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Israel
SOCIAL STRUCTURE
The social structure of contemporary Israel has been shaped by
a variety of forces and circumstances. Israel inherited some institutions
and customs from the Ottomans and some from the British mandatory
rule over Palestine. Zionists who strove to build the Yishuv under
Ottoman and British rule (see Origins of Zionism , ch. 1) also
wielded influence. Immigration patterns have altered the social
structure radically at different times. From 1882 to 1948, Israel
received many immigrants from Eastern Europe and Central Europe.
Following independence, huge numbers of Middle Eastern, North
African, and Asian Jews came to the new state and altered its
dominant Ashkenazi cast. Another shaping force was the presence
of non-Jews in the Jewish state--a growing Arab minority within
the pre-1967 borders of Israel and an absolute majority in the
territories held under military occupation since the June 1967
War. Finally, among the most important forces shaping contemporary
Israeli society is religion.
Data as of December 1988
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