Rapid Urbanization and the Challenge of SustainableUrban Development in Palestinian Cities

Palestinian cities face the challenges of land scarcity, high population growth rates, rapid urbanization, uneven development and territorial fragmentation. Due to geopolitical constrains and the absence of an effective Palestinian planning institution, urban development in Palestinian cities has not followed any discernable planning scheme. This has led to a number of internal contradictions in the structure of cities, and adversely affected land use, the provision of urban services, and the quality of the living environment. This paper explores these challenges, and the potential that exists for introducing a more sustainable urban development pattern in Palestinian cities. It assesses alternative development approaches with a particular focus on sustainable development, promoting ecodevelopment imperatives, limiting random urbanization, and meeting present and future challenges, including fulfilling the needs of the people and conserving the scarce land and limited natural resources. This paper concludes by offering conceptual proposals and guidelines for promoting sustainable physical development in Palestinian cities.

Authors:



References:
[1] The applied research institute Jerusalem (ARIJ), "The status of the
environment in the Palestinian occupied Territories - A human rights
based approach", Bethlehem: ARIJ, 2011.
[2] Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS), "Survey on the
perception of the Palestinian population towards the socio-economic
conditions", Ramallah: PCBS, 2012.
[3] Suisman, D., S. Simon, G. Robinson, C. Anthony, and M. Schoenbaum,
"The arch: A formal structure for a Palestinian state". Santa Monica:
RAND Corporation, 2005.
[4] Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation (MOPIC), "National
policies for physical development for the West Bank and Gaza Strip".
Ramallah: MOPIC, 1998.
[5] The applied research institute Jerusalem (ARIJ), "Impact of urbanization
on land use and local communities in the West Bank". Bethlehem: ARIJ,
2005.
[6] Mahrok, A., "Physical planning system and the physical spatial structure
of human settlement: The case of Palestine from the hate 19th century to
1994". Unpublished Ph.D. thesis, Glasgow: Mackintosh School of
Architecture.
[7] Beatley, T. "Planning and sustainability: The elements of a new
(improved) paradigm". In Journal of Planning Literature, 1995, 9(4),
381-395
[8] Hassan, A. and R. Zetter, "Sustainable development: between
development and environment agendas in the developing world". In
Zetter, R. and R. white (ed.), Planning in cities. London: ITDG
Publishing . Hampshire: Ashgate Publishing Limited, 2002.
[9] Leitmann, J., "Sustaining cities: Environmental planning and
management in urban design". New York: McGraw-Hill,1999.
[10] Frey, H., "Designing the city - Towards a more sustainable urban form".
London: E & FN Spon, an imprint of Routledge,1999.
[11] Newman, P. and J. Kenworthy,. "Sustainability and cities: overcoming
automobile dependence". Washington, D.C.: Island Press, 1999.
[12] Mitlin, D. and D. Satterthwaite, "Cities and sustainable development".
Background paper for global forum ÔÇÿ94-, Manchester City Council,
1994.
[13] World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) "Our
Common Future". Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1987.
[14] Organization for economic cooperation and development (OCED), "The
DAC Guidelines: Strategies for sustainable development". Paris: OECD,
2001.
[15] UN HABITAT, "The role of cities in national and international
development". Nairobi: World Urban Forum, 2002.
[16] Hall, P. and U. Pfeifer, "Urban future 21- A global agenda for twentyfirst
century cities". London: E&FN Spon Press, 2000.
[17] Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS), "Age- specific fertility
rates and total fertility rates during year", proceeding survey by region.
Ramallah: PCBS, 2005.
[18] Jabareen, Y., "A knowledge map for describing variegated and conflict
domains of sustainable development". Journal of Environment and
Management, 623-642, 2004.
[19] Healey, P., "Re-thinking key dimensions of strategic spatial planning:
sustainability and complexity". In G. d. Roo, & P. Geoff, Fuzzy
planning: the role of actors in a fuzzy Governance environment (pp. 21-
41), 2007.
[20] Finco, A. and P. Nijkamp, "Pathways to urban sustainability". Series
research memoranda, Amsterdam: Vrige University, 2001.