20. Planning, identity and violent conflict: the spatial making of apartheid in Israel/Palestine

Abstract

The talk addressed the current state of affairs of the Israeli/Palestinian relations and the war in Gaza – a stark reminder of the continued existence of a deep, entrenched conflict around issues of land, human rights, and collective identities in Israel/Palestine. Professor Yiftachel then moved to examine the role of planning and territorial development policies in the trajectory of the conflict, showing how Israeli governments have tapped into the potential of planning in order to advance a political agenda based on ethnonational preference; and how this trajectory has brought about a full-fledged system of control over the disenfranchised Arab population. In his conclusive remarks, Professor Yiftachel has highlighted the positive potential of planning practices in redressing social and political injustices. WATCH THE FULL LECTURE AT THE VIMEO VIDEO LINK BELOW