Sustainable energy access and development in the occupied Palestinian territories

¶ … Palestinian resident of East Jerusalem, I have grown up in a social environment and community rife with various significant conflicts: of culture, nationality, religion, and idealistic allegiances. As the product of a mixed European/Arab family with friends in both the Israeli and Palestinian communities, I have benefited from countless opportunities to observe and to contribute to the successful reconciliation of conflicting values and perspectives among my peers. My background has convinced me that what matters more than anything else in the human community is the committed pursuit of genuine peace and mutual respect and consideration among and between individuals, local, regional, and, ultimately, global communities.

At the same time, the relative quality of life of all of the individuals who are comprised by their respective societies is equally important. I that respect, my developmental social experiences have sensitized me to the tremendous need to improve specific components of my community. Currently, the residents of the Occupied Palestinian Territories lack adequate access to sufficient electrical energy. The vast majority of the energy available to the community is important at exorbitant costs and, as a result, the average Palestinian family must spend approximately one-tenth of its income just to pay for the amount of electric power necessary for the most basic life activities and functions.