Nabi Saleh, Rawabi

Nabi Saleh

We very gladly welcomed Aliyah, back while recovering from a hip operation. She came with Noga, a Social TV photographer, who interviewed Aliyah about her dedicated work in Women in Black. Noga has filmed other leading peace activists, such as Yakov Manor, Buma, and Daphna Banai about MachsomWatch. These films can be viewed on U Tube and on TV Channel 98. Noga plans to film Ymei Yam, the day at the beach enjoyed by Palestinian mothers and children; we told her about Amira Itiel and Rachel Afek’s excellent organization, and gave her their contacts.

Though it was not possible to speak to anyone at the village majdeles, (council) we were fortunate to meet W, a worker associated with providing security in nearby Rawabi. He generously talked to us about this new and unique modern city we had heard about recently. This report is based  on his words.

Rawabi means “Hills".

The city is unique in many ways. First, beautifully located on a hilltop, surrounded by several rolling hills and stony valleys, it seems a world on its own. Yet it is only 15 minutes’ drive from Ramallah, 8 minutes from Birzeit. Secondly, the master plan is both practical and visionary: the building techniques are state-of-the art, and the city has residential, office, industrial and cultural areas. Administered by a municipality responsible for its efficient running, the city aims at satisfying both the local needs of a big modern city—educational, medical, and recreational—and regional ones. While sharing its services with nine neighbouring villages, the city hopes also to improve their way of life ecologically and economically.

FACTS. Palestinian-American billionaire urban developer Bashar al-Masri bought 6,800 dunams (1680 acres) of land from private Palestinian owners; he is now negotiating for the purchase of additional lands.

Four of the twenty-two planned neighbourhoods are already completed, a fifth is in progress, as well as housing for a Mosque, the Council, and a Hospital meant to serve the needs of both urban and regional populations. The first neighbourhood has 20 buildings, with 3-room apartments equipped with modern assets, and costing $130,000, a price 15-20% lower than in Ramallah.

Wadima (from wadi, valley) is a recreational-cultural area with a 15,000–20,000 seat Roman amphitheater (sites give different numbers), equipped to host music and theatrical shows, and film festivals. Foreign Jordanian and Tunisian singers have already appeared here. Some low buildings at the top of the stone rows will house restaurants and cafes, whose customers can watch the performances below. Around the amphitheater, there are picnic areas with tables and barbecue racks. W. tells us that these outdoor areas are full on Friday evenings with people from outside the city; while many locals visit Tel Aviv, Jerusalem or spend holidays abroad.

Besides these residential, leisure time neighbourhoods, and a shopping mall, and banking centre there is also an industrial sector. This, as W. tells us, embraces carpentry, metallurgical and asphalt workshops, stone quarries and other plants—all meant to produce all the necessary building materials locally. These industries, together with the high-tech companies which the city hopes to attract, would generate many jobs, and thus reduce the present high rate of 18% unemployment in the West Bank.

UTILITIES. Another unusual feature in Rawabi  is that, as W. tells us, water and gas pipes, as well as electrical and telephone cables are all invisible: they are all concealed underground. The city is connected to the Israeli electrical grid, which supplies sufficient electricity for private needs, as well as for the industrial sector. WIFI is also available, W. says. However, he did not say whether the speed is high enough for high-tech companies to start working.

Water treatment systems, recycling, and rain harvesting as well as planned sewage treatment systems (for neighbouring villages as well), indicate health and ecological concerns. Experts are also planning to instal solar panels. Public transportation, such as buses and taxis are, of course, part of the services to be available to residents.

MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION. Another novelty in this city is the Homeowners’ Association, some of whose members form part of the municipal council. Other members are chosen for their expertise in various fields. The council is responsible for achieving and supervising municipal, regional, and interregional goals. The city which already offers its recreational and cultural facilities to rural neighbours, also plans to extend to them the medical services of its Hospital to be. Furthermore, the city, located in area A (controlled by the Palestinian Authority), aims to offer work and housing to the overcrowded Palestinian villages in area C, whose residents usually do not receive Israeli building permits.         

Rawabi city, says W., belongs to the Palestinian-American Bashar al-Masri.

Israel-related problems. So far, the IDF has not entered the city, though for security reasons it is present at the entrance. But Israeli control of Area A has caused many unnecessary and unjustified delays and problems.

For instance, the basic supply of water—it took three years of negotiations before Mekorot finally agreed to supply the city with water. This meant no one could move in till 2015, and the construction process suffered interruptions.

Now in the hot summer months, the water supply is insufficient for residents’ needs. Mekorot’s meager supply is complemented by water tankers, which, as R. tells us, go back and forth 10 times every day to a local spring, to fill up the city’s huge tank and supply residents’ homes. The price of water is thus needlessly increased.

Road construction according to Masri also took several years— to get permission to build a road to the site that ran for half a kilometre through Area C, the 60% of the West Bank under total Israeli military control. Eventually a temporary permit – which requires annual renewal – was granted last year.

Settlements like Ateret, have protested this big Palestinian building project.

Not surprisingly, investors hesitate because of the uncertain security situation, especially the long Israeli military siege and economic blockade on Gaza and its periodic violent effects