The Land Is Full: Addressing Overpopulation in Israel 1st Edition by Alon Tal (Yale University Press)

If you are at all interested in the future of Israel, do not miss Alon Tal’s riveting book. “The Land is Full” provides a fascinating look at the sustainability of Israel through its demography and environment. Tal delves into the research and conducts his own, in order to tease apart the fascinating truths that motivate the Knesset’s environmental policies which favor procreation by Ashkenazi Jews at all costs.

But as Tal contends, the land is full—quite literally. In fact, one out of every four Israeli’s who issue a formal grievance at the police station are complaining of noise pollution. The question is not only what to do with all the people, but with their trash. In a disturbing chapter, Tal describes pirate operations that are popping up to cart Israeli trash to Palestinian sites on the West Bank.

Tal’s research leads him to chat about procreation and contraception with ultra-Orthodox women. He also takes us deep into the non-Jewish demographic segments of Israeli society to talk about the impact of the growing population on the Druze, Christian and Muslim Israelis. By viewing the entire Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the lens of demography, I gained a new perspective and many valuable insights. What an incredible read!