Planning Beyond A Peace Accord In Gaza

When it comes to the Gaza Strip, most talk revolves around making peace. One architect and urban planner has drafted a plan that focuses on "the day after".

1 minute read

October 12, 2006, 6:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg


Los Angeles-based architect and urban planner Doug Suisman has spent the past three years drafting a land use plan for a future peaceful Gaza Strip. The plan is part of a Rand Corporation study that seeks to establish a foundation for successfully building a Palestinian state in Gaza.

"Suisman's answer is the Arc, a proposed urban blueprint of a Palestinian state that enables fluid movement between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip; high-speed trains whisking businessmen and tourists to the Gaza airport and eventually connecting to cities in Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon."

" 'This was not about how to get to peace,' says Suisman, 'this is about the day after.' It's also an opportunity to avoid the problems evident in post-conflict nation building such as in Iraq."

Wednesday, October 11, 2006 in Business Week

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