Jerusalem’s population, 1995–2020: Demography, multiculturalism, and urban policies

This chapter presents selected findings from a new set of population projections for the city of Jerusalem over the period 1995–2020 (DellaPergola and Rebhun 1999). The project was initiated at the request of the Jerusalem Municipality’s Division for Strategic Planning and Research in the framework of a new multi-disciplinary Strategic Masterplan aimed at developing a broad conceptualand executive framework for Jerusalem urban policies in future decades (Hershkovitz et al. 2000). The committing body as a general background to the broader project suggested three basic working assumptions: a) Jerusalem at peace; b) Jerusalem within present Municipal boundaries; and c) Jerusalem united under Israeli sovereignty. Besides suggesting this general scenario, the Municipality did not interfere with the technical or substantive contents of the present research. An independent team of researchers and consultants directed by the author performed data processing and analysis.