Assessing the Palestinian Experience in Using Household Water

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Assessing the Palestinian Experience in Using Household Water Faculty of Graduate Studies Master Thesis in Water and Environmental Engineering Assessing the Palestinian Experience in Using Household Water Treatment Systems: Hebron Governorate as a case study تقيين خبرة فلسطيي في استخذام وحذاث هعالجت هياه الشرب الونزليت:هحافظت الخليل كحالت دراسيت Student: Alaa Othman (1175433) Supervisor: Dr. Maher Abu-Madi November, 2019 Table of Contents Table of Contents ...................................................................................................... III List of Figures ........................................................................................................... VII List of Tables .......................................................................................................... VIII List of Abbreviation .................................................................................................... X Abstract ..................................................................................................................... XII XIV ....................................................................................................................... الخﻻصت Dedication ................................................................................................................. XV Acknowledgements ................................................................................................ XVI Chapter One - Introduction ........................................................................................ 1 1.1 Background .......................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Problem Statement ............................................................................................... 3 1.3Aim and Objectives........................................................................................... 4 1.4 Thesis Outline .................................................................................................. 4 Chapter Two - Literature Review .............................................................................. 5 2.1 Study Area Description ........................................................................................ 5 2.1.1 Geographical Location .................................................................................. 5 2.1.2 Water Resources in Hebron .............................................................................. 6 2.1.3 Water Quantity .................................................................................................. 6 2.1.4 Water Quality ................................................................................................ 7 2.2 Household Water Treatment Technology ............................................................ 8 III 2.2.1 Concerns about water quality ........................................................................ 8 2.2.2 Types of Contaminants in Water .................................................................. 9 2.2.3 Point of Use and Point of Entry .................................................................... 9 2.3 Technical Feasibility of Household Water Filters ............................................. 11 2.3.1 Removal Efficiency .................................................................................... 11 2.3.2 Fouling ........................................................................................................ 13 2.3.3 Service Life and Maintenance Frequency................................................... 13 2.3.3 System Footprint ......................................................................................... 14 2.3.4 Operation and Maintenance Skills .............................................................. 14 2.4 Economic Feasibility of Household Water Filters ............................................. 15 2.5 Health Impacts ................................................................................................... 16 2.6 Public Perceptions .............................................................................................. 18 2.7 Drinking Water Quality Parameters................................................................... 19 2.7.1 Microbial Contamination ............................................................................ 20 2.7.2 Physicochemical Analysis .......................................................................... 21 Chapter Three -Methodology ................................................................................... 24 3.1 Data Collection and Questionnaire Survey ........................................................ 24 3.2 Data and Questionnaire Analysis ....................................................................... 26 3.3 Field Visits and Drinking Water Sample Collection ......................................... 26 3.4Water Sampling and Analysis ............................................................................. 26 3.4.1 Sampling ..................................................................................................... 26 IV 3.4.2 Analytical Techniques ................................................................................ 27 Chapter Four - Results and Discussion .................................................................... 28 4.1 Technical Performance of Households Water Filters ........................................ 28 4.1.1 Removal Efficiency .................................................................................... 28 pH Value .............................................................................................................. 30 Total dissolved solid (TDS) ................................................................................. 30 Electrical conductivity ......................................................................................... 31 Chloride concentration ......................................................................................... 31 Carbonate concentration ...................................................................................... 31 Nitrate Concentration ........................................................................................... 32 Sulfate Concentration............................................................................................... 32 Microbial Contaminants....................................................................................... 32 4.1.2 Fouling ........................................................................................................ 33 4.1.3 Service Life and Maintenance Frequency................................................... 33 4.1.4 System Footprint ......................................................................................... 36 4.1.5 Operational Skills........................................................................................ 37 4.2. Economic Feasibility ........................................................................................ 37 4.3. Health Impacts .................................................................................................. 41 4.4 Public Perceptions .............................................................................................. 43 Chapter Five - Conclusions and Recommendations ............................................... 50 5.1 Conclusions ........................................................................................................ 50 V 5.2 Recommendations .............................................................................................. 51 References:.................................................................................................................. 52 58 .......................................................................................................... :قائوتالوراجع العربيت Appendices: ................................................................................................................ 59 Appendix 1: The Questionnaire ............................................................................... 59 Appendix 2: Water Quality analysis for North Eastern Basin in Jenin Area........... 62 Appendix 3: Water Quality analysis in Western Basin in Qalqilia and Tulkarem .. 63 Appendix 4: Water quality analysis for Eastern Basin in Jericho and Jordan Valley area ........................................................................................................................... 64 Appendix 5: Water quality indicator by Water Sector Regulatory Council for Hebron Governorate(1) ............................................................................................ 65 Appendix 6: Water Quality Indicator by WSRC for Hebron Governorate (2) ........ 67 Appendix 7: Chemical Analysis Report for Source of Water in North Hebron from MOH ........................................................................................................................ 69 VI List of Figures Figure 1 Hebron Governorate (Source: LRC, 2006)..................................................... 5 Figure 2 Palestine/ West Bank water supply (Source: PWA, 2017) .............................. 7 Figure 3 Types of water filters used according to Questionnaire ............................... 28 Figure 4 Installation time of water filter ..................................................................... 34 Figure 5 Occurrence of periodic maintenance ............................................................ 34 Figure 6 Relationship between satisfactions about water
Recommended publications
  • FINAL REPORT: Evaluation of the Local Governance and Infrastructure Program
    FINAL REPORT: Evaluation of the Local Governance and Infrastructure Program An evaluation of the effect of LGI's local government initiatives on institutional development and participatory governance Pablo Beramendi, Soomin Oh, Erik Wibbels July 24, 2018 AAID Research LabDATA at William & Mary Author Information Pablo Beramendi Professor of Political Science and DevLab@Duke Soomin Oh PhD Student and DevLab@Duke Erik Wibbels Professor of Political Science and DevLab@Duke The views expressed in this report are those of the authors and should not be attributed to AidData or funders of AidData’s work, nor do they necessarily reflect the views of any of the many institutions or individuals acknowledged here. Citation Beramendi, P., Soomin, O, & Wibbels, E. (2018). LGI Final Report. Williamsburg, VA: AidData at William & Mary. Acknowledgments This evaluation was funded by USAID/West Bank and Gaza through a buy-in to a cooperative agreement (AID-OAA-A-12-00096) between USAID's Global Development Lab and AidData at the College of William and Mary under the Higher Education Solutions Network (HESN) Program. The authors would like to acknowledge the contributions of Tayseer Edeas, Reem Jafari, and their colleagues at USAID/West Bank and Gaza, and of Manal Warrad, Safa Noreen, Samar Ala' El-Deen, and all of the excellent people at Jerusalem Media and Communication Centre. Contents 1 Executive Summary 1 1.1 Key Findings . .1 1.2 Policy Recommendations . .2 2 Introduction 3 3 Background 4 4 Research design 5 4.1 Matching . .6 4.1.1 Survey Design and Sampling . .8 4.1.2 World Bank/USAID LPGA Surveys .
    [Show full text]
  • Arrested Development: the Long Term Impact of Israel's Separation Barrier in the West Bank
    B’TSELEM - The Israeli Information Center for ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT Human Rights in the Occupied Territories 8 Hata’asiya St., Talpiot P.O. Box 53132 Jerusalem 91531 The Long Term Impact of Israel's Separation Tel. (972) 2-6735599 | Fax (972) 2-6749111 Barrier in the West Bank www.btselem.org | [email protected] October 2012 Arrested Development: The Long Term Impact of Israel's Separation Barrier in the West Bank October 2012 Research and writing Eyal Hareuveni Editing Yael Stein Data coordination 'Abd al-Karim Sa'adi, Iyad Hadad, Atef Abu a-Rub, Salma a-Deb’i, ‘Amer ‘Aruri & Kareem Jubran Translation Deb Reich Processing geographical data Shai Efrati Cover Abandoned buildings near the barrier in the town of Bir Nabala, 24 September 2012. Photo Anne Paq, activestills.org B’Tselem would like to thank Jann Böddeling for his help in gathering material and analyzing the economic impact of the Separation Barrier; Nir Shalev and Alon Cohen- Lifshitz from Bimkom; Stefan Ziegler and Nicole Harari from UNRWA; and B’Tselem Reports Committee member Prof. Oren Yiftachel. ISBN 978-965-7613-00-9 Table of Contents Introduction ................................................................................ 5 Part I The Barrier – A Temporary Security Measure? ................. 7 Part II Data ....................................................................... 13 Maps and Photographs ............................................................... 17 Part III The “Seam Zone” and the Permit Regime ..................... 25 Part IV Case Studies ............................................................ 43 Part V Violations of Palestinians’ Human Rights due to the Separation Barrier ..................................................... 63 Conclusions................................................................................ 69 Appendix A List of settlements, unauthorized outposts and industrial parks on the “Israeli” side of the Separation Barrier .................. 71 Appendix B Response from Israel's Ministry of Justice .......................
    [Show full text]
  • Hebron Governorate
    Hebron Governorate: The Governorate of Hebron is located in the southern part of the West Bank. It is the largest Governorate in the West Bank in terms of size and population. Its area before the 1948 Nakba (disaster) was 2076 km2 while its current area is about 1060 km2. This means that Hebron has lost 51 % of its original size due to the events of Nakba. The population of the Governorate is now half million according to the estimates of the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (2005). The population density of the Governorate is 500 individuals per km2. Hebron Governorate ARAB STUDIES SOCIETY - Land Research Center (LRC) - Jerusalem , Halhul - Main Road 1 Tele / fax : 02 - 2217239, P.O.Box :35 Email: [email protected] URL : www.Ircj.org The number of Palestinian communities in the Governorate is 145, the largest of which is the city of Hebron. It has a built up area of 79.8 km2 (about 7.5 % of the total area of the Governorate). The Governorate of Hebron contains many religious, historical and archeological sites, the most important of which are: the Ibrahimi mosque, the Tel Arumaida area of ancient Hebron which started in the Bronze age – 3500 BC- the biblical site of Mamreh where Abraham pitched his tent and dug a well after his journey from Mesopotamia in 1850 BC, Al Ma’mudiay spring (probable baptismal site of Saint John the Baptist in the village of Taffuh), Saint Philip’s spring in Halhul where Saint Philip baptized the Ethiopian eunuch. Hebron Governorate Israeli Settlements in Hebron Governorate There are 22 Israeli settlements in Hebron Governorate with a built up area of 3.7 km2 (about 0.4% of the total area of Hebron Governorate) as illustrated by the attached map.
    [Show full text]
  • Idhna City Profile
    Idhna City Profile Prepared by The Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem Funded by Spanish Cooperation Azahar program March 2007 Palestinian Localities Study Hebron Governorate Table of Content Location and Physical Characteristics _________________________2 History___________________________________________________3 Demography and Population _________________________________4 Economy _________________________________________________5 Education ________________________________________________7 Health Status _____________________________________________9 Religious and Archaeological Sites ____________________________9 Institutions and Services ___________________________________10 Infrastructure and Natural Resources_________________________11 Agricultural Sector ________________________________________12 Impact of the Israeli Occupation ____________________________15 Development Plans and Projects _____________________________16 Locality Development Priorities and Needs_____________________16 1 Palestinian Localities Study Hebron Governorate Idhna City Profile Location and Physical Characteristics Idhna is a Palestinian city in Hebron Governorate located 15 km southwest of Hebron City in the southern part of the West Bank. Idhna is bordered by Tarqumiya city to the north, Taffuh village and Hebron city to the east, Al Kum villages to the south and the 1949 Armistice Line (the Green Line) to the west (See map 1). Map 1: Idhna location and borders According to Ministry of Local Authority classification, the municipal area of Idhna includes
    [Show full text]
  • Developing a Community Safety Plan for Hebron
    Developing a Community Safety Plan for Hebron a centre for security, development and the rule of law Human Rights & Democracy Media Center “Shams” Hebron Governorate Developing a Community Safety Plan for Hebron a centre for security, development and the rule of law About DCAF Editorial Board The Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Fareed A’mer Armed Forces (DCAF) promotes good governance Roland Friedrich and reform of the security sector. The Centre Peter Homel conducts research on good practices, encourages Fatima Itawi the development of appropriate norms at the Ibrahim Jaradat national and international levels, makes policy Regula Kaufmann recommendations and provides in-country advice Arnold Luethold and assistance programmes. DCAF’s partners Nicolas Masson include governments, parliaments, civil society, Omar Rahhal international organisations and the core security Haitham Al-Sharif and justice providers such as police, judiciary, Mayada Zeidani intelligence agencies, border security services and the military. Design and Layout DCAF has worked in the Palestinian Territories Wael Dwaik since 2005. It assists a wide range of Palestinian actors such as ministries, the Palestinian Legislative Council, civil society organisations Translation support and the media in their efforts to make Palestinian Yassin Al-Sayyed security sector governance democratic, transparent and accountable. Publisher About SHAMS Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) The Human Rights & Democracy Media Center Rue de Chantepoulet 11 (SHAMS) is an independent, non-profit, non- P.O. Box 1360 governmental organisation. It was established 1211 Geneva 1 in 2003 in Ramallah, Palestine, by a group of Switzerland Palestinian academics, teachers, journalists, lawyers and human rights activists.
    [Show full text]
  • Weekly Report on Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (24 – 30 November 2016)
    Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (24 – 30 November 2016) Israeli forces continue systematic crimes in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) (24 – 30 November 2016) Israeli forces continued to use excessive force in the oPt Israeli forces killed a Palestinian child in northern side of occupied Jerusalem. Israeli forces conducted 57 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and one in the southern Gaza Strip. 68 civilians, including 19 children, were arrested. Twenty of them, including 11 children, were arrested in occupied Jerusalem. Dr ‘Azzam Sahlab, Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC),was among the arrested civilians. Israeli forces arrested a civilian who sneaked via the northern borders of the Gaza Strip. Israeli forces continued to target Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip Sea. Israeli forces continued their efforts to create Jewish majority in occupied East Jerusalem. Israeli forces demolished parts of a residential house in Silwan and levelled another in al­Mukaber Mount. Settlement activities continued in the West Bank. Israeli forces issued more demolition notices. Israeli forces turned the West Bank into cantons and continued to impose the illegal closure on the Gaza Strip for the 9th Dozens of temporary checkpoints were established in the West Bank and others were re­established to obstruct the movement of Palestinian civilians. 5 Palestinian civilians were arrested at military checkpoints. Summary Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period (24 – 30 November 2016). Shooting: Israeli forces have continued to commit crimes, inflicting civilian casualties.
    [Show full text]
  • Volume 162 January 2012
    Applied Research Institute ‐ Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org Volume 162, January 2012 Issue http://www.arij.org The Monthly overview report gives a list of the Israeli Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory which are The text is not quoted directly based on reports provided by field workers and\or by one or from the sources but is edited more of the following news sources: Al‐Ayyam daily for clarity. newspaper, Al‐Quds daily newspaper, Haaretz Daily Newspaper, Israel National News, The Jerusalem Post ‐ The daily report does not English‐language daily newspaper, Paltoday news‐website, necessarily reflect ARIJ’s Palpress news website, Palestine News Agency‐Wafa, opinion. Palestine News Network, Maʹan News Agency, Al Jazeera News Channel, Israel National News, and Yediot Ahronot – English website. Bethlehem • The Israeli occupation soldiers stormed several Palestinian houses in Beit Fajjar town south of Bethlehem city and messed with their contents. Al Quds (January 4, 2012). • The Israeli Occupation Army set up military checkpoint at the western entrance of Beit Jala city, at the DCO checkpoint area, and conducted military operations, checking the ID cards of Palestinians accessing the checkpoint and caused obstruction to the vehicular and pedestrian movements. Al Quds (January 5, 2012). • The Israeli occupation Authorities issued a second amendment and extension of validity to a previously issued military number 136/05/t which was issued back in 2005 and stated the confiscation of 115 dunums of lands of Khallet An Nahla and Wad Rahhal south of Bethlehem city for the construction of the Israeli Segregation wall.
    [Show full text]
  • The South Hebron Hills
    THE SOUTH HEBRON HILLS SOLDIERS TESTIMONIES 2010-2016 Breaking the Silence's activities are made possible through the generous support of individuals and foundations including: AECID, Bertha Foundation, Broederlijk Delen , CCFD , Dan Church Aid , Die Schwelle , the Delegation of the European Union to the State of Israel , Foundation for Middle East Peace , medico international , MISEREOR , The Moriah Fund , New Israel Fund , NGO Development Center (NDC), Open Society Foundations , OXFAM, Pro-Victimis Foundation, Rockefeller Brothers Fund , Sigrid Rausing Trust , SIVMO , Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs , Trócaire, ZIVIK and the countless private individuals who have made contributions to our work over the past year . This list represents a list of donors correct to the date of publication. The contents and opinions of this publication do not represent those of our donors or partners and are the sole responsibility of Breaking the Silence. THE SOUTH HEBRON HILLS SOLDIERS TESTIMONIES 2010-2016 ISRAELI SOLDIERS TALK ABOUT THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES Introduction The South Hebron Hills is the southernmost part of the West Bank and includes the Palestinian towns of Yatta, Dura, Dhahiriyah, and the surrounding rural areas. The region includes approximately 122 Palestinian communities which together house close to 70,000 people, as well as roughly 8,500 settlers who live in settlements and unauthorized outposts affiliated with the Mount Hebron Regional Council.* The Palestinian population of the South Hebron Hills is primarily composed of Bedouin, as well as fellahin (farmers or agricultural laborers) cave dwellers, who lead a rural traditional lifestyle, earning their living primarily from agricultural work and sheep herding. Some are refugees who arrived in the West Bank after being expelled from Israel in 1948 and the years that followed, while others are descendants of families who have been living in the area for hundreds of years.
    [Show full text]
  • Gaza Strip 2020 As-Siafa Mapping Movement and Access Netiv Ha'asara Temporary
    Zikim Karmiya No Fishing Zone 1.5 nautical miles Yad Mordekhai January Gaza Strip 2020 As-Siafa Mapping Movement and Access Netiv Ha'asara Temporary Ar-Rasheed Wastewater Treatment Lagoons Sources: OCHA, Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics of Statistics Bureau Central OCHA, Palestinian Sources: Erez Crossing 1 Al-Qarya Beit Hanoun Al-Badawiya (Umm An-Naser) Erez What is known today as the Gaza Strip, originally a region in Mandatory Palestine, was created Width 5.7-12.5 km / 3.5 – 7.7 mi through the armistice agreements between Israel and Egypt in 1949. From that time until 1967, North Gaza Length ~40 km / 24.8 mi Al- Karama As-Sekka the Strip was under Egyptian control, cut off from Israel as well as the West Bank, which was Izbat Beit Hanoun al-Jaker Road Area 365 km2 / 141 m2 Beit Hanoun under Jordanian rule. In 1967, the connection was renewed when both the West Bank and the Gaza Madinat Beit Lahia Al-'Awda Strip were occupied by Israel. The 1993 Oslo Accords define Gaza and the West Bank as a single Sheikh Zayed Beit Hanoun Population 1,943,398 • 48% Under age 17 July 2019 Industrial Zone Ash-Shati Housing Project Jabalia Sderot territorial unit within which freedom of movement would be permitted. However, starting in the camp al-Wazeer Unemployment rate 47% 2019 Q2 Jabalia Camp Khalil early 90s, Israel began a gradual process of closing off the Strip; since 2007, it has enforced a full Ash-Sheikh closure, forbidding exit and entry except in rare cases. Israel continues to control many aspects of Percentage of population receiving aid 80% An-Naser Radwan Salah Ad-Deen 2 life in Gaza, most of its land crossings, its territorial waters and airspace.
    [Show full text]
  • Bethlehem Governorate
    ARAB STUDIES SOCIETY Land Suitability for Reclamation, Rangeland and Forestation - Bethlehem Governorate Silwan Al 'EizariyaMaale Adummim Land Research Center Ath Thuri This study is implemented by: Abu Dis Land Research Center - LRC East Talpiyot Mizpe Yedude Funded by: As Sawahira al Gharbiya Kedar The Italian Cooperation Beit Safafa As Sawahira ash Sharqiya Administrated by: Givat Hamatos January 2010 Ash Sheikh Sa'd United Nations Development Program UNDP / PAPP Gilo Sur Bhir WWW.LRCJ.ORG GIS & Mapping Unit Al Walaja Supervised by: Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture Har Gilo Har Homa Battir Al 'Ubeidiya Beit Jala Dar Salah Jenin Hadar Betar Husan Al Khas Beit Sahur Tulkarm Tubas Bethlehem Betar Illit Ad DohaAd Duheisha Camp Qalqiliya Nablus Artas Salfit Nahhalin Al Khushna Gavaot Neve Daniyyel Jericho Ramallah Hindaza Za'tara Rosh Zurim Al 'Iqab Efrat Jerusalem Bet Ain (Tsoref) Elazar El David (Kfar Eldad) & Izdebar Allon Shevut Surif Tekoa (includin Tekoa C,D) Bethlehem Kfar Etzion Jurat ash Sham'a Khirbet ad Deir Tuqu' Nokdim Safa Migdal Oz Hebron Beit Fajjar Beit Ummar Al 'Arrub Camp Kharas Shuyukh al 'Arrub Nuba Karmei Zur Beit Ula Legend Maale Amos Asfar ( Mitzad) Annexation & Expansion Wall Mitzad Shimon Sa'ir Governorates Boundaries Tarqumiya Halhul Ash Shuyukh Roads Network Beit Kahil Qafan al Khamis 'Arab ar Rashayida Palestinian Builtup Area Telem Idhna Israeli Colonies Ad Duwwara Adora Lands suitable for rangeland Ramat Mamre (Kharsine) Lands suitable for forestation Taffuh Suitability for Reclamation Hebron Qiryat Arbaa' Most suitable Kureise Abraham Afeno Hebron Jewish Quarter Highly suitable Deir Samit Bani Na'im Moderately suitable Dura · Beit 'Awwa Bethlehem Governorate 1:110,000 Mirshalem West Bank Negohot 0 2 4 8 Khursa Hagai Maale Havar (Pene Hever) Kilometers.
    [Show full text]
  • Khalil Tumar.Pdf
    Faculty of Graduate Studies Institute of Environmental and Water Studies M.Sc. Program in Water and Environmental Engineering M.SC. THESIS A STUDY ON THE AVAILABLE OPTIONS FOR MITIGATING WATER SCARCITY IN THE HEBRON DISTRICT, PALESTINE SUBMITTED BY: KHALIL TUMAR STUDENT NUMBER 1105479 SUPERVISOR DR. MAHER ABU-MADI This thesis was submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the Degree of Masters in Water and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Graduate Studies at Birzeit University, Palestine. APRIL, 2016 TABLE OF CONTENT Summary………………………………………………………………………………. 5 6 .……………………………………………………………………………….. الخﻻصة Dedication ...………………………………………………………………………….. 7 Acknowledgements …………………………………………………………………... 8 List of Abbreviations ...……………………………………………………………….. 9 List of Figures ………………………………………………………………………... 10 List of Tables …………………………………………………………………………. 11 Chapter One: Introduction……………………………………………………………. 12 1.1 Overview ………………………………………………….. 12 1.2 Statement of the Problem …………………………………. 13 1.3 Research Questions………………………………………... 14 1.4 Aim and Objectives……………………………………….. 14 1.5 Significance of the Study………………………………….. 14 1.6 Approach and Methodology………………………………. 15 1.7 Hypothesis..……………………………………………….. 15 1.8 Thesis Outline ..…………………………………………... 16 Chapter Two: The Study Area: The Hebron District……..…………………...……… 17 2.1 Location …………………… …………………………….. 17 2.2 Climate ……………………………………………………. 19 2.3 Temperature ……………………………...……………….. 19 2.4 Land Use ………………………....……………………….. 19 2.5 Demography ………………………………………………. 19 2.6 Water situation in
    [Show full text]
  • PDF | 2.75 MB | Chapter 4: the Spatial Dimensions of Poverty
    CHAPTER 4 4. The Spatial Dimensions of Poverty in the West Bank: Geography or Checkpoints? “Where is Spain? Before the checkpoint, or after the checkpoint?”41 Based on a series of maps using geo-referenced data, this chapter presents a powerful visual depiction of spatial disparities in economic outcomes in the West Bank, in the unique context of man- made internal barriers to mobility in addition to external movement restrictions. In this context, the analysis validates our findings on the determinants of poverty: areas characterized by high rates of poverty also tend to be areas with severe mobility restrictions, poor access to markets, high rates of unemployment, a dominance of low-wage sectors, and a reliance on increasingly scarce employment opportunities in Israel. The West Bank defies the stylized facts of economic geography: the economic heart of the West Bank, Ramallah, is a mid-sized city while its most populous city, Hebron, is its poorest. Hebron also faces harsh restrictions in mobility, within the city, the governorate and in its limited access to the rest of the West Bank. Internal mobility restrictions in the form of checkpoints have far-reaching economic implications: the presence of checkpoints is associated with higher transaction costs and uncertainty that manifest in increases in price differentials and unemployment rates. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt to measure the size of the distortions brought on by the internal checkpoints, which is found to be comparable to the transaction costs incurred when crossing the U.S.- Canada border. The „immobile‟ agricultural sector is particularly vulnerable.
    [Show full text]