Rawabi

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Coordinates: 32°0′36″N 35°11′6″E / 32.01°N 35.185°E / 32.01; 35.185 Rawabi (Arabic: روابي‎, meaning "The Hills")[1] is the name of a proposed town in the West Bank, Palestine.[2][3] If built, it will be Palestine's first planned town.[4][5] The development is linked to a $500m affordable mortgage scheme.[6] 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) northwest of Ramallah,[4] it is planned that Rawabi will include more than 5,000 housing units, providing accommodation for a population of 25,000 people.[7][8] As of January 2010, Israeli authorities had yet to grant permission to build an access road through West Bank Area C, which they control.[9] Most of the planned development lies in Area A, which is under Palestinian control.[10]

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".[11]

The total cost of the development is estimated at over US$500 million[12] 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 Authority.[13] 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.[14]

The Rawabi masterplan was developed by planners, architects and engineers from international firms, working with local experts from Birzeit and An-Najah National Universities and the technical teams of Bayti.[13] It has been approved by the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian Higher Planning Council.[15]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Westervelt, Eric (30 May 2008). "Planned Palestinian city in West Bank faces hurdles". National Public Radio. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90981409. Retrieved 15 December 2009. 
  2. ^ Koutsoukis, Jason (19 September 2009). "Palestinians pursue their own suburban dreams". The Age. http://www.theage.com.au/world/palestinians-pursue-their-own-suburban-dreams-20090918-fvd0.html. Retrieved 22 October 2009. 
  3. ^ Koutsoukis, Jason (12 September 2009). "Serenity soon: Palestinians buy into a modern oasis". Brisbane Times. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/world/serenity-soon-palestinians-buy-into-a-modern-oasis-20090911-fks8.html. Retrieved 22 October 2009. 
  4. ^ a b Shavit, Ari (30 July 2009). "A new Palestine". Haaretz. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1103993.html. Retrieved 11 September 2009. 
  5. ^ McCarthy, Rory (8 September 2009). "Rawabi, the new Palestinian city that could rise on the West Bank". The Guardian: p. 27. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/08/new-palestinian-city-west-bank. Retrieved 11 September 2009. 
  6. ^ Macintyre, Donald (23 May 2008). "Palestine's economy is like a coiled spring, says British financier". The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/palestines-economy-is-like-a-coiled-spring-says-british-financier-832937.html. Retrieved 11 September 2009. 
  7. ^ "Palestine Investment Conference: Project and concept profiles". Bethlehem: Palestinian Investment Promotion Agency. 21-23 May 2008. pp. 60–61. http://www.pipa.gov.ps/p_book.pdf. Retrieved 13 December 2009. 
  8. ^ Macintyre, Donald (3 September 2009). "Israeli moves give Blair hope of rebuilding political trust". The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israeli-moves-give-blair-hope-of-rebuilding-political-trust-1780906.html. Retrieved 11 September 2009. 
  9. ^ Lynfield, Ben (16 January 2010). "How Israel put the brakes on another Palestinian dream". The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/how-israel-put-the-brakes-on-another-palestinian-dream-1869535.html. Retrieved 18 January 2010. 
  10. ^ Flynn, Sean (9 December 2008). "West Bank development to reconnect Palestinians to their land". New Civil Engineer. http://www.nce.co.uk/west-bank-development-to-reconnect-palestinians-to-their-land/1944953.article. Retrieved 15 December 2009. 
  11. ^ Schneider, Howard (23 November 2009). "Palestinians looking to U.S.-style suburban housing, financing". Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/22/AR2009112202106.html?hpid=moreheadlines. Retrieved 15 December 2009. 
  12. ^ Gavin, James (3 November 2009). "Palestine property investors to roll out thousands of units". The National. http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091103/BUSINESS/711039991/1005/NATIONAL. Retrieved 29 December 2009. 
  13. ^ a b "Masterplan". Rawabi. http://www.rawabi.ps/masterplan.php?link=1&page=live. Retrieved 5 January 2010. 
  14. ^ "Rawabi: An Economic Growth Strategy for the West Bank". RTI International. http://www.rti.org/brochures/rawabi_west_bank_econ_growth.pdf. Retrieved 15 December 2009. 
  15. ^ "Diar gets nod for Palestine project". MENAFN. 11 December 2009. https://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story_s.asp?storyid=1093287839. Retrieved 5 January 2010. 

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