Natural Sciences

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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11888/18293

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Browsing Natural Sciences by Author "Abu Yaqoub, Ahmad"

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    ISRAELI OCCUPATION AUTHORITIES ROADS AND TRANSPORTATION SECTOR POLICIES AND PRACTICES IN THE WEST BANK: THE CASE OF NORTHERN DISTRICTS
    (An-Najah National University, 2025-02-27) Abu Yaqoub, Ahmad
    Background: The roads and transportation sector in the West Bank, Palestine, has been impacted by the Israeli authorities since occupation in 1967, which radically restructured the sector to serve their colonial interests. This has disrupted accessibility and mobility of the Palestinians. This research uniquely addresses this sector within the Zionist colonial context. Aims: The main goal of the research is to identify the Israeli policies, procedures, and practices concerning roads and transportation in West Bank, and define countermeasures to improve the Palestinians’ ability to travel. The objectives include defining the road network changes made by the Israeli occupation authorities serving the ambitions, assessing their impacts on the Palestinians and the discrimination between Palestinians and settlers concerning transportation issues, and proposing countermeasures to ease the related suffering of the Palestinians. Methodology: Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used. Collected literature, Israeli plans and military orders, were reviewed. Interviews with official representatives of relevant institutions were conducted. Spatial and technical Analyses were conducted concerning the Israeli policies and practices concerning mobility, accessibility, geometric design, traffic safety, traffic control, and planning of roads, mainly through case studies. GIS tools were well utilized in spatial analysis. Temporal analysis was conducted through change detection analysis. Main results: The research shows that Israeli measures severely restrict Palestinians accessibility and mobility. The results confirm the presence of apartheid policies between the Palestinians and settlers, including those related to planning and constructing bypass roads and limiting their use by Palestinians. It is found that these measures deliberately ignore the mobility, accessibility, and traffic safely aspects for the Palestinians. Such Israeli measures limiting the Palestinians mobility have been intensified in the past few years. Domination over the road network could impact the establishment of an independent Palestinian State. Conclusions of the study: The Palestinian National Authority must take immediate action, including seeking support from international courts and UN institutions. Realistic countermeasures, such as improving connections among Palestinian communities and developing alternative roads, are needed to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians accessibility and movement.