Statement of Waqf Real Estate Property in the West Bank and Current State of Its Investment during the Palestinian National Authority Rule

The aim of this study was to assess the size of waqf (endowment) real estate property in the West Bank, and the current state of its investment and factors, such as location and leasing periods, affecting its financial returns, and the significance of this study springs from being the first to depend on the records and documents of the Palestinian Ministry of Waqf and its directorates in all the West Bank villages, towns and cities. The researcher, in this study, had access to 2,581 files pertinent to waqf real estate property as well as to the ministry?s records. In addition, the researcher conducted a number of personal interviews with competent officials at the Palestinian Ministry of Waqf. To achieve the study objectives, the researcher used the analytical descriptive method after computation of all collected data of leased and non-leased real estate property.After data analysis, it was found that the West Bank was home to a treasure of waqf real estate property and this property has played a key role in providing noble services in all spheres of life : economic, social, educational health and sports, etc... Between 1995-2013, the Palestinian Ministry of Waqf made huge efforts to invest this property, thus playing a big role in waqf activity. This was crystal clear in the investment of real estate property of waqf and in serving the Palestinian society. It was also found that the geographical location had an obvious impact on the waqf real estate activity and the nature of property use. For example, it was found that benefit from waqf property in cities was bigger than in villages and other localities because the former are population concentration centers and the hub of commercial exchange. They are also the brunt of political, religious and institutional activity of the Palestinian people. It was also found that the law of lease effective in the West Bank was a major obstacle which faced the optimal exploitation of these important economic resources. This is attributed primarily to the absence of relevant Palestinian laws to regulate and streamline waqf activity. Finally, the researcher strongly believes that waqf real estate property in the Palestinian controlled areas has important economic prospects and is necessary but it needs to be run and developed carefully and properly. In the light of these study findings, the researcher concluded his study with a number of suggestions and recommendations which would reinforce the role of waqf in the social and economic life of the Palestinian people and would sustain, advance and expand waqf work horizontally and vertically.