Determinants of Establishing the Industrial Estates in Nablus Governorate and their Impacts on the Environment, Society and Industrial Education

Nablus, the largest city in Palestine, is the district capital of the North West Bank. It's centrally located within the Palestinian National Authority areas. It's also located on a major traffic artery leading to the Kingdom of Jordan and major population and business centers in the West Bank. Nablus is also considered the business center in the West Bank. Major thoroughfares and roads pass through and near to the city connecting the business, commercial and industrial centers of the Palestinian Authority controlled areas given these advantages, Nablus has attracted a considerable number of industries, both traditional and modern. The city, relatively densely populated and mainly industrial, exports its products to other areas including Jordan. Given its proximity to border crossings in the west and the east. In addition, Nablus is home for a number of academic and vocational institutions which have turned out high quality professionals in a wide range of fields. These institutions have played a leading role in advancing vocational training and education in the region. In the east, the city has an industrial zone which is home for various industries and traditional crafts. The zone has on it Hisham Hijawi College of Technology as well as Nablus Vocational Secondary School. These two institutions supply the industrial sector in the city with technicians and skillful workers. In addition, these institutions provide summer training courses for students. In the city center, there are several light handicraft industries. Given the natural population growth in the city, there has been an increase in the problems facing the development and improvement of these industries. One of these problems in the environmental impact on the population and natural resources. Due to the burgeoning need for these industries and professions, the universities and vocational colleges have contributed to the reinforcement of the industrial sector by supplying it with qualified people and by providing their consultancy services. In the last ten years there has been a remarkable expansion in land uses to make room for horizontal expansion of the industrial sector, thus absorbing surplus work force and reducing rampant unemployment given the political turmoil in Palestine and in Nablus in particular. The academic and vocational institutions have also contributed to raising standard of living. The most challenging problems now facing the city and its industries are economic, social and environmental. Realizing the potential problems, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Nablus drafted a proposal for an industrial zone in the east of the city and submitted it to the Israeli Occupation authorities in 1992.However, the authorities imposed conditions and restrictions on the proposed project. In so doing, the project was ribbed in the bud. After the advent of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) in 1994, the Nablus Municipality submitted the same proposal to the Ministry of Industry and Palestine Industrial Estate and Free Zone Authority. For its part, the PNA began to recruit investors through a number of investment programs. It also introduced a number of laws to promote investment and attract both Palestinian and foreign entrepreneurs. Several areas were also selected for the creation of the projects. However, the PNA faced difficulties in land purchase and ownership and financing parties, thus leading to the halt of the project implementation in 2000. Several reasons were behind the stoppage of the project implementation. The first and foremost has been the Israeli occupation which always works to kill the Palestinian economy by all means and ways. The PNA also found itself unable to protect and support the national industries. Third, there was a lack of awareness and participation from the public to protect national industries and boycott Israeli and foreign products. As a result, the industrial sector has been hit hard to the extent that it has almost become paralyzed. The sector has lost a significant percentage of its work force. This study examined the goals and potentials of the industrial zones as well as the environmental criteria necessary for the protection of population, human resources and property from all farms of pollution. The study also identified several obstacles (internal and external) preventing the establishment of the industrial zone. Further, the study investigated the environmental damage caused by industries located within the limits of the population centers. These environmental effects include industrial effluents and waste such as dust, noise pollution which have health problems on people. The study concluded with several findings and recommendations which can be considered guidelines to reduce or overcome industries’ impact on human health and natural resources and bring back balance between the need for industrial development and protection of natural resources.