Abortions From a Clinical Social Aspect - A Historical View: The Case of the Jewish Society in Palestine During the Early 20th Century

The legality of abortions and the decreasing birthrate are topics that regularly emerge on the global public agenda, sparking intense social, legal, and political discussions. In 2019, Israel’s birthrate (the birthrate is defined as the number of births relative to the population) was 3.1 children per woman-the highest among OECD countries and surpassing that of many developing nations (excluding Africa). Several explanations account for this phenomenon, among them - the national ethos and geopolitical status of Israel, which necessitate demographic intensification. However, a historical perspective reveals that the Jewish society in Palestine during the British Mandate (1920- 1948) despite the national struggle that was at its peak, experienced low birthrates due to considerable number of abortions.