In anticipation : a new city design for East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine

Abstract

The realm of this research is the Middle East Conflict between the Israeli and the Palestinian peoples. It tries to address the hope that a viable and secure solution to conflict can be achieved despite all the foreseeable obstacles that the continuing worsening of the situation suggests. Therefore, this work aims at keeping alive the dream that one day the conflict will end with a satisfactory outcome to all parties involved. Moreover, it suggests that, despite the present uncertainties, Jerusalem, as probably the most sensitive component of the just mentioned conflict, could actually become the first Shared City Capital of two independent Nation States, Israel and the yet to be formed State of Palestine. In addition, the present project will investigate the theoretical and practical constraints and possibilities that exist in designing a city for the Palestinians under the supposition that East Jerusalem, as part of Shared Jerusalem, would one day become the Capital of a future Palestine. In addition, this research would also show the relationship between conflict and urban design through its formal representation in the urban master plans developed for Jerusalem, concentrating on the period between the end of the 19th century to the present day, in form of a brief historical background, fully subordinated to the main research.