Skip to content Skip to footer

Prosperity Under Occupation?

Sorry, this media item is no longer available or fails to load.
URL:
More at The Real News

Inside Palestine’s besieged Areas ‘A’ – how the Ramallah bubble was created and how it might burst.

From the street level perspective in downtown Ramallah the economy seems to be thriving. Gleaming storefronts display an array of brand name products, American fast food restaurants are sprouting up, and the city is host to a bustling nightlife that could rival Tel Aviv. Israeli and Palestinian Authority officials point to World Bank reports indicating 9.6% growth in recent years as evidence of the success of their economic policies. But behind the veneer of prosperity is an uncomfortable reality. In September, the West Bank was rocked by anti-austerity protests, directed against Salam Fayyad the chief architect of the Ramallah project. The Real News’ Lia Tarachansky joins independent journalist Max Blumenthal in a look at what is behind the policy the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu terms Peace Through Prosperity. They speak with a Ramallah Cafe owner, Jack Saadeh, economist Ibrahim Shikaki, and Nablus Cafe owner Ali Amer.

Help us Prepare for Trump’s Day One

Trump is busy getting ready for Day One of his presidency – but so is Truthout.

Trump has made it no secret that he is planning a demolition-style attack on both specific communities and democracy as a whole, beginning on his first day in office. With over 25 executive orders and directives queued up for January 20, he’s promised to “launch the largest deportation program in American history,” roll back anti-discrimination protections for transgender students, and implement a “drill, drill, drill” approach to ramp up oil and gas extraction.

Organizations like Truthout are also being threatened by legislation like HR 9495, the “nonprofit killer bill” that would allow the Treasury Secretary to declare any nonprofit a “terrorist-supporting organization” and strip its tax-exempt status without due process. Progressive media like Truthout that has courageously focused on reporting on Israel’s genocide in Gaza are in the bill’s crosshairs.

As journalists, we have a responsibility to look at hard realities and communicate them to you. We hope that you, like us, can use this information to prepare for what’s to come.

And if you feel uncertain about what to do in the face of a second Trump administration, we invite you to be an indispensable part of Truthout’s preparations.

In addition to covering the widespread onslaught of draconian policy, we’re shoring up our resources for what might come next for progressive media: bad-faith lawsuits from far-right ghouls, legislation that seeks to strip us of our ability to receive tax-deductible donations, and further throttling of our reach on social media platforms owned by Trump’s sycophants.

We’re preparing right now for Trump’s Day One: building a brave coalition of movement media; reaching out to the activists, academics, and thinkers we trust to shine a light on the inner workings of authoritarianism; and planning to use journalism as a tool to equip movements to protect the people, lands, and principles most vulnerable to Trump’s destruction.

We’re asking all of our readers to start a monthly donation or make a one-time donation – as a commitment to stand with us on day one of Trump’s presidency, and every day after that, as we produce journalism that combats authoritarianism, censorship, injustice, and misinformation. You’re an essential part of our future – please join the movement by making a tax-deductible donation today.

If you have the means to make a substantial gift, please dig deep during this critical time!

With gratitude and resolve,

Maya, Negin, Saima, and Ziggy