Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has signed the orders to hold a population census a year from now. The last census was held in Israel in 1995, in the shadow of a nationalist camp boycott called by the Yesha Council. The Council called upon its supporters not to file their completed census forms until after the formation of a government that was not dependent upon pro-PLO MKs. The boycott was called off after Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin was assassinated.
A census is supposed to be held once each decade - not necessarily every ten years. The upcoming census was scheduled for 2006, but because of budgetary problems "and other issues," the Central Bureau of Statistics informed Arutz-7, it was delayed until next year.
The "Statistical Order" signed by Olmert states that the census will begin on Dec. 28, 2008, the day after the official determining date of the census, and will end somewhere in mid-2009. It will encompass all the residents of the State of Israel, specifying that this includes the Jews of Judea and Samaria. The results are expected to be ready in 2010.
The order signed by Olmert also includes the subjects to be asked on the basic questionnaires, almost all of which are the same as the previous census. Some changes have been made in the "personal property" section. While in both 1995 and 2008, citizens were or are to be asked if they own a phone, TV, video, dryer, microwave, dishwasher, personal computer, and air conditioner, the 2008 census form does not ask if they own a washing machine or solar water heater, but rather if they have internet, a DVD player, and how many cell phones. MP3 players currently do not appear on the questionnaire.
A new section has been added that asks about physical handicaps. The 2008 census will ask, for the first time, if we have difficulties in hearing, walking outside or up and down steps, remembering or concentrating, or getting dressed and washed.
A major difference in carrying out the census this time will be that only 20% of the homes will be visited, compared with 100% last time. This will decrease the need for pollsters, of whom only 2,500 will be hired, compared with 10,000 in 1995. The files of government offices - mainly the Population Registry - will be used to fill in necessary statistics.
The purpose of the census, as explained by the Central Bureau of Statistics, is to collect information in order to present a full and accurate portrayal of the population. The information that is received is used by decision makers on both the national and local planes to improve the residents' quality of life both nationally and personally.
In 1995, Rabbis Yosef Shalom Elyashiv and Shmuel Wazner permitted participation in the census, ruling that it does not violate the ban on counting Jews.