The Changing Character of Israel's Occupation: Planning and Civilian Control

Town and Planning Review, Vol. 81, pp. 585-612, 2010

28 Pages Posted: 9 Apr 2012

See all articles by Amir Paz-Fuchs

Amir Paz-Fuchs

University of Sussex Law School

Alon Cohen-Lifshitz

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Date Written: June 9, 2010

Abstract

Israel’s occupation of the West Bank is literally changing before our eyes. What began as a form of military control with marginal, messianic undertones, has transformed into a full-fledged sovereign endeavour, which has two central pillars. The first relates to the Palestinian population, and aims to restrict their access to land and to development in the West bank. The second focuses on the seam between Jews and Palestinians, and may be termed the policy of separation

Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, and its effective control over the Gaza Strip, has passed the 40 year mark. Currently, it is the longest standing occupation in the world. Israel has existed over the twice the time as an occupying power than it has within internationally recognized borders. Within this significant time frame, Palestinian civil society is controlled by a foreign power not only in security related aspects that seem highly related to a situation of occupation, such as bearing arms. Increasingly, Israel has changed the measures and intensity of civilian aspects of life, such as employment, freedom to travel and planning and development. The surge of the settlement project over the past 15 years has raised the stakes insofar as Israel’s interests are concerned, leading to a change in planning policy for Palestinians and for Israelis. Through land and planning policy, Palestinians development and movement are restricted and separated from Israelis and from Jewish settlers.

Suggested Citation

Paz-Fuchs, Amir and Cohen-Lifshitz, Alon, The Changing Character of Israel's Occupation: Planning and Civilian Control (June 9, 2010). Town and Planning Review, Vol. 81, pp. 585-612, 2010, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2037422

Amir Paz-Fuchs (Contact Author)

University of Sussex Law School ( email )

Falmer
Brighton BN1 9QE
United Kingdom

Alon Cohen-Lifshitz

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

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