Palestine Eco-town To Go Ahead Despite Gaza Conflict

摘要

Qatari funders are pushing ahead with the development of an eco-town for 30,000 residents in Israel's occupied territories, despite the continued tension following the conflict in Gaza. UK consultant Faber Maunsell and masterplanner EDAW's UK office have been appointed to commence a groundbreaking $350m (￡240m) project near the West Bank town of Ramallah. Rawabi will be the first planned community for Palestinians to be built in the occupied territories, and will include new schools, mosques, libraries and housing for up to 30,000 people. Work is expected to start in May, even though relations between Palestine and Israel have been damaged by the recent war. EDAW, the Olympic park masterplanner, has designed the masterplan, while Faber Maunsell is carrying out engineering, highways and sustainability work, including the construction of rainwater harvesting and wastewater treatment systems.