Implications of the Segregation Wall on the Two-state Solution

Abstract

II DeclarationI, hereby declare no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this doctoral dissertation. Dortmund, GermanyApril 10, 2014Ahmad El-Atrash III Dedication To my dear parents; Jihad and Amin & to my one and only love; Mona IV AcknowledgmentsI owe a special debt of gratitude to my doctoral research supervisors. First, Prof. Christa Reicher, who curated my research from the very beginning, help shaping the research idea, guide writing the research proposal, carefully watching my research progress, and taking care of whatever needed to enable the perfect working environment. I wholeheartedly thank her for the continuous support and advice; without her this research would never has been accomplished. Second, Prof. Michael Wegener, who provided the cogent advice needed to better anchor and ground my research through his critical reviews of my earlier manuscript, and through the living discussion that we had together during the many held consultation meetings. His astute and prudent way of thinking has positively impacted me in so many ways, and this will definitely stay forever with me. Also, I would like to acknowledge Dr. Lubna Shaheen, who first nominated and supported me to pursue my doctoral research at the Faculty of Spatial Planning in TU-Dortmund University, and as well she has co-supervised my research and provided valuable insights.I have had the pleasure to work with engaged and enthusiastic fellow researchers and colleagues, who have helped me so ably to hone my research interest to better plan for the future of Palestine within the prevailing geo-political context. Among whom several need to be acknowledged. Dr. Jad Isaac, Director General of the Applied Research Institute-Jerusalem (ARIJ), where he provided all the support needed to spend fruitful three-months of a research internship within the ambit of my doctoral research. In this undertaking, a special acknowledgment is due to the experts at the GIS Department of ARIJ, especially its Director, Mr. Isaa Zboun and one of its cartographers, Mr. Elia Khalilieh, for their technical contribution and assistance in producing the maps and checking many of the secondary calculations provided in this dissertation. It bears mentioning that the bulk of the maps used in this dissertation have been prepared at the bequest of ARIJ and designed by its cartographers based on the author's specific request, nevertheless the maps do not necessarily reflect ARIJ's views.Likewise, I would like to acknowledge the planning experts and decision-makers from the policy community of Bethlehem who have cooperated with me during my field work visits.I would like to thank all the colleagues at the Department of Urban Design and Land Use Planning for making my PhD journey such a memorable and pleasant one.A special thank you goes to Dr. Viktoria Waltz, Ms. Claudia Becker, and Ms. Ilka Mecklenbrauck for their help in translating the abstract of this dissertation into German language.Last but not least, I would like to ...

Unfastening Israel's Future from the Occupation: Israeli Plans for Partial Annexation of West Bank Territory

“…Most significantly, these objections claimed that even partial annexation would irreversibly frustrate implementation of the two‐state solution, putting the region on a path that would eventually lead to the establishment of a formal single state (Ahren 2020; Omar et al 2021). Yet, as many have already convincingly demonstrated, the prospect of a two‐state solution, which envisions an establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip alongside Israel, has long expired, if it were ever feasible (Benvenisti 1984; El‐Atrash 2016; Falah 2005; Faris 2013; Farouk‐Alli 2007; Farsakh 2011; Hilal 2007; Jamal 2001; O'Malley 2015; Ross 2019; Zertal and Eldar 2007). An assessment of the repercussions of Israel's annexation of West Bank territory hence cannot rest on its impact on the two‐state solution.…”

Planning in the Face of Power. Experiencing Power Dimensions in a Visioning Process in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip

“…Israeli occupation (1967) brought a great number of military orders, carried out by the ICA, which superimposed a military governance system over regular civil law (e.g. Coon, 1992;El-Atrash, 2016). However, shortcomings and ill adaptions of the current planning systems are reported:…”

“…A comprehensive analysis on the history and difficulties of the Palestinian planning system and its implications on the Palestinian spatial and territorial development are provided by e.g. Coon (1992), Altrock (1998), Shalbak (2013) and El-Atrash (2016). The legal framework governing planning, land tenure and administration goes back to the Ottoman period .…”

“…In the West Bank vulnerabilities are rooting in occupation policies and military orders (e.g. Coon, 1992;El-Atrash, 2016;OCHA oPt, 2015a), settler violence (e.g. Eiran & Krause, 2016;Hanauer, 1995) and extension of settlements (e.g.…”

“…Nikisic, Nasser Eddin, & Cali, 2014) and a lesser impairment of daily practices due to mobility restrictions (e.g. El-Atrash, 2016). Scarcity of building land, limited means for mobilising building land complemented by presumed trends towards real estate bubbles (Palestine Economic Policy Research Institute-MAS, 2012) lead to a so-called housing crisis (Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics [PCBS], 2007[PCBS], , 2015a[PCBS], , 2015b, stressing the little number of affordable houses available.…”