Land Fragmentation and Spatial Control in the Nazareth Metropolitan Area*

Abstract

This study demonstrates the linkage between national policy and its spatial expression at the local level. The Palestinian-Israeli conflict is shown to have significance within local government jurisdiction areas, manifested here through the ethnic dichotomization within the Nazareth conurbation in northern Israel. Government policy, both at the national and local levels, is responsible for uneven development between the Jewish and Arab municipalities. Land fragmentation and patterns of spatial control function to constrain and stunt urban growth and development in Arab Nazareth and the neighboring Arab urbanized villages.