3. Understanding Segregation, Fragmentation and Isolation through Case Studies: Bethlehem and Umm Al-Fahm From its conception, Israel has pursued policies that seek to segregate, fragment and isolate Palestinian communities and territory. Through this, Israel aims to disintegrate the Palestinian social structure and build up the Israeli-Jewish population. As segregation and fragmentation have become more complete, particularly with the advent of the Oslo Accords, Israel’s policies have intensified around the isolation of Palestinian communities into smaller, disconnected enclaves. These policies concentrate the Palestinian people into isolated villages, towns and cities, and sever the connections between them in order to increase the Israeli control and diminish the Palestinian people’s collective capacity to exercise and realize their right to self-determination. Key to this, although by no means exceptional, has been Israel’s control, manipulation, re-orientation and dismantling of the transportation infrastructure. This process is evident throughout Mandatory Palestine, with no Palestinian city or community untouched by these isolationist policies, though their manifestation differs depending on the legal regime that is inflicted upon each particular community. This paper highlights two case studies – Bethlehem and Umm al-Fahm – in order to demonstrate the differing ways in which these policies operate and their similarities in effect. 3.1. Case Study of Bethlehem Bethlehem is a city with a rich history, culture and economy, but one that is currently suffocated and isolated by Israel’s colonization, apartheid and annexation of Palestinian territory. A vibrant Palestinian town once known for its ring of fertile agricultural villages, religious significance and deep connection to Jerusalem, Bethlehem has now been transformed into an isolated Palestinian enclave characterized by inequality, congestion and deep 47