Regavim publishes photo book about 100 Palestinian villas in the West Bank — Jerusalem Post
Israeli non-governmental organization Regavim has published the photo book Real Estate Under Occupation featuring images of 100 private Palestinian villas and estates in the West Bank. As The Jerusalem Post reports, the organization seeks to challenge what it calls the selective international portrayal of Palestinian life in the region.
Villas with pools and gardens
The book features homes with swimming pools, fountains, marble staircases and landscaped gardens. Regavim said that its field coordinators photographed all the properties in one day.
In the village of Shuqba, northwest of Ramallah, the organization documented an estate which, according to its data, covers 4,800 square meters. The property has a central pool, lawns, shaded recreation areas and a large inner courtyard. In Nahalin, southwest of Bethlehem, the publication shows a 1,120-square-meter neoclassical house with seven balconies, a turret, a fountain and a decorative pool.
In Khirbet Zif, in the southern Hebron Hills, Regavim photographed fenced compounds with pools, gardens, guest quarters, saunas, surveillance cameras and private access roads. Other features mentioned include stone columns, electric gates, orchards and private parking areas.
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Building permits
The article emphasizes that the cited areas were provided by Regavim, so they should not automatically be considered the area of residential premises. The photographs also show only individual examples of wealth and do not make it possible to determine how widespread such property is among the Palestinian population.
Some of the houses are located in Areas B and C, established under the Oslo Accords. In Area B, Palestinian authorities are responsible for civil affairs, including planning, while Israel retained planning powers in Area C. Construction in Area C requires Israeli approval, but determining the legality of a specific property requires checking its location and permit documents. UN humanitarian officials have also reported difficulties Palestinians face in obtaining building permits in Area C.
Naomi Kahn, director of Regavim's international division, said the organization wanted to show a “full picture” of Palestinian life in the West Bank. At the same time, the World Bank said in its May 2026 economic update that economic activity in the West Bank remained substantially below its level before October 2023, despite moderate growth in 2025.
