How the Palestine laboratory defines our world
Amid surging global conflict, Israel is a key supplier of weapons and model in a Trump-friendly era of embracing autocracy
Trump 2.0 has barely begun but it’s already clear that he favours a massive shrinking of the US empire’s footprint (its soft power, at the very least). For a nation that’s proudly dominated world affairs for 80 years, today’s White House seems to believe that bullying is the way to rule the world.
Previous US administrations weren’t shy about threatening nations who didn’t bend to its will but now it’s blatant and in the open. It may work with some small states but the multilateral world is here to stay and will expand over the next decades.
Despite cutting huge amounts of foreign aid, one country that continues to receive unparalleled amounts of weapons and so-called aid from the US is Israel (US$12 billion since Trump took office).
Israel is the 9th biggest weapons producer in the world and its genocide in Gaza since 7 October 2023 has led to a booming defence sector.
The global arms industry is soaring with multiple conflicts and wars contributing to an increasingly unstable planet.
But what starts in Palestine doesn’t stay there and huge numbers of states are buying battle-tested missiles, drones, surveillance and border tech and satellites to be deployed against their own “enemies”, foreign or domestic.
I’m an independent journalist without any institutional backing. If you’re able to support me financially, by donating money to continue this work, I’d hugely appreciate it. You can find donating options in the menu bar at the top of my website and via Substack.
The recent release of my film series, The Palestine Laboratory, adapted from my global best-selling book of the same name and broadcast on Al Jazeera English, continues to draw massive international audiences. Made with the great UK production company, Black Leaf Films, and director Dan Davies, the documentary is a global investigation into how the Palestine lab works in Palestine before it’s exported across the globe.
Watch Episode 1:
Watch Episode 2:
I was interviewed about the film by Declassified UK:
During the film shoots in 2024, when we visited seven countries in two months - Greece, Mexico, the US, India, South Africa, Israel/Palestine and Britain - I shot many photos and videos. I’ve started sharing some of them with accompanying stories:
We recently screened both episodes at London’s famous venue, Frontline Club, over two nights. More public screenings are coming soon.
I wrote a story for Declassified Australia, the outlet I co-founded and co-edit, about the making of the film.
My recent work has largely focused on the tough situation in the Middle East and I’ve spoken to media outlets including Al Jazeera English and others. There’s a small selection of my interviews below and you can see the rest on my website and YouTube channel:
I recently wrote a viral column for the UK outlet, Middle East Eye, on the complicity of Big Tech in Israel’s war machine.
It’s now been turned into a video:
Second Thought is a wildly popular YouTube channel, with close to 2 million followers, “devoted to education and analysis of current events from a socialist perspective.”
Its latest video is a brilliant 17-minute examination of the Palestine laboratory featuring an interview with me and presented in a highly compelling visual style:
My book was recently released in an Indian edition and I continue to receive messages from Indians about its contents.
The book is receiving very positive reviews and in a recent interview, with the Indian outlet, Middle East Insights Platform, I was pleased to discuss the Indian state’s complicity in Israeli actions (an issue that’s too rarely discussed in either country):
During a recent visit to Sydney airport, I was rapt to see my book placed this way in a bookstore (by a staff member, not me!):
My latest monthly column in the UK outlet, Middle East Eye:
The Indian essayist, Pankaj Mishra, has written for years about colonialism and its long shadows. His latest book, The World After Gaza, is a powerful indictment on Western complicity in the Israeli genocide of Gaza:
I recently interviewed Mishra in Melbourne, Australia (video coming soon), and it was a fascinating though dark look at Gaza, global affairs under Trump and surging fascism:
In 2024, I released a 4-part podcast series, The Palestine Laboratory, inspired by my book. It was a collaboration with the US outlet, Drop Site News, and a fantastic global team. Take a listen on your podcast platform of choice.
I’m rapt that it’s been nominated as “Best Audio Documentary” in one of Australia’s leading documentary awards:
My book continues to traverse the world, at least five new translated editions will be out this year, and I’m honoured that the work has been a touchstone for so many people in the nearly two years since its initial release.
Independent bookstores, support them daily!, are the backbone of the industry including the wonderful Gleebooks in Sydney, so thanks to all the readers who continue to purchase, read and share the book.
Over the next months I’ll be speaking at a number of literary festivals including Manly in Sydney and Newcastle (where one of my events is a conversation with the great Israeli journalist, Gideon Levy).
You can follow me on Instagram and Twitter for constantly updated content. My website, recently redesigned, has information about all my work, books and documentary films stretching back to 2003.
I’m an independent journalist without any institutional backing. If you’re able to support me financially, by donating money to continue this work, I’d hugely appreciate it. You can find donating options in the menu bar at the top of my website and via Substack.
Thanks very much for reading.
Take care.
Antony