Arab 48, Ramallah, December 12
An interesting study has been published this week, although, sadly, not many people paid attention to it. Compiled by the United Nations Population Fund, the report lays out Palestine’s future population in the years of 2030 and 2050. One of the main takeaways from this report is the fact that the Palestinian population in the West Bank will reach roughly 7 million by 2030, and almost 10 million by 2050. More importantly, the population of the Gaza Strip is expected to reach, and even exceed, that of the West Bank by the same year. This study raises many hopes, but also several fears. Perhaps the most encouraging one is that fact that the Palestinian people are here to stay. No matter how hard the Israeli occupation tries to cleanse the Palestinian people and steal their land, the Palestinian population, both inside and outside the 1948 lines, is growing ever stronger. Eventually, Israel will have no choice but to grant citizenship to everyone between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. What is more concerning, however, is how this growth in population can be turned into growth in human capital. Development would be impossible unless we make significant investments in education, healthcare, and the economy. These are all difficult feats to accomplish under the brutal hands of the occupation, but they are crucial nonetheless. Providing younger generations with jobs and incorporating women into the workforce is our number one priority. Ensuring that every young adult can attend university is the next one. With such a growth in numbers comes a growth in power. This power can bring about a promising future for the Palestinian people. But, if left unmet, it could also turn into a disaster. We must plan ahead and prepare for our future. We must make infrastructure investments in education and healthcare. We must abandon the mindset that pushes us to look ahead only a few months at a time, instead of a few decades. Palestine has a promising future, and we must build and ensure it today. – Mustafa Barghouti