The population of the city of Jerusalem has increased tenfold since 1948, according to an Israeli census report. Palestinians in Jerusalem constitute 37% of the population but could reach 50% if their current birthrate continues, according to the report, which was highlighted by various Israeli newspapers and translated into Arabic by the Egyptian daily Youm 7.

The issue has gained importance as the municipal elections in Jerusalem are set to take place in October of this year.

According to the report, at the beginning of 2016, the population of the entire city of Jerusalem stood at 870,000, with Jews numbering 548,000 and Arabs 322,000 — a 63% to 37% ratio. The report said Arab and Jewish children and young people account for 50% of the population, and said that as a result of the higher birthrate of Arabs and the exit of many Israeli Jews from the city, Palestinians could wind up constituting half the city in the coming decade.

Bernard Sabella, an elected member of the Palestinian Legislative Council representing Jerusalem, told Al-Monitor that the population equation in Jerusalem is clearly in favor of Palestinians in the mid and long term, and that is precisely why Israel is trying to gerrymander the city’s borders. Sabella said, “By taking out of Jerusalem municipal boundaries areas such as Kufr Aqab, the Shuafat refugee camp, Beit Hanina and other areas with relatively high population density, the Israelis are hoping to redress the population equation so that it would be in their favor.” Israel has been considering cutting those areas from the municipality of Jerusalem to reduce their impact on the overall situation.