RAMALLAH, May 18, 2011 (WAFA) – Reacting to Israeli reports that the Israeli authorities have approved an access road to Rawabi, the first Palestinian planned city north of Ramallah, a statement by Bayti Real Estate Investment Company, the developer of Rawabi, Wednesday said that the company looks positively at these reports.

“Bayti Real Estate Investment Company looks positively upon reports that Israeli authorities have granted tentative approval for the paving of an existing dirt road which, once completed, will allow construction access to Rawabi via Route 465,” said the statement.

“Although the road is only four meters wide, paving it will allow enhanced access for utility vehicles and construction equipment and thus quicken the pace of construction in the new city,” it said.

“The planned primary access road linking Ramallah and Rawabi contains a 2.8 kilometer section which crosses Israeli-controlled Area C. Bayti anticipates that the Israeli government will ultimately transfer full control of the much needed primary access road to the Palestinian National Authority to ensure safe, efficient transit for future residents of the new Palestinian city.”

Rawabi is being developed by Bayti Real Estate Investment Company – jointly owned by Qatari Government-owned Qatari Diar and Ramallah-based Massar International.

Rawabi will be built as a modern, high-tech city with gleaming high-rise buildings, green parks and shopping areas. The new city will provide more than 5,000 affordable housing units with 10 different floor plans for residents to choose from, spread across 23 neighborhoods. Initially, Rawabi will be home to 25,000 residents, with additional residential and commercial units slated for subsequent construction phases that will ultimately serve a city with a population of 40,000. 

It is located in the heart of Palestine, 9 km north of Ramallah, 20 km north of Jerusalem, and 25 km south of Nablus. Rawabi will constitute its own municipality encompassing 6,300,000 square meters of land.

T.R./M.A.