A Spatial Vision for Palestine

Even as Israelis and Palestinians struggle to find a long-term political solution, other indispensable steps for peace and prosperity need to be undertaken including infrastructure planning and economic development. In this report, the authors offer a vision for how spatial planning, infrastructure, and resource management in the West Bank and Gaza can better the daily lives of Palestinians now while supporting the evolution of a future Palestinian state. The vision includes strategies for six sectors (governance, environment, cities, transportation, energy, and water), offers plans for six locations (Nablus, Jericho, Hebron, Gaza City, North Jordan Valley, and East Jerusalem), about includes a master list of 200 potential projects to be considered in the next phase of work.

The authors propose both quick-win projects that could begin immediately at the local level, even without a political solution, and longer-term, strategic infrastructure investments that would require regional agreements; incrementally, over time, these projects can comprise the essential infrastructure of a future state. The goal is to contribute a tool for dialogue and rational planning, offering an integrated, technical approach to aid diplomacy and economic development.

This project is a partnership with the RAND Corporation, ORG Permanent Modernity and the Center for Engineering and Planning. Primary funder is a consortium of prominent Palestinian private sector businesses contracted through CCC Construction. Additional funding from are Enable (Belgium).

From Camps to Communities







The spatial vision is of a connected and integrated Palestine organized around historic centers and underlying natural systems.




Research and analysis was organized around these 6 sectoral vision plans. This information is then synthesized to create integrated visions for particular places.




One of several diagrams demonstrating how redevelopment and new development are integrated with the natural systems around and through a growing city center.




The environment vision links together major agricultural and water resources to create "ecological bridges" across the built and natural land.




Vision of Jericho showing a restored Jordan River and Dead Sea, a new vacation destination, and new development along the proposed rail and bus rapid transit corridors.




Jericho illustrative plan showing key infrastructure investments and redevelopment opportunities.




Vision of the North Jordan Valley showing a new "agro city" - a revitalized Giftlik and a new mixed-use node along the proposed rail corridor.




North Jordan Valley illustrative plan showing new infrastructure investments and redevelopment opportunities.




A new mixed-use center for Giftlik at the intersection of restored waterways, rebuilt highways and a new rail link.




In Gaza, we propose "incremental urbanism": rebuilding strategies that from the earliest stages respects the underlying pre-war neighborhood structure and community priorities.