The Pandemic: Economic Challenges and Interventions

By: H.E. Khaled Osaily, Minister of National Economy

The catastrophic health outcomes of the global outbreak of COVID-19 and the precautionary measures taken by governments worldwide in efforts to contain and mitigate its spread are causing an economic impact that is as significant as its health impact. Several economic indexes have plummeted. As unemployment figures are rising globally, the decrease in production volumes […]

Beyond the Crisis

How to Prevent COVID-19 from becoming an Economic Pandemic

By: Mohammad Mustafa

An assessment of the unfolding of events shows that the speedy implementation of a state of emergency and closure of all nonessential businesses has contributed significantly to the relative containment of the COVID-19 outbreak in Palestine. It is important to commend the efforts of the Palestinian leadership, the government, the security agencies, the Monetary Authority, […]

Ensuring Financial Stability

PMA Issues COVID-19 Crisis Measures

By: H.E. Azzam Shawwa

The Palestinian economy operates in a highly risky and challenging environment, which over the past years has caused a series of crises and shocks, both political and economic, most recently with the clearing-of-revenues crisis with the Israeli side in 2019.* The consequences and effects of these shocks on macroeconomic performance have been reflected in fluctuations […]

Managing COVID-19: The Economic Response

By: Ahmed ElFarra

In Palestine as elsewhere, the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on our lives has been as tragic as it was unexpectedly rapid, and our thoughts go out to all the victims and their families who have been so severely affected. Unfortunately, the situation requires that we not limit ourselves to being comforted by […]

The Palestinian Banking Sector

History and Challenges

By: Bishara Dabbah

Prior to 1994, the occupied Palestinian territories were served by two Israeli banks and one Jordanian registered bank. Palestinians shied away, however, from dealing with the Israeli banks, and thus the territories were basically under-banked, and residents and businesses were forced into a cash-based economy. The number of banks currently operating in the State of […]

ECONOMIC FORECASTS

Gaza, the Economy, and COVID-19

By: Amira Gabarin

On March 5, 2020, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh declared a state of emergency, canceling the reservations of all foreign tourists and shutting down all educational institutions after COVID-19 had been discovered and traced to a hotel in the West Bank. The Palestinian Ministry of Health believes that the virus was brought to Palestine by […]

Waqfet Izz Solidarity Fund

Meeting the Challenge through Solidarity and Unity

By: Talal Nasereddin

As the corona pandemic began to affect Palestine, and the state of emergency was declared, the number of families who lost their income increased as businesses had to shutter their operations. Over 13,000 additional Palestinian families have been pushed into poverty; more than 150,000 day laborers are now striving to provide for their families and […]

Preliminary Estimates

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Palestinian Economy in the West Bank

By: Courtesy of Palestine Economic Policy Research Institute

On Wednesday, April 22, 2020, the Palestine Economic Policy Research Institute (MAS) held a roundtable session via videoconference to present the preliminary results of its research on the scale of the economic cost of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing emergency measures in the West Bank. Since the onset of the crisis, MAS has commenced […]

Can You Imagine Palestine without Tourism?

By: Tony Khashram

Inbound tourism is undoubtedly one of the most important sectors of the Palestinian economy; it constitutes more than 40 percent of the Palestinian national income and plays a dual role. Perhaps the more obvious role is economic, as tourism directly employs a significant percentage of the Palestinian population through hotels, restaurants, transportation, tour guiding, Oriental […]

A Message from Palestinian Civil Society

By: Honaida Ghanim

As if we are now standing on a gilded sandy beach looking at a barrage of tsunami waves heading towards us, we stand motionless, spellbound. For the moment, all is tranquil. At first glance things seem to be going well, but the truth is that this tranquility is fear in disguise, fear of a pitiless […]

Tips for Your Health, Budget, and Garden

By: Morgan Cooper

Most of us don’t live like our relatives used to. My husband’s mom collected wild, edible plants from her garden in Ramallah, as did so many of our mothers. Today, I look at the swiss chard in the plot across the street, and I see and smell the filth of pollution. Luckily, we have a […]

Testimonies

By: TWIP Collective

As one of the leading engineering offices in Jerusalem, our business relies partially on engagement in efforts to upgrade building rights through city hall, the body that issues building permits, and the ministry of interior, the body that approves rezoning plans. COVID-19 immediately affected public offices, leaving our applications on the shelves and queries unanswered. […]

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TWIP Archive

Message From the editor

As I write this message, the overall number of COVID-19 cases and casualties remains relatively low in Palestine. But yesterday, the number of new cases jumped, most of them affecting those who work in Israel and their relatives. The lockdown, in place since early March, has been partially eased for some businesses, whereas day workers, […] more

Changing a Challenge into an Opportunity

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken the world by storm; by tsunami more like it, and has caught it with its pants down. We, the commoners, can safely say that we did not see this coming. Some world leaders and heads of state, however, did get warnings but failed to heed them or take seriously the […] more

In the Limelight

Artist of the Month

Bashar Khalaf

By Eid Aziz Born in Ramallah in 1991, Bashar Khalaf is a promising young talent on the Palestinian art scene. Having obtained a bachelor of fine arts degree from Al-Quds University in Abu Dis in 2013 (where he studied under Sliman Mansour), Bashar won the Young Artist of the Year Award (YAYA) of the A.M. […]

Personality of the Month

Laila Ghannam

By Dalal Iriqat Napoleon Bonaparte described a successful leader as a merchant of hope, the leader who not only leads the people but shows them the best path into their future. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Laila Ghannam – governor of Ramallah and Al-Bireh – is spreading hope free of charge, with charisma, […]

Book of the Month

Life in a Country Album

By Nathalie Handal Reviewed by Lena Khalaf Tuffana The University of Pittsburgh Press, United States, 115 pages, $14 flipped eye publishing, United Kingdom, 104 page, £6.95 In her seventh collection, award-winning poet Nathalie Handal reaffirms that she remains an urgent and singular voice in contemporary poetry. In After the Last Sky, Edward Said writes the […]

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