Rawabi: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 32°0′36″N 35°11′6″E / 32.01000°N 35.18500°E / 32.01000; 35.18500
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==Development==
==Development==
===Location===
===Location===
Rawabi is {{convert|9|km|mi}} northwest of [[Ramallah]],<ref name="Shavit"/> {{convert|3.5|km|mi}} north of [[Birzeit]], {{convert|20|km|mi}} to the north of [[Jerusalem]] and {{convert|25|km|mi}} south of [[Nablus]]. [[Amman]], the capital of [[Jordan]], is {{convert|70|km|mi}} to the east of Rawabi.<ref name="Maps">{{cite web|url=http://www.rawabi.ps/maps.php|title=Rawabi Maps|publisher=Rawabi|accessdate=12 May 2010}}</ref> On a clear day, it is possible to see the [[Mediterranean Sea]], {{convert|40|km|mi}} to the west,<ref name="Maps"/> and the [[Israel]]i coastal city of [[Tel Aviv]] from the proposed site.<ref name="Donnison">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8537068.stm|title=Building the first 'Palestinian settlement'|last=Donnison|first=Jon|date=27 February 2010|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=3 May 2010}}</ref> Most other developments in the West Bank are Israeli settlements, which are considered to be illegal under [[international law]]. Israeli settlements on the surrounding hills are visible from Rawabi's proposed location, and the development has been described as the first "Palestinian settlement".<ref name="Donnison"/>
Rawabi is {{convert|9|km|mi}} northwest of [[Ramallah]],<ref name="Shavit"/> {{convert|3.5|km|mi}} north of [[Birzeit]], {{convert|20|km|mi}} to the north of [[Jerusalem]] and {{convert|25|km|mi}} south of [[Nablus]]. [[Amman]], the capital of [[Jordan]], is {{convert|70|km|mi}} to the east of Rawabi.<ref name="Maps">{{cite web|url=http://www.rawabi.ps/maps.php|title=Rawabi Maps|publisher=Rawabi|accessdate=12 May 2010}}</ref> On a clear day, it is possible to see the [[Mediterranean Sea]], {{convert|40|km|mi}} to the west,<ref name="Maps"/> and the [[Israel]]i coastal city of [[Tel Aviv]] from the proposed site.<ref name="Donnison">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8537068.stm|title=Building the first 'Palestinian settlement'|last=Donnison|first=Jon|date=27 February 2010|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=3 May 2010}}</ref> Most other developments in the West Bank are [[Israeli settlements]]. Israeli settlements on the surrounding hills are visible from Rawabi's proposed location, and the development has been described as the first "Palestinian settlement".<ref name="Donnison"/>


===Scope===
===Scope===

Revision as of 21:29, 29 August 2010

32°0′36″N 35°11′6″E / 32.01000°N 35.18500°E / 32.01000; 35.18500

Site of Rawabi

Rawabi (Arabic: روابي, meaning "The Hills")[1][2] is the name of the first Palestinian planned city[3][4] in the West Bank.[5][6]

Development

Location

Rawabi is 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) northwest of Ramallah,[3] 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) north of Birzeit, 20 kilometres (12 mi) to the north of Jerusalem and 25 kilometres (16 mi) south of Nablus. Amman, the capital of Jordan, is 70 kilometres (43 mi) to the east of Rawabi.[7] On a clear day, it is possible to see the Mediterranean Sea, 40 kilometres (25 mi) to the west,[7] and the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv from the proposed site.[8] Most other developments in the West Bank are Israeli settlements. Israeli settlements on the surrounding hills are visible from Rawabi's proposed location, and the development has been described as the first "Palestinian settlement".[8]

Scope

Rawabi's municipal boundaries will encompass 6,300,000 square meters of land.[9] The city is planned to include more than 5,000 housing units, spread across 23 neighborhoods. providing accommodation for a population of 25,000 people.[10] Additional residential and commercial units slated for subsequent construction phases will ultimately serve a city with a population of 40,000.[11][12] The Palestinian National Authority does not need Israeli approval for construction since the land for Rawabi falls entirely within Area 'A', which is under full Palestinian control.[13][14]

The development is linked to a $500m affordable mortgage scheme.[15] The Washington Post reports that Rawabi "is specifically designed for upwardly mobile families of a sort that in the United States might gravitate to places such as Reston, VA. The developments are also relying on another American import, the home mortgage, including creation of a Fannie Mae-style institution for the West Bank".[16]

Rawabi is the largest private sector project in Palestinian history.[17] It has been initated at the Palestine Investment Conference.[18]

Financing

The total cost of the development is estimated at over US$700 million[19] and it is estimated that it will generate between 8,000 and 10,000 new construction sector jobs. The project is a public-private partnership between the Bayti Real Estate Investment Company and the Palestinian National Authority.[20] The Rawabi economic growth strategy has the aim of creating 3,000 to 5,000 new jobs in "knowledge economy" industries including information technology, pharmaceuticals and health care.[21]

On 15 March 2010, two grant agreements were signed by Bashar Masri, Managing Director of Bayti Real Estate Investment Company, and Leocadia I. Zak, Director of the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), in the presence of US Consul General Daniel Rubinstein. The USTDA grants will to fund two feasibility studies. The first will develop a masterplan for Rawabi's ICT infrastructure and services and the second will examine the possibility of building a tertiary waste water treatment facility for the Rawabi and surrounding communities.[22] Previously, United States Senator John Kerry visited the construction site on 28 February along with Rubenstein and David Harden, senior advisor to the American special envoy to the Middle East, George J. Mitchell.[23]

Masterplan

The Rawabi masterplan was developed by planners, architects and engineers from AECOM an international firm, working with local experts from Birzeit and An-Najah National Universities and the technical teams of Bayti.[20] It has been approved by the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian Higher Planning Council.[24] Thousands of saplings are being planted as part of a greening project which involves growing a forest around the city.[25] The Jewish National Fund is donating 3,000 saplings to the project, the announcement of which sparked some internal Israeli and Jewish controversy.[26] Saplings have also been donated by the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture and by local and international organisations, corporations and individuals.[9]

The residential areas will surround a city centre that includes retail space, professional offices, banks, a hotel, restaurants, and a movie theater. In other parts of the city, will build mosque, church, schools, health center, police station, fire station, taxi and bus station, gas station and medical clinics.[citation needed]

Obstacles

A few obstacles still exist. As of September 2009, a quarter of the land required for the development had not been purchased from individual landowners and the Palestinian Authority, despite supporting the project, had yet to commit to provide the necessary infrastructure.[27] From the Israeli side, two obstacles include no finalized approval from the Israeli water authority and Israeli authorities have yet to grant permission for access highway to pass through Area 'C'. This highway to Ramallah would need to cross Route 465 used only by settlers of nearby Israeli settlements Ateret and Halamish.[28]

References

  1. ^ "Rawabi, Palestine's new city". CNN. 9 April 2010. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
  2. ^ Westervelt, Eric (30 May 2008). "Planned Palestinian city in West Bank faces hurdles". National Public Radio. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  3. ^ a b Shavit, Ari (30 July 2009). "A new Palestine". Haaretz. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  4. ^ McCarthy, Rory (8 September 2009). "Rawabi, the new Palestinian city that could rise on the West Bank". The Guardian. p. 27. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  5. ^ Koutsoukis, Jason (19 September 2009). "Palestinians pursue their own suburban dreams". The Age. Retrieved 22 October 2009.
  6. ^ Koutsoukis, Jason (12 September 2009). "Serenity soon: Palestinians buy into a modern oasis". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 22 October 2009.
  7. ^ a b "Rawabi Maps". Rawabi. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  8. ^ a b Donnison, Jon (27 February 2010). "Building the first 'Palestinian settlement'". BBC News. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
  9. ^ a b "The GROW for a greener Palestine initiative launched". Rawabi Home. Winter 2010. p. 7. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
  10. ^ "Rawabi is building dreams brick by brick". Gulf News. 16 January 2010. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
  11. ^ "Palestine Investment Conference: Project and concept profiles" (PDF). Bethlehem: Palestinian Investment Promotion Agency. 21–23 May 2008. pp. 60–61. Retrieved 13 December 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: date format (link)
  12. ^ Macintyre, Donald (3 September 2009). "Israeli moves give Blair hope of rebuilding political trust". The Independent. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  13. ^ Flynn, Sean (9 December 2008). "West Bank development to reconnect Palestinians to their land". New Civil Engineer. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  14. ^ Fendel, Hillel (22 February 2010). "PA Demands: Give Us Land for Highway". Israel National News. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
  15. ^ Macintyre, Donald (23 May 2008). "Palestine's economy is like a coiled spring, says British financier". The Independent. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  16. ^ Schneider, Howard (23 November 2009). "Palestinians looking to U.S.-style suburban housing, financing". Washington Post. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  17. ^ Building peace. CTV Television, 29 August 2010
  18. ^ Construction begins on Rawabi, the first Palestinian planned city. AMEinfo.com, 5 January 2010
  19. ^ Gavin, James (3 November 2009). "Palestine property investors to roll out thousands of units". The National. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
  20. ^ a b "Masterplan". Rawabi. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
  21. ^ "Rawabi: An Economic Growth Strategy for the West Bank" (PDF). RTI International. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  22. ^ "USTDA signs grants agreement with Bayti Real Estate Investment Company". AMEinfo.com. 16 March 2010. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
  23. ^ "U.S. Senator John Kerry visits Rawabi, the first Palestinian planned city". Bayti Real Estate Investment Company. 1 March 2010. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
  24. ^ "Diar gets nod for Palestine project". MENAFN. 11 December 2009. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
  25. ^ Media Line (6 December 2009). "Planned city 'Rawabi' draws on Palestinian enterprise and Israeli experience". Green Prophet. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
  26. ^ MINSBERG, TALI (2 December 2009). "JNF donation to 'PA city' Rawabi sparks uproar". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
  27. ^ McCarthy, Rory (8 September 2009). "Rawabi, the new Palestinian city that could rise on the West Bank". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
  28. ^ Hoberman, Hagi (4 March 2010). "ברוואבי תקום המדינה הפלשתינית". B;sheva (in Hebrew). Retrieved 9 March 2010.

External links

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