Israel’s historic demographic policies are no longer sustainable and the country must actively change direction, according to award-winning Israeli environmental activist and BGU Prof. Alon Tal in his new book, The Land is Full—Addressing Overpopulation in Israel.
In his third book, Prof. Tal addresses Israel’s tenfold population growth. The country has gone from 800,000 people to eight million people in only 68 years. Such exponential growth has produced acute environmental and social crises in the tiny country.
“The ramifications of such extraordinary demographic growth—from burgeoning pollution and dwindling natural resources, to overcrowded classrooms, courtrooms and roads—are monumental,” says Prof. Tal. “Zionists have always been nimble about adapting to dynamic realities. Those who love Israel must revisit their fundamental commitment to immigration and population growth and cultivate a new vision for preserving the landscape and quality of life in the Jewish state.”
In a recent Op-Ed in The New York Times, Tal explained that "It is Israel’s high fertility rate —50 percent higher than most other Western countries—that puts it on an unsustainable course. This didn’t happen naturally; it is the result of decades of government programs that encouraged large families. As the country fills up, Israel needs a change of direction, with economic strategies to empower women of all communities in its diverse society."
This provocative book, based on extensive fieldwork, describes the origins of Israeli policies and suggests how they must change to support a sustainable future. Research for the book included interviews with dozens of experts and people from all sectors of Israeli society. While the issue may be jarring for some, many believe the time for study and analysis of this critical issue has come.
“For 25 years, Alon Tal has been on the front lines of Israel’s struggle for sustainability,” says Tzipi Livni, Knesset member and former Israeli foreign minister. “His book asks hard questions, offers practical solutions, and demonstrates how a country can turn over a new leaf to truly become a promised land.”
Although most of Prof. Tal’s research is focused on Israel's environmental challenges, he is also focused on how to make progress in the sustainable development and prevention of desertification in Africa.
About the Author
Prof. Tal is an associate professor in the Bona Terra Department of Man in the Desert in the Swiss Institute for Dryland Environmental and Energy Research at BGU's Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research.
In addition to his role at BGU, Prof. Tal founded the Israel Union for Environmental Defense, Israel's leading green advocacy organization, and the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies. A passionate advocate for local and global environmental protection, he served as chair of Israel's Green Party from 2010 to 2013. Tal received a lifetime achievement award from Israel's Ministry of Environment at age 48. In 2005, he earned the Bronfman prize, a humanitarian award for young leaders.
