Lecture „Ramallah Urban Development since 1996: Current Reality and Future Perspectives“
Among the guests of the lecture was the mayor of Ramallah, Janet Michael (second from the right).
The city of Ramallah has become the epicenter of the West Bank. It serves as the central hub for the transport of passengers and goods between the core Palestinian cities – Nablus and Jenin in the North, Bethlehem and Hebron in the South of the West Bank.
Given that the Oslo Accords did not include an agreement on Palestinian sovereignty in Jerusalem, Ramallah became the temporary seat of the PA administration and international organizations. From a Christian provincial town to a fast growing metropolis, the borders of the city stretched out over the neighboring town Al-Bireh. The Palestinian de facto capital provides an amazing variety of cultural and educational offers and its tolerant atmosphere attracts more and more people to settle in Ramallah. About 16.5 percent of Palestinians in East Jerusalem work here. However, the impact of this development is not only positive.
On this account, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung in cooperation with the International Peace and Cooperation Center (IPCC) organized the lecture “Ramallah Urban Development since 1996: Current Reality and Future Perspectives”. After Dr. Michael Bröning, Resident Director of the FES office in Jerusalem gave his introduction to the topic, three lecturers of IPCC dealt with the different aspects of the urban development in the Ramallah district.
Dr. Omar Yousef concluded that there are technical and territorial possibilities for a solution, but it is the will for peace that is missing.
Dr. Rami Nasrallah, founder and head of IPCC, explained that in order to stay close to the future capital Jerusalem, many institutions took up residence in Ramallah after the establishment of the Palestinian Authority. Meanwhile 15 years have passed and both settlements and Israeli occupation delay the continuous development of the Palestinian territories.
Dr. Rassam Khamaisi, planning specialist and head of the IPCC planning team, pointed out that one of the reasons for the absence of a consistent master plan is the classification of the territory in A, B and C areas. In about 60 percent of the region the Palestinians have absolutely no authority to become active in planning. Notwithstanding, Dr. Khamaisi emphasized the importance of an elaborate outline plan.
Dr. Michael Bröning with the organizers and the prominent guests of the lecture.
His colleague Dr. Omar Yousef concluded the presentation by saying that there are technical and territorial possibilities for a solution, but it is the will for peace that is missing.