JERUSALEM, December 15, 2009 (WAFA)- “Palestinian construction is effectively prohibited in some 70 percent of Area C” the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in occupied Palestinian territory (OCHA) said Tuesday.

OCHA  had Special Focus covered the planning and zoning regime applied by the Israeli authorities in Area C of the West Bank. Under this regime, Palestinian construction is effectively prohibited in some 70 percent of Area C, while in the remaining 30 percent, a range of restrictions virtually eliminates the possibility of obtaining a building permit.

It noted that the Israeli authorities generally allow Palestinian construction only within the boundaries of an Israeli-approved plan and these cover less than one percent of Area C, much of which is already built-up.

 “As a result, Palestinians are left with no choice but to build? illegally? and risk demolition of their structures and displacement. The consequences of the current regime are wide-ranging and extend to the entire Palestinian population of the West Bank,” OCHA said.

 It added that the Israeli authorities generally allow Palestinian construction only within the boundaries of an Israeli-approved plan and these cover less than one percent of Area C, much of which is already built-up. As a result, Palestinians are left with no choice but to build “illegally” and risk demolition of their structures and displacement.

 It said “the consequences of the current regime are wide-ranging and extend to the entire Palestinian population of the West Bank. Since the onset of its occupation in 1967, the Government of Israel has implemented a range of measures that restrict Palestinians’ use of land and resources in the occupied Palestinian territory (OPT). One of the primary ways Israel has done this has been through the application of restrictive planning and zoning regimes to Palestinian communities.”