Responsible Party and Year Completed: RAND, in progress
Link: TBC
Status: In Progress
Contact: Ross Anthony – rossa@rand.org; Shelly Culbertson – shellyc@rand.org
Executive Summary:
The RAND West Bank Spatial Plan aims to develop a vision that aligns with the aspirations of Palestinians and sets the foundation for creating a successful Palestinian state.
This vision takes into account the eventual evolution of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with potential land swaps, East Jerusalem as the capital, and a connector to Gaza. The plan is executed in two phases: initially developing a spatial and economic vision and identifying and prioritising critical projects for immediate implementation.
Short term priorities:
- Create a comprehensive vision for the future, estimate population growth, urban development, and critical infrastructure needs like energy and waste management.
- Involve Palestinian ministries, business leaders, planners, and international organisations to gather diverse perspectives and needs.
- Develop a list of 50 priority projects and select 4-6 for detailed analysis and immediate implementation.
Long term priorities:
- Focus on land use efficiency, socio-economic development, and establish symbols of national identity in critical metropolitan areas like East Jerusalem, Ramallah, Bethlehem, Nablus, Jenin, Jericho, Hebron, and the Gaza Strip.
- Ensure resource independence in energy, water, sanitation, and communications, support territorial contiguity for freedom of movement and environmental sustainability, and reinforce urban hierarchy.
Immediate Priorities / Proposed Next Steps:
- Conduct thorough reviews and analyses to understand existing conditions, needs, and potential scenarios.