Since its founding, Bimkom has often assisted Palestinian villages in Area C that are not recognized by the Israeli authorities and which are without any up to date planning. These villages suffer from longstanding and extensive demolition of buildings and infrastructure.
The focused assistance that Bimkom attempted to give to each particular village soon led us to conclude that house demolitions are a symptom of a deeper problem: the fact that Israel ignores the needs of the Palestinian population in Area C and has imposed a policy designed to restrict the development of the Palestinian communities in the area. To examine this policy in depth, a broader framework was needed that looks beyond the concrete problems faced by each individual Palestinian resident whose home is the subject of a demolition order. The current report is intended to provide this broader perspective.
"The Prohibited Zone" describes the reality of the area in terms of planning and construction and reveals the planning tools Israel uses to minimize the growth of the Palestinian population in Area C, which accounts for some 60 percent of the total area of the West Bank.
The size of the report reflects the aim to reveal the planning practices Israel has used in the West Bank over several decades. The complexity of the subject demanded analysis of the smallest details. We hope that the information and figures revealed in this report, in part for the first time, will lead to a change in Israeli policy in the area. Such change should enable the Palestinians living in Area C to enjoy their basic rights in the fields of planning and building.
Reports
