Pools, marble and mansions: Inside 100 Palestinian luxury homes in West Bank

Regavim published a photo book titled 'Real Estate Under Occupation' featuring 100 privately owned Palestinian villas and estates across the West Bank, including properties with swimming pools, marble staircases, and landscaped grounds. The organization argues the images challenge what it calls a selective international portrayal of Palestinian life, using sarcasm to juxtapose terms like 'oppression' with luxury homes. The article notes the photographs document individual examples of wealth without establishing how common such wealth is, and that some properties may be unoccupied or used seasonally.

Regavim, an Israeli NGO focused on land use and construction enforcement, published a photography book titled 'Real Estate Under Occupation' that showcases 100 privately owned Palestinian villas and estates across the West Bank. The book features properties with swimming pools, marble staircases, fountains, landscaped grounds, and gated compounds, all photographed in a single day by the organization's field coordinators. Regavim argues the images challenge what it describes as a selective international portrayal of Palestinian life that focuses solely on poverty and oppression. The introduction uses sarcasm to place terms such as 'oppression,' 'severe deprivation,' and 'daily hardship' alongside photographs of luxury homes. The article notes that the photographs document individual examples of wealth without establishing how common such wealth is across the Palestinian population. It also notes that some properties appeared unoccupied when photographed, and a single visit cannot establish whether a home is used seasonally or stands vacant long-term. Turmus Ayya's mayor estimated that about 80% of the town's residents hold US citizenship. The properties include homes in Areas B and C of the Oslo agreements, where planning authority differs. The article acknowledges that UN humanitarian officials have documented the difficulty Palestinians face in obtaining building permits in Area C.