Photo of Rawabi, the first planned city in the West Bank. Image by vimeo

By Naomi Zeveloff May 9, 2017

Former Israel ambassador Dan Shapiro is urging President Trump to make a stop at Rawabi, the new gleaming middle class Palestinian city outside Ramallah, when he visits the Holy Land later this month.

Idea: Aides say on his trip, Trump wants to highlight “efforts to unlock the potential of the Palestinian economy.” He should visit Rawabi. https://t.co/8yLeDMdi2i

— Dan Shapiro (@DanielBShapiro) May 5, 2017

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

Rawabi, a favorite stop for international proponents of the two-state solution, is often held up as an example of Palestinian entrepreneurship amid the confines of the Israeli occupation. But Palestinian critics of the project say founder Bashar Masri’s involvement with Israelis on the project — he asked the help of famed Israeli architect Moshe Safdi — amounts to “normalization” and does nothing to advance Palestinian independence.

Trump would “connect” well with Masri, a real estate magnate and one of the wealthiest Palestinian men in the West Bank, predicted Shapiro.

Rawabi was delayed for months as Israel withheld permission for water access to the development, but now that the water has been connected Palestinian families are moving in.

Elliott Abrams, President George Bush’s advisor on Middle East affairs, endorsed the idea of Trump visiting Rawabi in an interview with Haaretz, but said he doubted the president will have time.

Contact Naomi Zeveloff at [email protected] or on Twitter @naomizeveloff

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount