The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Building the Future Palestine

Abstract

A Palestinian geographer and urban planner discusses one of the territorial challenges that will likely emerge in the process of building a future Palestinian state. More specifically, he outlines how looming population pressures (high density in tandem with rapid natural increase and return of displaced refugees) will require that investments to support economic growth and new construction be organized within a national settlement system based on the existing urban hierarchy. In addition to describing the elements of such a system ("developed urban axis of Palestine"), the paper also covers the effects of public opinion and shifting political alignments within the territories on shaping the conceptualization of a future Palestinian state.

Keywords:

• Palestine
• Israel
• West Bank
• Gaza Strip
• Arc
• state-building
• settlement system
• urban hierarchy
• peace process
• Developed Urban Axis of Palestine
• Hamas
• Fatah
• territorial contiguity
• safe passage