88 Israeli Land Grab and Forced Population Transfer of Palestinians building regulations are rarely enforced and construction can be legitimized through permits although in practice the majority of planned areas are already built-up. Outside of the Special Plan’s demarcation lines in Area C it is theoretically possible to apply for a building permit, although the majority of Palestinian applications to build on privately-owned land are rejected by the Civil Administration on the grounds that, either they are inconsistent with the outline plan or are not permitted according to the Mandate-era plans.304 Prohibition is enforced through the threat and practice of demolition. This restrictive planning system has the dual result of preventing urban growth in Palestinian areas while reserving territory for the expansion of nearby Israeli colonies. Regional Outline Plans Every village or area that is outside of a Special Partial Outline Plan is regulated according to Regional Outline Plans created during the British Mandate in the 1940s. These plans divide the West Bank into three main areas: 1. RJ/5 Plan: From the southern border of the West Bank to the north of Ramallah; 2. S/15 Plan: From Salfit area to the northern border of the West Bank; 3. R/6 Plan: applies to several villages in the west of the West Bank, from Bil'in in the south to Rantis in the north.305 Regional Plans administer land according to five categories: roads, development areas, agricultural zones, beaches, and nature and forest reserves.306 Most of the construction during the first years of the Occupation took place according to these plans. However, since the late 1970s and parallel to the expansion of Israeli colonies, the Israeli planning authorities have restricted their interpretation of these plans. Nowadays, most building permit applications are rejected on the basis of noncompliance with Regional Plans.307 Building Permits West Bank house construction, permit issuing and demolition in Area C fall under the jurisdiction of the Secondary Planning Committee. This Committee is part of the Israeli Civil Administration. The Secondary Planning Committee is based 304 OCHA, Restricting Space, 9. 305 See: JLAC, Concealed Intentions: Israel’s Human Rights Violations Through the Manipulation of Zoning and Planning Laws in ‘Area C’. 306 Bimkom, The Prohibited Zone: The Israeli Planning Policy in the Palestinian Villages in Area C, 60. 307 OCHA, Restricting Space.