Ramallah – Palestinian journalist Haitham Al-Sharif has published an investigative report titled “How Have Israeli Settlement Industrial Zones Become a Haven for Evading Environmental Oversight?” on Raseef22.
The investigation examines Israeli industries operating in settlement industrial zones across the occupied West Bank and explores how the legal and regulatory framework associated with the occupation has created conditions that enable environmental oversight to be circumvented, with serious consequences for the environment, Palestinian public health, and natural resources.
Drawing on official documents, environmental studies, field data, first-hand testimonies, and interviews with environmental and legal experts, the investigation traces the operational patterns of these industries and analyzes their environmental impact. It connects field evidence with legal and environmental analysis to provide an in-depth journalistic examination of a case that raises fundamental questions about the right to a healthy environment and environmental justice in the occupied Palestinian territory.
The investigation reveals how settlement industrial zones have provided an environment subject to weaker environmental oversight, allowing some industrial facilities to benefit from regulatory gaps while transferring environmental and public health risks to surrounding Palestinian communities. It also raises broader questions about accountability and the protection of natural resources under occupation.
This investigation is part of the outputs of the Strengthening Independent Journalism and Media Networking in Palestine initiative, launched by the Palestine Journalism Hub with support from the European Endowment for Democracy (EED). The initiative aims to empower journalists to produce high-quality professional content, strengthen cooperation with media institutions, expand publication opportunities and audience reach, and support co-publishing and the development of effective media networks that enhance the presence and effectiveness of independent journalism in Palestinian society.