The Palestinian environment has been a victim of Israel’s occupation policies and practices. These practices of occupation and control has systematically impeded the development and conservation of Palestinian natural resources.
The fragmentation of the Palestinian landscape has had a significant environmental impact. Overall, 61% of total land area in the West Bank is controlled by Israel. The land is used for settlements’ expansion, for military purposes, for checkpoints or road closures, and for the establishment of the western segregation zone and the West Bank Segregation Wall1 (ARIJUM, 2011)2. The expropriation of Palestinian land has created geographical discontinuity and resulted in a major physical impediment towards achieving sound and sustainable development in Palestine.
