Figure 1 Bethlehem location and borders

URBAN PLANNING IN BETHLEHEM PALESTINE USING GIS TO IDENTIFY THE SITUATION OF A DIVIDED TERRITORY

How has GIS been implemented towards effective management, planning and development in the Palestinian

Territory of Bethlehem? What is the promise of this technology? What are the problems that obstruct its

implementation?

Brandenburg Technical University Cottbus-Senftenberg SP/WHS M1: Urban Dynamics: Challenges of Urban Development in Megacities Lecturers: Professor. J. Miller Stevens, Ulrike Schinkel Submitted by: Christopher Johnson (#3147338)

Haytham Dieck (#3200284)

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CONTENTS

LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................................................................. 1

INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................... 2

PALESTINIAN – ISRAELI STRUGGLE: BRIEF HISTORY ........................................................................................ 2

CONFISCATION OF LANDS IN BETHLEHEM ...................................................................................................... 2

THE SEGREGATION WALL ................................................................................................................................ 2

CONTROL OF RESOURCES BY ISRAELI AUTHORITY .......................................................................................... 4

ATTEMPTS AT RESPONSIBLE URBAN PLANNING BY THE PALESTINIANS ......................................................... 5

URBAN PLANNING IN BETHLEHEM PALESTINE ................................................................................................... 6

THE 2004 BETHLEHEM CITY MASTER PLAN ..................................................................................................... 6

GIS IN THE BEIT SAHOUR MUNICIPALITY ........................................................................................................ 9

LOCALITY PROFILES AND NEEDS ASSESSMENT IN THE BETHLEHEM GOVERNORATE ................................... 10

CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................................................................... 11

REFERENCES ...................................................................................................................................................... 11

FIGURE REFERENCES ......................................................................................................................................... 13

APPENDICES ...................................................................................................................................................... 13

Proposed Project for Waste Water Treatment and Reuse in the Northern Part of Beit Sahour .................. 13

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1_Bethlehem location and borders.............................................................................................................. 0 Figure 2_Har Homa 1997 ........................................................................................................................................ 3 Figure 3_Har Homa 2007 ........................................................................................................................................ 3 Figure 4_Rachels Tomb Map ................................................................................................................................... 3 Figure 5_Israeli Side of Wall at Rachels Tomb ........................................................................................................ 3 Figure 6_Palestinian side of Wall at Rachel’s Tomb ................................................................................................ 3 Figure 7_Map of Segregation Wall-Bethlehem Governorate ................................................................................. 4 Figure 8_Bethlehem Master Plan ............................................................................................................................ 7 Figure 9_2006 Satellite with Wall ........................................................................................................................... 8 Figure 10_Resulting GIS Map .................................................................................................................................. 9 Figure 11_Land Use Bethlehem ............................................................................................................................ 10 Figure 12_Targeted Areas for Beit Sahour Wastewater Treatment Proposal ...................................................... 13

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INTRODUCTION

Bethlehem is a Palestinian city located in the central West Bank, adjacent to south Jerusalem, with a population

of about 25,000 people. It is the capital of the Bethlehem Governorate of Palestinian Authority. The following

paper examines the use of GIS technology for the purpose of urban planning both in the city and in the

eponymous Governorate, and consequently highlights the political and physical obstacles that prohibit the

implementation of a responsible development scheme.

PALESTINIAN – ISRAELI STRUGGLE: BRIEF HISTORY

The Palestinian – Israeli struggle for sovereignty on land is the main character that has distinguished it in the past 60 years, beginning from the UN proposal in 1947 that portioned 55% of historical Palestine into a Jewish State and only 45% as an Arabian state, despite the fact that Jewish population was only 7%. The rejection of this proposal by Palestinians had accelerated the advance of the Israeli – Palestinian/Arab War in 1948, and resulted with the conquest of 78% of the country. By the War of 1967, Israel had occupied the remaining 22% of Palestine including Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, and the West Bank. (PASSIA, 2012, p.1)

A series conflicts and struggles against the Israeli military authority resulted with the signing of Oslo Accord (1993-1995) between the Palestinian Liberation Organization and the Israeli Authority, that allowed the former to enter its new territories. The Oslo Accord was subsequently followed by signing of the Oslo Agreement II in 1995 that created a “two-state solution” by subdividing the West Bank into three areas with different levels of control known as Area A, B and C as a five years temporary security measurement (PASSIA, 2012, p. 1-2).

Area A granted full Palestinian control over the urban areas of its territories including the ability to have Palestinian police conduct surveillance of the streets and to fulfil the basic demands of its citizens. Area B can be defined by a medium Palestinian control over the outskirts areas of Area A that includes rural and village areas. Area B has the civil administration management by Palestinian authority, while it is militarily controlled by the Israeli Authority. Area C both in matter of civil administration and controlling is under Israeli Authority, including basic needs and infrastructures. Area C forms the fertile lands in Palestine, with 63% of agricultural lands of the west bank (PASSIA, 2012, p. 2).

During the second Palestinian Intifada (uprising), the economic situation of all Palestinian territories had deteriorated due to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian cities and destruction of its basic infrastructures. The continued occupation has created a sort of paralysis in Palestinian’s everyday life and contributes to non-employment (Ajluni, 2003). Bethlehem is one of the Palestinian cities that has been badly affected especially with the halt of tourism visits, due to the Israeli’s closures that reached their peak with the Israeli siege of the church of Nativity in 2002 that lasted around 40 days (BBC, 2002).

CONFISCATION OF LANDS IN BETHLEHEM

War of 1967: Confiscation of Bethlehem’s land started by 1967, where 3,939 dunums (3.9 km2) of Bethlehem territories were confiscated by Israeli Authority for colonization purposes, on the basis of extending the borders of Jerusalem by annexing Bethlehem lands (ARIJ, 2010a, p.24). Oslo Agreement: As part of Oslo Agreement, Bethlehem city was subdivided into two categories of area A and area C. Area A compromised of 6007 dunums forming 56.6% while area C consisted of 4603 dunums thus forming 43.4%. In the latter area, the Palestinian are prohibited to build, launch business, or receive any sort of benefits without having a permission from Israeli civil administration and that is considered to be quite complicated to obtain (ARIJ, 2010a, p.24). In this regard, Palestinians have lost control and the ability to take advantage of the agricultural lands in the Area.

THE SEGREGATION WALL

With the erection of the separation wall by Israel, Bethlehem city had lost 4012 dunums of its lands forming around 37.8% of its total territories. In addition, the separation wall had included the two settlements of Gilo

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and Har Homa (Abu Ghneim). The formed settlement of Gilo had resulted in confiscating 594 dunums, forming 5.6% of the area, while Har Homa (Abu Ghneim) settlement had confiscated 10.7% dunums of Bethlehem area that formed 1,136 dunums of Bethlehem territories (ARIJ, 2010a, p.25).

Figure 2 Har Homa 1997

Figure 3 Har Homa 2007

Rachel’s Tomb problem

In September 2002, Rachel’s Tomb, the third holiest site in Judaism, was incorporated on the Israeli side of the West Bank barrier and surrounded by a concrete wall and watchtowers. Israeli construction destroyed the Palestinian neighbourhood of Qubbet Rahil. Israel also declared the area to be a part of Jerusalem (ARIJ, 2002).

Figure 4 Rachels Tomb Map

Figure 5 Israeli Side of Wall at Rachels Tomb

Figure 6 Palestinian side of Wall at Rachel’s Tomb

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The Israeli Segregation Wall surrounds the Bethlehem Governorate from the northern, western & southern parts with 80.4km length, thus, enclosing an area of about 176,054 dunums (176.1 km2) of the Bethlehem Governorate, of which 157,864 dunums (157.9 km2) are agricultural (ARIJ GIS Unit, 2008).

Figure 7 Map of Segregation Wall-Bethlehem Governorate

CONTROL OF RESOURCES BY ISRAELI AUTHORITY

WATER

Water is considered to be one of the critical issues affecting the Palestinian Society. Normally citizens suffer shortage of water during winter and summer seasons (ARIJ, 2010, p.22). The main reasons behind water crises are found with the limited amount of extracted water from the three main aquifers of Eastern, Western and North-Eastern Aquifers. For instance in 2010, Palestinians extracted only 98 Million Cubic Meters (44 MCM from Eastern Aquifers, 29 MCM from North Eastern and 25 MCM Western) from the three aquifers. These statistics form a contradiction with Oslo II agreement that based on Article 40 stipulates that Palestinians are allowed to extract an amount of 118 MCM from the Aquifers (Easter Aquifer : 54 MCM, 42 MCM : North Eastern Aquifer, and 22 MCM : Western Aquifer) (Palestinian Water Authority, 2012, p. 15-16). The Palestinian Water Authority -PWA (2012, p. 16) had analysed the shortage of extracted water and summarized it into three different reasons that can be subdivided into two political and environmental. The primary political aspect is the Israeli control of water and prevention of Palestinian water extraction. In addition, further constraints have been implemented on Palestinian water projects by the Israeli-Palestinian Joint Water Committee (JWC). The environmental reason is a “drought phenomena” that has resulted in a declining average of groundwater due to the shortage of rainfall water (Palestinian Water Authority, 2012, p.16). As a solution to these problems, PWA purchases the required amount of water from the Israeli Water company of “Mekorot” in order to balance the shortage of water and distribute it to needed villages and cities (PWA, 2012, p. 16). ARIJ (2010, p.22) argued that this situation has created problems with water distribution and pumping organization among citizens. Statistics provided by PWA (2012, p. 17) show that in 2010 an amount of 55.437 MCM (36% of provided water) had been purchased from Mekorot company to cover the shortage of water in the West Bank. In the case of the Bethlehem Governorate, it depends on two main sources for water. On the one hand, it relies on the purchased water from Mekorot with an amount of 7.553 MCM (63%). The Bethlehem

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Governorate also relies on local water sources that amounts to 4.504 MCM (37%) that is distributed among a population 188,880 people. Local sources are subdivided into Natural Springs with water amount of 1.371 MCM, and PWA Wells that has water amount of 3.133 MCM (PWA, 2012, P. 17, 20). Given these facts, the purchased water quantity is much more than the local sources in Bethlehem district thus increasing the dependency on purchasing water from the Israeli Company of Mekorot. SOLID WASTE

One of the main issues of managing solid waste in Bethlehem city and surrounded communities is presented with the lack of having a central landfill for Bethlehem’s city and governorate. The reason behind this lies within the Israeli obstacles towards giving a license to erect one in Area C, as the latter is considered to be the most suitable one. (ARIJ, 2010a, p.21) Currently, there are three sites for solid waste disposal: waste collected by municipal and village councils is disposed of at the El-Eizariya (Bethany) waste dump; waste collected by municipal and village councils is disposed of at open dump sites where waste is often burnt at random; and individuals dispose waste in nearby open spaces and road sides. This latter method is very common. (ARIJ, 2004)

ATTEMPTS AT RESPONSIBLE URBAN PLANNING BY THE PALESTINIANS

It has been noted that in addition to the problems of the Israeli occupation, the Palestinian National Authority

(PNA) in the West Bank territory and especially in the Bethlehem Governorate “runs an inefficient and non-

transparent current system of land administration that hinders and undermines the process of sustainable

development of the Palestinian communities” (ARIJ, 2008b, p.7).

Despite the restrictions and constraints stemming from the Israeli occupation and control of Palestine and also

from within the PNA itself, several attempts have been initiated towards the development and implementation

of tools and technical methods to facilitate responsible urban planning.

Conceived in part with development proposals and initiatives from the World Bank in the “Bethlehem 2000

Project,” the Master Plan in Bethlehem addresses the necessity to reorganize the city of Bethlehem, saving it

from chaos (World Bank, 2003). Developing a strategic master plan has become an urgent requirement for any

further economic development in Bethlehem in order to reach to the stage of sustainable development. The

city of Bethlehem marks a winning card for the Palestinian authority, as within its religious status as the birth

place of Christianity, resides an international importance. In this respect, its economic development becomes

relevant at the national and international level.

Since the completion of the 2004 Master Plan, the Non-Governmental Organization, The Applied Research

Institute – Jerusalem, has made outstanding contributions. ARIJ states that it is “dedicated to promoting

sustainable development in the occupied Palestinian territory and the self-reliance of the Palestinian people

through greater control over their natural resources. ARIJ works specifically to augment the local stock of

scientific and technical knowledge and to introduce and devise more efficient methods of resource utilization

and conservation, improved practices, and appropriate technology” (ARIJ, 2013).

In the following sections, we discuss the vision and realization of 2004 Master Plan and follow with two ARIJ

projects, the 2008 Beit Sahour GIS system and the 2010 “Locality Profiles and Needs Assessment in the

Bethlehem Governorate”.

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URBAN PLANNING IN BETHLEHEM PALESTINE

THE 2004 BETHLEHEM CITY MASTER PLAN

The Master Plan of Bethlehem was completed in 2004 through the efforts of an elite team of Italian and Palestinian experts. The Plan aimed to “establish spatial framework areas in the urban and territorial area in question by drafting a development plan that was compatible with pre-existent resources” (Bethlehem City, 2004, p.1). In addition to that the Bethlehem Master plan emphasized a number of objectives pinpointed by establishing greens areas, agricultural areas and areas for facilities and Services. The plan proposes “urban pole areas” that would host both commercial and residential areas as part of district services and facilities (Bethlehem City, 2004, p.7). The master plan of Bethlehem used the basic indicators of the European Council Charter of Town Planners (1998) in order to facilitate its planning structure. This includes several important issues; including the involvement of local communities, reaching common consensus, preservation of inherited heritage, locating development within the process of conservation, evaluating, monitoring and drafting related plans and policies. As a working methodology the expert team had decided first to understand the modern city of Bethlehem through launching a “familiarity project” that intended to “define the main structural elements of the urban layout and examine the data carefully” (Bethlehem City, 2004, p.4). The Palestinian-Italian expert teams defined the plan as a “Strategic Plan”, seeing it best suited with the purpose of developing a medium term plan for a length period of 15 years. This sort of planning indicates fixed number of objectives to be successfully implemented during the required time (Bethlehem City, 2004, p. 3). Furthermore, since the Bethlehem Master Plan not only has to be drafted, but also updated and managed, a territorial information system (GIS) was established and created that could include all the data relative to the plan and all the information needed to govern the city (Bethlehem City, 2004, p.2).

VISION OF THE PLAN

The 2004 Bethlehem City Master Plan described its objectives with the following:

1. The study aims at providing the city with a new organic development model, contrasting the chaotic and disorderly growth that has so far characterised the city of Bethlehem.

2. A reduction in road congestion and traffic towards the historical city centre, i.e. the area around the Church of the Nativity

3. Creates three new urban pole areas in the overall urban area so that new centres of interest are established

4. Traffic congestion will be reduced due to the development of new roads connecting the new settlements, forming a new ring road around the city. The new main road will also connect the green areas of the city. With its green areas, the road will act as a filter between the city of Bethlehem and the city of Beit Sahour. Furthermore, the system will function as a new axis to contrast the uncontrolled urban growth along the Beit Jala- Beit Sahour road.

5. Two new settlements are envisaged, one to the south and east of the historical city, and a smaller one to the south. These two expansion areas of the city cover a total of 49 hectares, providing living space for 20,000 inhabitants

6. Development of green areas and parks. These areas are located around the residential expansion areas and will be used chiefly for primary public services and green areas. Other areas will be located along the ring road that will be considered a sort of “green road”.

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BETHLEHEM PALESTINE MASTER PLAN (2004)

Figure 8 Bethlehem Master Plan

REALIZATION OF THE PLAN

The devastating economic and social consequences of the Israeli strategic policies of occupation, segregation and control to the city of Bethlehem cannot be overstated. The segregation wall has negatively impacted agriculture, biodiversity, water resources, social life, economy and demography (ARIJ, 2008b). Additionally, these impacts are enhanced by the constraints on mobility – enabled with checkpoints and restricted access roads in conjunction with a clear imposition of threat by force by military presence. Is it still possible for the city of Bethlehem to consider the viability of a master plan under these conditions? The answer is no. For the most part, none of the substantive transportation infrastructure proposals of the master plan are capable of implementation in light of the Israeli restrictions. Possibly due to the practical impossibility of addressing the macro planning issues, the Bethlehem municipality has focused on smaller development projects. For example, from 2007-2009, projects included: the Pavement of streets and Providing Street Lightings, Traffic Management Infrastructure, Construction of Tunnels,

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Cultivation of Trees, Painting the Streets and Stores’ Fronts and Cleaning Stone, and the Rehabilitation of Al Mas’udi School (ARIJ, 2010b, p. 29). BETHLEHEM SATELLITE 2006

Figure 9 2006 Satellite with Wall

Bethlehem presents a reflection of the whole political and economic situation in Palestine that is characterized

by Israeli Occupation. The imposition of Israeli policy is presented mainly in Settlements, controlling Palestinian

source of water, dominating borders, and checkpoints, and erecting an Apartheid Wall. All of these restrictions

and controlling tools used by Israeli Authority have made it difficult to ensure sustainable development in the

Palestinian territories. The situation is more noticed by the dependency of the Palestinian economy on the

Israeli economy, thus ensuring that Palestinians have not been able to form their own National Economy (Al

Arure, 2012). The outcome has badly affected the Palestinian citizens of the West Bank, and especially in

Bethlehem district (actually governorate) that has one of the highest unemployment rates in the Palestinian

governorates reaching 15,200 unemployed citizen (22.8% ) during the first quarter of 2013 (PSBC, 2013).

Furthermore, the situation of Christian communities in Bethlehem has been dramatically affected by this

negative social, economic and political climate. The Christians now represent a minority of less than 1%,

making the total number of 45,000 Christians in the Palestinian territories. Annually 600 Christians emigrate

from Palestine, due to the impacts of Israeli policy towards the Palestinians (Al Quds, 2012). In Bethlehem, it

was estimated by Dr. Sabella that 3000 Christians had emigrated from Bethlehem during the second Palestinian

Intifada, specifically between the years 2000 and 2004 (Alghad, 2004). Several appeals had been done by

Christian churches, including the last appeal by Patriash Foud Twal during the Christmas midnight mass in St.

Catharina church in Bethlehem, requesting Christians not to leave the Holy Land (Sawatfa, 2013).

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Nonetheless, the aforementioned situation has not prevented the rational proposition of planning projects, however difficult they may be to achieve. Selected List of Proposed Projects (ARIJ, 2010a, p.30)

1. Development and rehabilitation of the Old City so it will become an important tourist facility, while maintaining its historic and heritage character.

2. Establishment of medium industrial projects, such as wood workshops, aluminium and others, and the establishment of an industrial region to serve Bethlehem governorate.

3. Finding recreational places and facilities to enhance internal and external tourism. 4. Rehabilitation and development of infrastructure in order to meet the needs of previous projects. 5. Land settlement and expanding the organizational/structural plan of Bethlehem municipality. 6. Finding an appropriate mechanism for marketing local products in order for local producers to receive

fair prices for their products. 7. Establishment of a typical and healthy slaughterhouse. 8. Establishment of a healthy dumping site for non-hazardous solid waste that serves the whole

governorate.

GIS IN THE BEIT SAHOUR MUNICIPALITY

Beit Sahour City, along with both Bethlehem and Beit Jala cities constitutes the urban fabric of Bethlehem Governorate, which is one of the largest of the eleven Governorates of the West Bank as it occupies an area of 607.86 Km2 (ARIJ GIS-Database, 2008a). In 2008, the Municipality of Beit Sahour engaged in a GIS building project with ARIJ is to efficiently manage the natural resources of the City and ensuring the sustainable development of the community. The GIS was envisioned to become the core part of the municipality, as it is concerned with the multi-disciplines prioritized within the municipal fields of interest, including capital planning, financial reporting and taxation, field coordination, and infrastructural operation and maintenance (ARIJ, 2008a, p.8).

Figure 10 Resulting GIS Map

The specific objectives were defined as:

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1. To provide the decision makers in the municipality of Beit Sahour with current, accurate, and consistent basic spatial data, including digital data and hardcopy maps, and deliver spatial information that is current.

2. To update the spatial data sets of the Beit Sahour’s base maps 3. To create new data sets where new physical features established. 4. To populate spatial data with tabular data (road type, urban names, Israeli colonies names etc.). 5. To publish and distribute consistent and complete geographic data sets and, thus reducing data

duplications and redundancy.

The development of the GIS system used a three stage method: 1) Building a basic GIS. 2) Data updating and improving 3) Linking descriptive data collected by a designated questionnaire to the developed basic GIS. The data for the system included sources such as CAD Data, Aerial Photos (1998, 2004, and 2005) Analysis, Reports and Statistics, Hard Copy Maps, Field Work, and Questionnaires (ARIJ, 2008a, p. 10). The achieved functionality of this system includes the dynamic production of maps; digital Mapping and delivery of MIS for decision makers; Flexible analysis: (Overlaying, Spatial Analysis, Networking, 3D Analysis Geo-statistical and Geopolitical analysis, Surveying, GPS, Remote Sensing) and Database Querying; and Reporting (ARIJ, 2008a, p.14). Problems noted by ARIJ included: Lack of data (infrastructural lines), Lack of coordination (between department & between levels of government), Gaps in spatial data, Lack of use of standards (incompatible information, fragmentation of information & redundancy), Lack of documentation, and Data policy restriction (pricing, access rights, non-sharing policy between departments, licensing policy) (ARIJ, 2008a, p.16).

LOCALITY PROFILES AND NEEDS ASSESSMENT IN THE BETHLEHEM GOVERNORATE

A 2010 project conducted under the auspices of the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (AECI) Azahar Program aimed at depicting the overall living conditions in the governorate and presenting developmental plans to assist in developing the livelihood of the population in the area. The project’s objectives were to survey, analyse and document the available natural, human, socioeconomic and environmental resources; the existing limitations and developmental needs for the development of the rural and marginalized areas in the Bethlehem Governorate. In addition, the project aimed at preparing strategic developmental programs and activities to mitigate the impact of the current political, social, and economic instability with the main focus on the agricultural sector (ARIJ, 2010b, p.3). LAND USE BETHLEHEM

Figure 11 Land Use Bethlehem

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TECHNICAL METHODS FOR NEEDS ASSESSMENT

ARIJ GIS (Geographic Information System) and Remote Sensing Unit developed the explanatory maps for each locality. Each profile contains 3 maps; a location map, an information map, and a land use/land cover map (see Figure 11). The Participatory Rapid Appraisal is a qualitative research tool used to identify problems and formulate solutions. Its aim is to enable people to access an issue and make their own plans to address it. This resulted in the creation of development project proposals. The clear and unambiguous proposal format reflects planning integration with GIS enabled systems. See Appendix 1 for an example project proposal format of the “Proposed Project for Waste Water Treatment and Reuse in The Northern Part Of Beit Sahour” (ARIJ, 2010b, p.84-86). This is a model for planning proposals that are generated from the PRA and GIS methodology.

CONCLUSION

The use of GIS in Bethlehem Palestine represents not only technical progress, but necessity, the necessity not only to accurately portray the land use situation in the divided territory scientifically, but also to find solutions to the very difficult planning problems that have resulted from negative political policy. As both a diagnostic tool and a means to coherently describe the complex spatial problems resulting from the segregation policies of Israel, GIS has provided a kind of ammunition in the form of information. The realization of the nature of the injustice brought upon the people of Bethlehem Palestine can clearly be seen in the spatial data, and this sort of data does not need any embellishment to describe itself. If the case of the Palestinians is ever brought to bear in an International Court, the kind of evidence that the use of GIS has enabled is irrefutable proof that the heavy-handed ‘divide and conquer’ strategy of Israel not only exists, but is working to effectively disenfranchise the rightful patrimony of the indigenous people of the Holy Land. Coherent with the need for justice, however, exists the need of the people to adapt and survive. The truly remarkable aspect of the research presented in this paper is that it demonstrates that perhaps the only constructive way to deal with an intolerable political situation is with scientific methods rather than inflammatory political rhetoric and religious fervour. There is no constructive thinking in the rhetoric of holy war, and for all stakeholders involved in the protection of the rich and ancient heritage of this region, to counter passion with reason is the only appropriate course of action.

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FIGURE REFERENCES

Figure 1: Bethlehem location and borders (ARIJ, 2010a, p.4) Figure 2: Har Homa 1997 (ARIJ, 2008b, p.1) Figure 3: Har Homa 2007 (ARIJ, 2008b, p.1) Figure 4: Rachel’s Tomb Map (ARIJ, 2010b, p.49). Figure 5: Israeli Side of Wall at Rachel’s Tomb (Google Street, 2013). Figure 6: Palestinian side of Wall at Rachel’s Tomb (ARIJ, 2008b, p.17). Figure 7: Map of Segregation Wall-Bethlehem Governorate (ARIJ, 2010b, p.52). Figure 8: Bethlehem Master Plan (Bethlehem City, 2004). Figure 9: 2006 Satellite with Wall (ARIJ, 2008b, p.3). Figure 10: Resulting GIS Map (ARIJ, 2008a, p. 15). Figure 11: Land Use Bethlehem (ARIJ, 2010a, p.15). Figure 12: Targeted Areas for Beit Sahour Wastewater Treatment Proposal (ARIJ, 2010b, p.85).

APPENDICES

PROPOSED PROJECT FOR WASTE WATER TREATMENT AND REUSE IN THE NORTHERN PART OF BEIT SAHOUR

Project Title Establishing wastewater treatment unit in the Northern part of Beit Sahour.

Project Duration 36 months Estimated Budget

The total estimated budget is US $4,865,000. The farmers will contribute with 25% for land reclamation and irrigation networks.

Stakeholders

The project stakeholders will be the Beit Shour Municipality, Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), the Palestinian Water Authority (PWA), the Ministry of Local Governorates, Local NGOs, Local Agricultural Societies.

Targeted Areas Beit Sahour as main beneficiary and Dar Salah and Al Khas & An N’uman as sub beneficiaries.

Map of Targeted Areas

Figure 12 Targeted Areas for Beit Sahour Wastewater Treatment Proposal

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Beneficiaries Beit Sahour people and the farmers of the other close localities (16,300 persons).

Project Description

The Beit Sahour generated wastewater from sewage network and evacuated cesspits (3500-4000 cubic meters per day) discharge into the valleys toward Wadi an Nar without treatment. This wastewater is considered a main threat to the ground water as this area is a water catchment for the ground water eastern aquifer. Most of the generated wastewater is from domestic compared to the generated wastewater from industries and storm rainwater. Beit Sahour has two pumping Stations: one is located in the southern part (receiving 1500-200 cubic meters daily) and another is located in the northern part of the city (receiving 2000 cubic meters daily). The total amount of wastewater which is about 3500-4000 cm/day is discharged Through this project a wastewater treatment plant will be established at the site of the northern wastewater pump station. The treatment plant will treat up to 1000 cubic meters daily of the wastewater arriving to the southern pumping station. This plant will treat up to 50% of the arriving wastewater to the pumping station. The reclaimed wastewater will be used for irrigation of agricultural lands in the area surrounding the treatment plant. Additionally, awareness and capacity building campaign will be conducted to increase the farmer’s awareness about the proper usage for the treated wastewater and which fruit trees they can irrigate. Additionally, the community awareness regarding the importance of wastewater treatment will be improved.

Project Objectives

• To improve the wastewater management for Beit Sahour/Wadi An-Nar. • To improve the environmental and health conditions in the north part of Beit Sahour and in

the wadis where wastewater follow. • To increase the agricultural areas by utilizing the treated wastewater for irrigation. • To improve the environmental and health conditions in the Wadi An-Nar and the surrounding

communities. • To improve the income generation of the local communities. • To protect the water catchment areas, surface water and groundwater resources from

potential contamination. • To increase the food security of local communities. • To increase human resource capacities and knowledge. • To assist in lowering the unemployment rate in the surrounding areas.

Project Activities

• Establishing large wastewater treatment unit with a capacity of 1,000 cubic meters per day, each.

• Providing main pipelines to distribute the treated wastewater to farmers or pumping it to distribution station.

• Training local authorities on the management of wastewater taking into consideration the local circumstances.

• Creating an association leaded by Beit Sahour Municipality to follow up, monitor and manage the wastewater treatment plant.

• Rehabilitating the polluted lands to become suitable for cultivation. • Planting additional 1,200 dunums of fruit trees.

Expected Results

• The quality of water catchment areas, surface water and ground water resources in the targeted area conserved and improved.

• The irrigation water increased by 1,000 cubic meters per day. • Agricultural areas increased by 1200 dunums. • Food security increased at local level. • New friendly technologies at feasible costs adopted. • Jobs created at local level. • Health and environmental conditions improved. • Cost of waste water management reduced. • Awareness regarding waste water management, gardening and the use of new technologies

improved. • A wastewater management system operating and functional.