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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.
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