Development under Israeli Occupation “National Policy Agenda 2017/2022 as a Model” رسالة ماجستير

Abstract

The study aimed at introducing the possibilities of development under the Israeli occupation. The National Policy Agenda (NPA) 2017/2022 was included as a model, and the study has adopted qualitative methodology and a descriptive analytical approach. Interviews were used as a study tool, as interviews were conducted with 10 specialists and researchers in political, economic and social affairs in Palestine. The study has concluded a set of results, the most important of which are: Politically: the Israeli occupation is deemed a major obstacle to the entire development process in Palestine, particularly in the light of its control of the so-called Area “C” which constitutes about 61% of the West Bank area. Such a classification of the Palestinian territories has impeded the launch of the developmental projects in Area “C”, in addition to the control matrix and violations committed by the occupation such as land confiscation, prohibiting money entry, tax seizure such as the clearance tax money, frequent closures, preventing access of construction materials, bulldozing agricultural land and controlling water. The Palestinian political split has also weakened the National Policy Agenda implementation and affected the Gaza Strip and its participation in policy formulation and implementation. In addition, the absence of elections and the Legislative Council is a sufficient reason for the government performance regression, including the ability to implement and evaluate development plans. The study results have also shown that there are economic reasons hindered the implementation of the National Policy Agenda as well as the entire development in Palestine, such as economic dependence weak Palestinian local structure, weak civil society organizations and business incubators. Furthermore, the study affirmed the presence of social challenges that hinder the NPA implementation such as the weak participation of women and youth in the Agenda’s VII planning and implementation, with emphasis that the political and economic instability has helped in the survival and aggravation of social problems such as poverty and unemployment. It is not a secret that the results of the Covid-19 pandemic included freezing various projects and activities. The study recommended that the Palestinian government should provide a legal and legislative environment for the implementation and protection of development projects, not a repulsive environment, and should protect the democratic and legal institutions and activate the Palestinian Legislative Council for achieving power balance in the occupied Palestine. .