130 senior “Israeli” economists warn: “Our state is in existential danger”

130 senior “Israeli” economists have warned in a letter that the policies of their government is “leading the country towards the abyss.”

The letter says that the combination of government policies and the high growth rate of ultra-orthodox population “seriously endangers the Israeli economy and society, including ultra-Orthodox society itself.”

Their concerns are directed at the exemption from military service enjoyed by thousands of ultra-Orthodox youth, which exerts extra pressure on the “Israeli” military’s reserves and the economy. 

The letter –which was directed to many former senior officials in the “Israeli” Ministry of Finance, other government ministries and the Bank of “Israel”– says that “without a change in the existing route, these processes endanger the existence of the state.”

“Many of those who bear the burden will prefer to emigrate from Israel,” it warns.

The letter further adds that “Israel” might find itself in the event of a mass abandonment of the population that bears the larger burden.

"The population that will remain in Israel will be less educated and less productive, and thus the burden on the remaining productive population will increase – which will encourage further immigration from Israel.”

This scenario could trigger a “gradual collapse” where certain parts of the population could bear the burden of economy and security which is not a sustainable scenario; therefore, those circles prefer to immigrate, which the situation of those who remain –mainly the ultra-orthodox– will get worse.

This change may be quick and immediate, the economists further warned.

"As soon as the population bearing the burden concludes that the State of Israel has embarked on an irreversible path, the national collapse will come. First gradually and then suddenly and irreversibly."

"It would be a grave mistake to think that there is much time left to promote the changes required to deal with the danger of national collapse," they write.

The economists signed off their letter with the following words: "This is a true alarm. History will not forgive the current and future state leaders - from all ends of the political spectrum - if they stand against it."