Conclusion While other policies of forced population transfer analyzed in this series target Palestinians individually, the denial of access to natural resources and services has a collective character, targeting Palestinian communities or the Palestinian people in general. Besides their collective impact, both policies are inherently intertwined, and as such, the existence of one can often result in the other. The denial of access to energy for example, hinders or completely denies the provision of many services throughout the oPt and Israel. At the same time, lack of or insufficient sanitation or waste collection can lead to an unhealthy and polluted living environment, and affects agriculture. These policies not only constitute a practice of denial of the right to selfdetermination, but directly contribute to the de-development of Palestinian communities, that affects their ability to enjoy an adequate standard of living generally, and reduces their capacity to remain in their homes. Israel’s appropriation of natural resources in the oPt far exceeds the conditions that could be deemed to be military necessity and is a blatant disregard of the rules of occupation imposed by international law. This control and denial create a coercive environment for Palestinians affected by it, especially when it affects essential resources such as water or electricity. The lack of such basic resources significantly hinders the daily life of Palestinians, putting them under pressure to relocate, and in some cases, causing the forcible transfer of those affected. It is also important to emphasize that the water and electricity crisis in the oPt is derived from Israel’s unlawful expropriation of Palestinian resources; it is a man-made crisis rather than a natural one. As such, the solution lies in putting an end to Israel’s illegal practices and reverting the control of these resources to Palestinians. The Palestinian right to access their natural resources must be reframed within the inalienable right to selfdetermination. The denial of access to services, on the other hand, can either be the result of the denial of natural resources, or a standalone policy. The lack of services has a detrimental effect on the provision of education, health 83

Select target paragraph3

Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents