The Israeli
authorities imposed several measures and restrictions on movement of
people and goods within the Palestinian road network since the eruption
of the Palestinian uprising in September 2000. This study aims to
analyze these patterns and their impact on the transportation sector in
the West Bank, to provide scientific documentation of these measures,
and to assist the Palestinian decision makers. The severity and number
of these measures fluctuated from time to time and from location to
another. There was a decline in the number of certain measures (earth
mounds/walls and trenches) and an increase in road blocks and gates.
These measures targeted particular locations in the West Bank, and aimed
at dividing it into geographical zones; north, middle, and south, in
addition to the Jordan Valley. The imposed road measures had a severe
impact on the transportation sector in terms of cost, time, distance,
quality of service, physical damages to the road network, and the
condition of road pavement. The study concluded that the Israeli
authorities institutionalized these measures at the cost of the
Palestinian lands and the suffering of the Palestinian travelers. This
has lead to a decline in the Palestinian economic competitiveness. The
study recommends conducting a comprehensive study at the Palestinian
official level about the patterns and institutionalization of these
measures, so as to document these measures and impacts and to take the
necessary countermeasures, as much as possible.
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