An-Najah Staff

This study examines the most important urban developments in the city of Tubas during the last period, through a historical and geographical reading of the documents available. The study is also exploring and trying to predict trends of this development in the future through a statistical study. In addition, the morphology of the city has been analyzed to examine the transformation in the physical character of the city, and the factors behind this transformation. The study adopted a set of scientific and statistical methods. Mainly, the historical, descriptive, and analytical approaches were used. Also, the study depended on the questionnaire and available maps to provide the most basic information required for the analysis. The results of the analysis indicated that Tubas city is still keeping its rural nature, while taking its first steps towards being an urban center. Also, the study showed that most of the buildings were built recently in the era of the Palestinian National Authority, which are often on the outskirts of the city and its periphery, which would confer on its form a feature of modernity. Moreover, the clan structure has appeared to be a dominant factor on the social fabric of the city, besides its weak attraction of strangers, which adversely affect its economic situation. The results of the study also indicated the absence of a sewerage network in the city, which had its negative impacts on public health and the environment. According to the analysis, the city lacks the aesthetic and visual characteristics in terms of the absence of green spaces, parks, and recreational activities. As a result of the analysis, there is a high proportion of residents who plan to build a house in the future, which is an indicator for the future expansion of the city. In addition, there is no trend of the migration out of the city, which indicates that the city has become a viable attraction for residents. The study recommended the necessity of taking certain measures to get rid of random and congestion in the city center as well as providing the infrastructure necessary for the flowering of the city and attracting investment from abroad. Finally, the study recommended the necessity of improving the aesthetic appearance of the city through the provision of public squares and green areas, which will be devoted to parks and public gardens.