If ever the Palestinians and Israelis get it together, this will become the big issue in Israel: progressive and secular Jews vs. the Ultra-Orthodox. Israel is only 20% Orthodox, and many of them are not Ultra-Orthodox. E.g. Shimon Peres is Orthodox, and he’s no fan of the ultra-religious and their parties. About 15 years ago, everyone predicted that the Ultra-Orthodx would grow substantially in numbers, but that has not happened, as many children of Ultra-Orthodox families are influenced by the broader global culture (as many of the youth are in Iran) and do not stay within the fold. The Palestinian conflict helps the Ultra-Orthodox, since it divides everybody else. In the long run, I don’t think that the Ultra-Orthodox can win, because the numbers are not on their side and because this is not the direction of human culture. Time is on our side.
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