It is billed as a symbol of the future Palestine: a modern, middle-class city of orderly streets, parks and shopping plazas rising in the hills of the West Bank, ready for independence, affluence and peace. But the $800-million project has hit a snag: Palestinians say construction of the city of Rawabi depends on getting an access road, which can’t go ahead without Israeli permission. …
The Palestinian Authority asked Israel last year for jurisdiction over the strip of land needed, and senior Palestinian officials say Israel has repeatedly assured them approval is imminent. Israeli defense officials say they expect the road to be approved, but don’t know when. … Many on both sides expect Rawabi to emerge as a bargaining chip in peace talks—suggesting the issue could drag on for years and turn investors off the project. Access the full article>>
