ISRAELI OCCUPATION AUTHORITIES ROADS AND TRANSPORTATION SECTOR POLICIES AND PRACTICES IN THE WEST BANK: THE CASE OF NORTHERN DISTRICTS | دراسة تحليلية حول سياسات سلطات الاحتلال الإسرائيلي وممارساته في قطاع الطرق والمواصلات في الضفة الغربية المحافظات الشمالية كحالة دراسية

Abstract Background: The road and transportation sector in West Bank, Palestine has been impacted by the Israeli occupation authorities since its occupation since 1967, which have radically changed the road and transportation network to serve their interests regarding their colonial settlements and claimed security. This has disrupted access and mobility of the Palestinians through various means. The importance of this research is highlighted in its uniqueness in addressing the road and transportation sector in the West Bank in the Zionist colonial context. Aims: The main goal of the research is to understand the policies, procedures and practices of the Israeli occupation authorities related to the roads and transportation sector in West Bank, in order to improve the Palestinians’ mobility and ability to travel in light of the policies and practices of the Zionist occupation of the West Bank. The research objectives include to identify the policies, procedures, and practices carried out by the Israeli occupation authorities in the road and transportation sector, and evaluate the changes made to road network in areas classified C, and the resulting impacts on the Palestinians. The study also seeks to investigate the differences between the policies, procedures, and practices targeted to serve the settlers and compare with those concerning the Palestinians. Finally, the research aims to propose countermeasures to those policies and practices to alleviate suffering of the Palestinians in their movement. Methodology: Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used in this research. Review collected literature and Israeli plans and military orders was conducted, interviews with official representatives of relevant institutions were made, and then analysis was conducted concerning mobility, accessibility, geometric design, traffic safety aspects, use of traffic control devices, and planning of road network in the West Bank. GIS tools were well utilized in spatial analysis as well as in temporal analysis through change detection analysis, in addition to technical analysis through case studies. Main results: The research outcome shows that Israeli authorities have been devising and implementing various policies, procedures, and practices, since its occupation of the West Bank to restrict the Palestinians accessibility and mobility. Most importantly, the results confirm that presence of the policy of apartheid between Palestinian citizens and settlers, including the planning and construction of bypass roads, the apartheid wall that cuts access, even the guidance signs posted in road network. Various road and transportation aspects are found to be deliberately ignoring the mobility, accessibility, and traffic safely aspects on the Palestinians. It is also found that the Israeli related restrictive measures concerning Palestinians, and the development of the road and transportation network serving the Israelis settlements linking them together and with the network beyond the Green Line, have been intensified in a very rapid pace in the past few years. Finally, it is found that the domination over the road network would restrict and may prevent and potential sovereignty of the of the Palestinians on the West Bank lands, and thus would retard the establishment of an independent Palestinian State. Conclusions of the study: The threats to the Palestinian presence as exemplified in the results, would require that the Palestine National Authority officials have to take immediate actions through relevant international courts and UN institutions, and consider realistic countermeasures including policies and plans that can be implemented on the ground as soon as possible, which would alleviate the suffering of Palestinian citizens in the context of accessibility and movement, such as enhancing the connections among the Palestinian communities and opening and developing more alternate roads.