Beyond Restriction Integrated Spatial Planning as a Tool for Resilience in Palestine

Aligned with the World Urban Forum 13 theme “Housing the World: Safe and Resilient Cities and Communities,” the Palestinian experience in Area C highlights integrated spatial planning as a rights-based and resilience-oriented response to severe housing, governance, and development constraints. Restrictive planning systems, fragmented institutional authority, and the lack of officially recognized cadastral data significantly hinder housing provision, infrastructure development, and local economic growth. In this context, systematic land surveying is treated as a critical prerequisite for statutory planning, as it defines land parcels, clarifies ownership and land use, and provides a reliable spatial foundation for planning decisions. This approach is grounded in Article 19 of the Planning, Cities, Villages and Buildings Law No. 79 of 1966, which regulates the preparation of local and detailed plans, including land use designation, building regulations, roads, and public facilities. Effective application of Article 19 depends on accurate land information, making land surveying the essential first step toward lawful, coherent, and enforceable planning. Based on surveyed data, local outline (master) plans are prepared and adopted as key legal tools to regulate land use, protect housing and spatial rights, and define development priorities. These plans are integrated within an area-based planning framework to ensure coordination and spatial coherence among neighboring communities. Beyond physical planning, the framework supports integrated local development. Surveyed public land enables the allocation of sites for infrastructure, community facilities, and open spaces based on participatory needs assessments. Implementation is coordinated with donors and development partners to ensure legal compliance and financial feasibility. The model also links spatial planning with local economic development, particularly by supporting income-generating activities for women and youth through planned public spaces and infrastructure investments. Institutional innovation is reflected in the activation of local planning committees, which strengthen participation, governance, transparency, and coordination between communities and planning authorities. Overall, this experience demonstrates how planning anchored in accurate land data and national legislation can protect housing rights, enhance resilience, and promote dignified urban development in conflict-affected contexts.