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How Fares the New Palestinian City of Rawabi?
(Ha'aretz) Ari Flanzraich - Rawabi markets itself as the first new Palestinian city in modern times, situated 35 minutes north of Ramallah. Construction began in 2010, financed initially by Palestinian-American entrepreneur Bashar Masri and aided by substantial Qatari funds. To date, 1,600 housing units have been built, with work underway on an additional 400, while the master plan is for 6,000 units. Rawabi has gained popularity among wealthier Palestinians and has also attracted Israeli Arabs. It's current population is 5,000, of whom 70% consider the city their permanent home. A municipal official described the other 30% as "weekend/ vacation" visitors. Amal, 46, a resident of the Israeli Arab city of Umm al-Fahm, said his brother was among the first to buy a property there. "I thought there would be people living there. They are selling lots of apartments, but no one is living there: you pass through in the evening and the place is empty." Amal says, "The simpler villagers of the West Bank see Rawabi as something alien and ill-fitting." The central commercial strip is usually bustling late into the night, while the outer residential areas feel like a ghost town, with few cars and little movement.