A Spatial Vision for Palestine

The spatial vision for the West Bank and Gaza comprises six sectors

• Governance encompasses decisionmaking authority over infrastructure planning. It includes considerations for jurisdiction, administrative oversight, security, borders, and land ownership.
• Environment focuses on clean water and land. It includes environmentally sound watershed management and solid waste management, as well as mitigation of rubble and unexploded ordnance.
• Cities includes the capacity for cities to absorb expected population growth, as well as the health of economic infrastructure and civic institutions.
• Transportation includes heavy and light rail, improved roads, an airport, and maritime ports. It involves ease of connection within Palestine and ease of connection with other countries for travel and trade.
• Water includes sustainable water sources, wastewater infrastructure, and delivery methods.
• Energy includes energy sources, distribution, and financial sustainability.

The authors offer both projects that they believe could begin in the short term and longer-term, more ambitious projects

• Through this approach, they aim to illustrate that, despite the challenging environment, (1) there are win-win opportunities for many stakeholders, (2) there are steps that can be taken now to improve Palestinian lives even in the current political climate, and (3) longer-term strategic investments may be used as a key component for generating future prosperity and security and aiding diplomacy.
• By creating a set of interlinked projects, this approach turns an ambitious vision into a series of practical steps. The success of each project could generate support and momentum, potentially leading to more-involved undertakings that collectively and incrementally drive the region toward its aspirational vision.