrastructure, education and health," Najm said.
Posted by:Fred

#14  "1.3 million to 2.2 million people in 10 years"
Gaza: Sex and guns and rock'n roll rocks.
Posted by: Darrell   2005-09-14 21:04  

#13  The number of Palestinians living in the narrow sliver of east Mediterranean coast is expected to climb from its current level of 1.3 million to 2.2 million people in 10 years

Nothing a little internal jihad can't solve.
Posted by: gromgoru   2005-09-14 20:57  

#12  well, instead of high-rises, and in light of their tunneling ability, perhaps they can have underground multi-level "hives"
Posted by: Frank G   2005-09-14 19:15  

#11  Nothing a little nukie wouldn't cure.
Posted by: mac   2005-09-14 19:02  

#10  Maybe Israel should give the Palestinians the right of return, but to Gaza only, so they can take care of two birds with one stone. Honestly, how they think they can run an independent state is beyond me...but allowing self-rule is all right with me. Let them put themselves out of their self-induced misery.
Posted by: Danielle   2005-09-14 16:02  

#9  Condoms,
Use condoms, stupid "demographically asphyxiation"
mentally retarded hamasniks.
Anyone who uses a condom will be rewarded by 72 virgins(in hell).
Posted by: Elder of Zion   2005-09-14 15:53  

#8  '.if it remains cut off from the rest of Palestinian territory.'
and what rest of the territory would that be, more, give me more...
Posted by: Jan   2005-09-14 11:16  

#7  So let me get this straight. They just acquired another 30% of the land in Gaza and all of a sudden there is a major overcrowding problem?
Posted by: PlanetDan   2005-09-14 11:05  

#6  How do you say "tough shit" in Arabic?
Posted by: mojo   2005-09-14 10:19  

#5  ...the Palestinian Planning Ministry.

Boy, I'll bet that's a real heavy lifting job...
Posted by: tu3031   2005-09-14 09:26  

#4  I thought the population statistics of the Palestinians were, in general, bullshit?
Posted by: Mitch H.   2005-09-14 08:44  

#3  And with all the "militants" that the fundies will import from Lebanon or Iran, and from all over the arab world if AQ gets an hold in Gaza, it will get even more crowded, not too mention the space taken by the assorted hardware...

Seriously, this "war of the belly", with the insane natality of the paleos (and of the muslims in general, who are well aware of the increased weight demography gives them) is suicidal... or would be, in a sane world.
It relies completely on the outside, productive Nations to be viable.

If/when the infidels stop the life support for Gaza, or stop accepting the surplus of muslim population into their own countries and thus litteraly creating the conditions for unrest (example : "french" natality of 1,2 vs migrant natality between 2,5 and 4,5 for example, with 300-500 000 adults coming each years, plus an untold number of not-counted kids, which gives us a muslim pop doubling every 20 years), then this would be strictly unbearable.

About world pop, see this nice primer by a liberal (euro-meaning) retired french businessman (shameless plug for a site I like) : WORLD POPULATION PROSPECTS
THE "ISLAMIC BOMB"
http://www.freeworldacademy.com/globalleader/population.htm
Posted by: anonymous5089   2005-09-14 07:03  

#2  So cry me a friggin' river -- it might help with the water supply....
Posted by: Scooter McGruder   2005-09-14 04:41  

#1  "Gaza is already suffering from overpopulation and limited land space. Without a link to the West Bank, it won't be able to accommodate one more person," said Khalil Najm, an official in the Palestinian Planning Ministry.

Don't worry about it, Mr. Najm. With some luck, that little "problem" should soon be mitigated somewhat...
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama   2005-09-14 00:41  

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