The Miko Peled Podcast

“If you do not stop, I will submit your name to the Shin Bet. Once you are marked there, your whole life is under their surveillance.” This is the threat that Jewish-Israeli Mayor Yair Revivo hurled at Palestinian councilwoman Fida Shehada after she highlighted how their city neglects its Palestinian residents. Now, she is running an election campaign, challenging to unseat the mayor in the mixed Jewish-Palestinian city of Lyd (or "Lod" in Hebrew) in the upcoming mayoral elections. Here is Miko Peled's interview with Fida Shehade, who is a central figure in the Palestinian struggle against systematic racism in Lyd, a city located exactly between Jaffa and Jerusalem. During Israel's establishment in 1948, Israeli militia forcibly expelled the majority of the city's Palestinian residents in an event now known as the Lydda Death March. The Palestinians who now live there, holding Israeli citizenship as effective second-class citizens, face severe systematic racism, including frequent home demolitions and advancing Israeli settler organizations. In this interview, Miko and councilwoman Shehade discuss the bleak realities of the racism in Lyd, connecting the situation of the Palestinian citizens of Israel in this city with the larger Palestinian struggle against oppression. They discuss her work to fight for local Palestinian rights and running for the upcoming elections, and the significance of the movement of those Israelis who were pulled out of Gaza close to two decades ago and have now set their eyes on Lyd. This is the shortened podcast version. The full video is available to Premium Patrons on patreon.com/mikopeled

"We try to imagine what could have been here. How this country could have been, how the society could have been, if it wasn't for the terrible crime of ethnic cleansing." Zochrot means "remembrance" in Hebrew, taking the grammatical feminine form. As a non-profit organization, Zochrot takes on the Zionist account of history from within Israeli society itself. They tackle the Zionist narrative by shedding light on the catastrophe (Nakba) that took place during Israel's establishment in 1948 when 700,000 Palestinians were forcefully expelled from their homes, never to return. This interview with the organization's Israeli Director, Rachel Beitarie, explores her own motivation for joining and leading Zochrot, and the importance of presenting uncomfortable truths to Israeli society. This is a discussion between two Israelis about listening to the pain of Palestinians and how Israelis must learn "to take responsibility for your part in the dispossession of others." This interview with Miko Peled and Rachel Beitarie covers the importance of oral histories, facing that you grew up with a false nationalist narrative, promoting the return of the Palestinian refugees, and sharing a story of hatred and hummus in Beijing. This is the shortened podcast. The full video interview is available to Premium Patron subscribers on patreon.com/mikopeled

Running for elections as a second class citizen! Though many would ignorantly call her an "Israeli Arab," Haneen Zoabi is a Palestinian patriot. She does not simply represent a political opposition—she is part of a native people excluded by the Israeli system and fighting for equal rights. Haneen Zoabi's journey into politics began at home. Her first awareness of justice and injustice came from observing, and questioning, the traditional gender roles in her home and in society. As the first Palestinian woman elected to the Knesset she made her mark! In this episode, Haneen Zoabi and Miko Peled discuss her journey into intersectional politics, her participation in the Mavi Marmara floatilla to Gaza where Israel killed 9 activists, and the results of the recent Israeli elections. Hear from her directly what it means to operate inside an oppressive and racist system that you wish to see peacefully dismantled. The full video interview is available on patreon.com/mikopeled

A theater student from a Palestinian village without electricity, Mohammad Bakri became a renowned actor and film director. He has stirred controversy in Israel with his movie Jenin, Jenin—a documentary about the Israeli invasion of the refugee camp in Jenin as told entirely from the Palestinian residents themselves. In 2002, Israeli military prevented journalists and human rights organizations from entering Jenin. Rumors of a massacre began to surface. Mohammad Bakri himself sneaked into the camp to ask the question, "What happened?" In this interview, Miko Peled talks with Mohammad Bakri about his first introduction to theater and film in his village and being a young Palestinian theater student in the foreign world of Tel Aviv. They discuss his success as an actor with an Israeli audience and his maturing into someone ready to tell his own story. Become a Patreon Premium subscriber to watch the full video interview!

Author and activist, Miko Peled, hosts a live event with Palestinian film and theater actor, Saleh Bakri and Israeli actor and playwright, Guy Elhanan to discuss theatre in Palestine and Israel, censorship of the arts, inequity in funding, as well as their individual careers. This event was held live via Zoom on Friday, January 29, 2021 @ 1 PM ET • 8 PM Palestine Guest Panel: Guy Elhanan wrote his PhD on bilingual and arabic #theatre practices and teaching possibilities. He is a #playwright, director, actor and lecturer who specializes in multicultural and interdisciplinary stage work, including music, mime and puppetry. Some of his work includes Mars at Sunrise, The Time that Remains, The Attack, and others. Saleh Bakri is a #Palestinian #film and #theater actor. He began his career in the theater. His work includes Death and the Maiden, Salt of this Sea, When I Saw You, The Time that Remains, Wajib, and others. Watch the entire 2020 Webinar Series by Miko Peled www.mikopeled.com

Author and activist, Miko Peled, hosts three brilliant cartoonists who have directed their art at highlighting the spirit of #Palestinian resistance in the face of a brutal Israeli regime. This event featured Sara Qaed, Mohammad Sabaaneh, and Carlos Latuff discussing the power of cartoons, Palestine's rich history of the arts, and how each artist approaches their work. This event was held via Zoom on Tuesday, January 19, 2021. Watch all of Miko's webinar events at www.mikopeled.com Miko Peled is an author, writer, speaker, and human rights activist living in the United States. He is considered by many to be one of the clearest voices calling for justice in Palestine, support of the Palestinian call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) and the creation of a single democracy with equal rights in all of historic Palestine. He is the author of the book, “The General's Son: Journey of an Israeli in Palestine” and “Injustice: The Story of the Holy Land Foundation Five”.

Author and activist, Miko Peled, hosts a discussion with longtime friend and Australian activist, Robert Martin. From Palestine to Maradona: no topic will go untouched and no stone left unturned. Robert Martin is an Australian activist who lives in Melbourne. Robert was drawn to Palestine at the commencement of Israel's Gaza attack. Robert began to investigate what actually was happening in Palestine and couldn't believe what he was reading. He knew he couldn't rely on mainstream media for the truth so he decided to see for himself. Follow the Miko Peled Webinar Series and watch all the past events at www.mikopeled.com

Drop the charges against human rights defender, Issa Amro. We call on you to offer international protection for Issa and all other Palestinian human rights defenders prosecuted in the Israeli military court system. Sign the petition at https://www.friendsofhebron.com/standwithissa Internationally renowned human rights defender, Issa Amro, has been leading nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience campaigns against Israel. Issa is best known for calling attention to and resisting the vicious settler communities in #Hebron who regularly torment #Palestinians with total impunity. Over the past decade, Israeli occupation forces have targeted Issa and fabricated 18 legal charges against him in what is a blatant campaign to disrupt his human rights work. The military judge presiding over these charges is a settler himself, with strong ties to Hebron's settler community. Any day now, Issa's fate will be decided by a court that convicts Palestinians at an astonishingly high rate. Miko speaks directly with Issa about the political persecution he has faced, the charges that have been trumped up against him, and the invaluable work that is being done by his grassroots group, Youth Against #Settlements. Follow the Miko Peled Webinar Series and watch all the past events at www.mikopeled.com  

The Prospect for Change in Palestine in 2021 Author and activist, Miko Peled, hosts a discussion about Palestinian-led #activism in 2021 with three tireless organizers, each representing a distinct region of Palestine: #AlNaqab desert, the #WestBank, and #Jerusalem. The four will discuss the prospect for change in the upcoming year as the role of grassroots activism and popular movement building becomes one of the few vehicles for enacting material change on the ground for #Palestinian civil society. In this discussion, Miko Peled highlights the incredible work of three Palestinian activists, journalists, and organizers: Rafat Abu Aish from Al-Naqab, Baha Hilo from Bethlehem, and Khaled Farrag from Jerusalem. Each is working to build a movement for material change in their individual communities through a diversity of tactics and organizing structures. As 2021 approaches and the official leadership among Palestine sits idly by or even worse, collaborates with Israeli security forces, the strength and popular support behind grassroots Palestinian activism becomes all the more critical. We will check in with all three of these remarkable men to learn about their respective projects, how they all tie together to clear the path for a free Palestine, and the greater prospect for change in 2021. This event was held on Friday, December 11, 2020 @ 1 PM ET • 8 PM PALESTINE Watch the Miko Peled Webinar Series at www.mikopeled.com #FREEPALESTINE

Summary: We commemorate 12 years since the unjust prosecution of The Holy Land Foundation Five (HLF5): Shukri Abu Baker, Mohammad El-Mezain, Ghassan Elashi, Mufid Abdulqader, and Abdulrahman Odeh, who are each serving between 15 and 65 years in federal penitentiaries. Miko Peled, author of the 2018 book  “Injustice: The Holy Land Foundation Five”  will be speaking with the sons and daughters of the HLF5, in addition to Leena Al-Arayan, Executive Director of the Coalition for Civil Freedoms and the daughter of Dr. Sami Al- Arayan, another Palestinian-American who was deported on trumped up “terrorism charges”. In 2013, Miko started investigating this pivotal case; one mired with miscarriages of justice with the men's lawyers. He developed a relationship with the men's families about the devastating effects the case had on their lives. He also traveled to the remote federal prison complexes where the men were held to conduct deep interviews. “Injustice” traces the labyrinthine course of this case, presenting a terrifying picture of governmental overreach in post-9/11 America.  Buy Miko's book on Amazon and Just World Books www.mikopeled.com

The status and fate of the over seven million Palestinian refugees, scattered throughout the world today as a result of Israel's creation in 1948, persists as one of the most politically contested refugee crises of our time. What rights do these refugees currently hold? What challenges and opportunities does international law present to the plight of Palestinian refugees? Can the right of return for Palestinians to return to their ancestral homeland be actualized and how do we envision the return given the fraught political forces at play in both Israel and international governing bodies? In this webinar, author and activist, Miko Peled invites the authors of the new book, Palestinian Refugees in International Law, Francesca P. Albanese and Lex Takkenberg, to share their research while providing a comprehensive analysis of the Palestinian refugee question in light of various areas of international law. The panel is rounded out by facilitator and activist, Umar al-Ghubari of Zochrot, an Israeli NGO working towards the reconceptualization of the return. The panel will provide a foundation in understanding the rights of Palestinian refugees as protected by international law, examine the role of Israel and the international community within this context, and envision what return could look like. Guest Panel: Francesca P. Albanese: Research Affiliate for the Study of International Migration (ISIM), Georgetown University and Visiting Scholar, at the Issam Fares Institute for Public Studies Policies and International Affairs, American University of Beirut. Dr. Lex Takkenberg: Worked with UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, from 1989 until late 2019 and is currently a freelance lecturer and consultant. He is the former Chief of the UNRWA Ethics Office. Umar al-Ghubari: A professional group facilitator, specializing in the Arab-Jewish conflict. He is also a coordinator in the Karev educational program. Umar works for Zochrot, an NGO that formed in 2002 to promote acknowledgement and accountability for the ongoing injustices of the Nakba and the reconceptualization of the Return as the imperative redress of the Nakba. Watch all of Miko Peled's webinars at www.mikopeled.com #FREEPALESTINE

In September 2018, the UK #Labour Party adopted a controversial guideline on antisemitism issued by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). This definition folds in criticism of Israel's treatment of #Palestinians into the definition, establishing a powerful apparatus of censorship which would massively punish #Palestinian rights advocates. Pro-Israel groups along with the UK's neo-liberal establishment worked tirelessly to tarnish the character of Jeremy #Corbyn (Labour Party leader), Chris Williamson (Labour MP), and several other members of Labour. This sophisticated disinformation and smear campaign has culminated in Corbyn's recent and shocking ousting from UK Labour in late October of 2020. Miko Peled hosts a roundtable discussion with Chris Williamson (Former Labour Party MP), Asa Winstanley (Journalist), and Tony Greenstein (Activist, Author) who will analyze the events and forces that led to Corbyn's fall at the hands of pro-Israels special interest groups. Chris Williamson, Asa Winstanley, and Tony Greenstein all faced pressure and/or oustings from their respective roles within the UK Labour Party over similar smears of “antisemitism”. In this online event, we will hear from each of these esteemed UK journalists, politicians and activists who have been directly affected by and witnessed this vast smear campaign and political suppression on the ground level. Guest Panel: Chris Williamson: Former Labour MP for Derby North, City Council Leader, Activist Asa Winstanley: Journalist, Associate Editor @ The Electronic Intifada Tony Greenstein: Activist, Founding member of Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Jews for Boycotting Israeli Goods, author of “A History of Fighting Fascism in Brighton” Browse the Miko Peled Webinar Archive  

Author and activist, Miko Peled, for an online event featuring two #Palestinian citizens of #Israel, Maisam Jaljuli and Hind Hajar Salman, who are organizing and fighting for justice in their respective communities amidst the political realities in Israel. Palestinian citizens of Israel like Masiam and Hind live, at best, as second-class citizens. Since the #Nakba, Israel has sustained massive divisions between Palestinian and Jewish citizens as it pertains to land access, erasure of Palestinian history and identity, participation in the electoral process, and cultural alienation among a dominant Jewish population. This event was held on Wednesday, September 28, 2020 at 9 AM (PT) • 12 PM (ET) Guest Panel: Maisam Jaljuli is a social, feminist and political activist, chairperson of the women's organization, Na'amat, chair of the Hadash political faction, co-chair of Sikkuy: Association for Advancing Civic Equality boards of the Histadrut Labor Federation, Itach – Ma'aki: Women's Lawyers for Social Justice, and a member of the leadership of Standing Together, a Jewish Arab movement that mobilize people for equality social justice and peace. Hind Hajar Salman is the Administrative Assistant with Bedouins Without Borders, Coordinator of the Women's Center, Member of Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). Watch all of Miko Peled's webinars at www.mikopeled.com Subscribe to "The Miko Peled Podcast" on all major podcast applications. Watch the video and all Miko's webinars at www.mikopeled.com

Recently, U.S. prosecutors indicted #WikiLeaks founder, #JulianAssange on seventeen #espionage charges stemming from the disclosure of atrocities committed by the U.S. armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. With global consequences directly affecting the freedom of the press, #Assange stands to be extradited from the UK to trial to the U.S. under the Espionage Act. In this upcoming online event, author and activist, Miko Peled, speaks with three prominent activists who have persistently advocated for Assange's release and freedom. Roger Waters – Cofounder of Pink Floyd, Songwriter & Musician, Activist John Pilger – Journalist, Documentary Filmmaker Ray McGovern – Ex-CIA Presidential Briefer, Writer, Activist Miko Peled -- Author, Speaker, Human Rights Activist Watch the video of this event -- https://youtu.be/yWvdhrZSm8c Watch Miko Pele's webinar series -- https://mikopeled.com/webinar-archive Pick up a copy of Miko Peled's books -- https://mikopeled.com/books/

On this episode, Miko speaks with Awad Abdelfattah, an organizer that he met during his regular trips to Palestine (once upon a time) to meet with activists and organizers for #Palestinian liberation. Awad is a figure in Palestinian activism who truly deserves more attention and eyes on their work. He is a Palestinian political writer and the former general secretary of the #Balad party. He is also the coordinator of the Haifa-based One Democratic State Campaign, established in late 2017.  In this conversation, Miko spoke with Awad about the unique plight of #1948 Palestinians in the face of the decades old settler colonial project that is Israel. Awad really goes into fascinating detail about how 48 Palestinians organized themselves from #AlNakba into 67 and even beyond Oslo, touching on the various political factions and parties that emerged, as the situation on the ground evolved. This discussion really gives us a rare view into Palestine liberation activism from a historical context leading all the way up to today, as calls for a single democratic state become increasingly accepted among organizers and Palestinian society, all channeled of course through the lens of those Palestinians who remained in 1948 Palestine and became defacto citizens of #Israel.  Awad's column at Middle East Eye  www.mikopeled.com Music credits: Sabaya Al Intifada - “Jabal Al Zaytoun” Maurice Louca, “Al- 'Asr Adh-Dhahabi (The Golden Age)”

With the looming election, Americans will be faced with the choice of re-electing #DonaldTrump to the Presidency or electing #JoeBiden to office. While the majority of the center and center-left wing of the American political spectrum could not stomach four more years of a Trump presidency, there is a split among progressives on the question of supporting the Biden/Harris ticket with their votes, advocacy, and campaigning. Author and speaker, #MikoPeled, leads a discussion with the question, “Should Progressives Support the Biden/Harris Ticket?”, along with a panel of four young progressives who are involved in grassroots and political organizing. With two of the panelists leaning towards voting for Biden and the other two choosing not to cast a vote for him, we hope to gain a sampling of where young progressives might stand come November and the nuances in their decision making. This webinar was held live on September 23, 2020 @ 11 AM (PT) • 2 PM (EST) Guest Panel: Jasmine Collins, Syracuse Eitan Peled, San Diego Yara Akkeh, Boston Annelise Friedman, Las Vegas Watch all of Miko Peled's webinars at www.mikopeled.com Subscribe to "The Miko Peled Podcast" on all major podcast applications #FREEPALESTINE

Taken from a webinar event hosted by Miko. This is a discussion with alternative media journalists, Mnar Muhawesh Adley (MintPress News), Rania Khalek (Unauthorized Disclosure), and Anya Parampil (The Grayzone). These are some of the sharpest, accomplished and uncompromising journalists working today. These are three individuals who have helped build principled and dependable media organizations while contributing to the canon of accurate reporting on Israel and Palestine. The discussion contextualizes alternative media's battle against hasbara in the digital landscape, and analyze if the scales are beginning to tip in Palestine's favor in the war of information.  Watch the full video here

On this episode, Miko spoke with Wafa Ali Aludaina, a Gaza-based Palestinian journalist, manager of the foreign media unit at The Althorayya Institution for Media, a youth group organizer, manager of the October 16th Group in Palestine, and founder of the Palestinian Eve Network, and an activist for Palestine. Wafa is also a mother of three children and lives in Gaza, Palestine, which has been the target of an aggressive, terrifying military assault on alleged military targets in Gaza, targets which have been easily debunked by independent journalists working on the ground. This daily assault which includes navy, tank, artillery, and air strikes has killed and injured the population as well as destroyed key city resources like a power plant - this has made life for Gazans even more precarious and dire - a coastal strip of 2 million residents who have been under an illegal and brutal blockade since at least 2007.    In this conversation, Miko spoke with Wafa direct from Gaza to discuss the latest string of military violence in Gaza, the facts on the ground as it pertains to these supposed military targets that Israel keeps referencing, the truth about the incendiary balloons which Israel seems so threatened by, as well as what raising a family is like under such conditions including collective trauma experienced by Gazan youth and their families.  Follow Wafa on Twitter @wafa-gaza Music credits: Sabaya Al Intifada - “Jabal Al Zaytoun” Maurice Louca, “Al- 'Asr Adh-Dhahabi (The Golden Age)” Solidarity! www.mikopeled.com

Author and activist, Susan Abulhawa was born to refugees of the Six Day War of 1967, when her family's land was seized and Israel captured what remained of Palestine, including Jerusalem. She moved to the USA as a teenager, graduated in biomedical science and established a career in medical science. In July 2001, Susan Abulhawa founded Playgrounds for Palestine, a children's organisation dedicated to upholding The Right to Play for Palestinian children. Her much loved books include "Mornings in Jenin", a book of poetry titled "My Voice Sought the Wind", "The Blue Between Sky and Water", and her highly anticipated upcoming work, "Against The Loveless World". Susan is also a signatory to and active participant in the BDS campaign, which calls for an economic and cultural boycott of Israel. In this interview, the two discuss Susan's latest book, the inescapable politicization of Palestinian art, the cultural boycott of Israel and a lot more. Pre-order via Amazon or Bookshop  Follow Susan on Twitter www.mikopeled.com  

Gaza has a storied history of resistance, culture, and complexities. The besieged Gaza Strip and the fate of it's resilient population are critical to the greater demand for Palestinian freedom and justice. To unpack how life in Gaza came to be, how it's people survive and thrive in 2020 under a brutal blockade, and what might lay ahead for Gazans, author and activist, Miko Peled, has invited two spectacular Gazan writers and activists to provide their truth telling and expert analysis. This webinar was held on July 28, 2020 via Zoom. Panel Biographies: Wafaa Ali Aludaini is a Gaza-based Palestinian journalist, manager of The Althorayya Institution for Media, youth group organizer, founder of the Palestiian Eve Network, and an activist for Palestine. Ahmed Abu Artema is a Gaza-based Palestinian writer and peace activist, author of “Organized Chaos”, and organizer of The Great March of Return.  Hosted by Miko Peled, Israeli-American Author & Human Rights Activist   Watch the video recording at https://mikopeled.com/webinar-archive/

A round table discussion among friends and colleagues, Miko Peled, Rabbi Yaakov Shapiro, and Professor Norton Mezvinsky on the topic of how they individually came to oppose Zionism. While all three are Jewish, each of them comes to the question of Zionism from unique perspectives, whether they be ultra-orthodox, secular, or somewhere in the middle. This webinar was held on July 16, 2020 via Zoom. Guest Panel: Rabbi Yaakov Shapiro Rabbi Emeritus, Author of The Empty Wagon: Zionism's Journey from Identity Crisis to Identity Theft Prof. Norton Mezvinsky Professor Emeritus, President @ International Council for Middle East Studies Hosted by Miko Peled, Israeli-American Author & Human Rights Activist   Watch the video recording at https://mikopeled.com/webinar-archive/

In part two of this two-part online event series, author and activist, Miko Peled, hosted two round table discussions featuring educators, activists, civil rights advocates, and law experts in order to tackle this critical topic and address the following questions: What evidence exists that demonstrates pro-Israel special interests applying influence and ultimately intervening with public school curriculum as it relates to the Middle East, the portrayal of Arabs, and the Israel-Palestine conflict? What tactics did/do these groups employ to cause their desired shifts within the curriculum and classroom discourse? How do we challenge and fight against this dangerous phenomenon and bring forward an accurate and humanizing accounting of the Palestinian experience in our children's classrooms? This event was held online via Zoom on July 1, 2020 Guest Panel: Jihan Andoni, National  Arab American Women's Association  Alex McDonald, Texas Coalition for Human Rights  Jinan Shbat, National Organizer @ American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC)  Hear more about future events at http://www.mikopeled.com

In part one of this two-part online event series, author and activist, Miko Peled, hosted two round table discussions featuring educators, activists, civil rights advocates, and law experts in order to tackle this critical topic and address the following questions: What evidence exists that demonstrates pro-Israel special interests applying influence and ultimately intervening with public school curriculum as it relates to the Middle East, the portrayal of Arabs, and the Israel-Palestine conflict? What tactics did/do these groups employ to cause their desired shifts within the curriculum and classroom discourse? How do we challenge and fight against this dangerous phenomenon and bring forward an accurate and humanizing accounting of the Palestinian experience in our children's classrooms? This event was held online via Zoom on June 25, 2020 Guest Panel: Zoha Khalili, Staff Attorney @ Palestine Legal Jeanne Trabulsi, Education Committee @ Virginia Coalition for Human Rights Dr. Samia Shoman Ed.D, Educator, Member @ Advisory Committee to the California Ethnic Studies Curriculum   Hear more about future events at http://www.mikopeled.com

Miko recently had a chat with the esteemed Rabbi Ahron Cohen, a spokesperson for Neturei Karta in the United Kingdom. Neturei Karta is a religious group of Haredi Jews who formed in 1938 and then split off from the dominant Agudas Yisrael political party. Neturei Karta were one of the very few religious Jewish groups in Israel who opposed Zionism and still call for a "peaceful dismantling" of Israel, a nation state they believe is a rebellion against God. Miko discusses the Rabbi's youth and what led him to Neturei Karta, Zionism's relationship with religious Judaism, and how the Neturei Karta advocate for Palestinian human rights and justice. Music credits: Sabaya Al Intifada - “Jabal Al Zaytoun” Solidarity www.mikopeled.com  

Watch the video version on Miko Peled's Youtube Page  Author, speaker, and human rights activist, Miko Peled, sat down with Rabbi Yaakov Shapiro for part two of an ongoing discussion about anti-Zionism in the context of Orthodox Judaism, the origins of this movement, how it plays out within Israel, anti-semitism, and nation state building in the name of Judaism. Miko weaves in questions submitted by his audience into this conversation to help drive the conversation.  Rabbi Yaakov Shapiro: Rabbi Shapiro is a retired rabbi emeritus of a congregation in Queens, New York who is known for his exceptional understanding of Judaism and various components of Jewish identity and is perhaps best known for his original and outspoken stance defending the historic Orthodox Jewish position that rejects the concept of Jewish nationalism and thus, opposes Zionism. Music credits: Sabaya Al Intifada - “Jabal Al Zaytoun” Solidarity www.mikopeled.com

Part Two: From Corbyn to Sanders: Are Zionist Organizations Targeting Progressive Politicians?  In part two of this two-part online event, author, speaker, and human rights activist, Miko Peled, leads a round table discussion with esteemed journalists, politicians and political activists from both the U.S. and the UK to tackle the question, “Are Zionist Organizations Targeting Progressive Politicians?” This event was held online via Zoom on May 13, 2020. Speaker Panel: Anya Prampil, Journalist at The Grayzone -- https://twitter.com/anyaparampil Estee Chandler, Board Chair of JVP Action -- https://twitter.com/caliactivist Asa Winstanley, Editor at The Electronic Intifada -- https://twitter.com/AsaWinstanley Miko Peled, Author & Activist -- https://twitter.com/mikopeled   Summary: Investigative reporting has revealed that special interest, pro-Israel organizations have actively worked to disrupt, discredit and ultimately bring down progressive candidates in the U.S. and the UK. Whether engaging in public smear campaigns or working under the radar to thwart elections, pro-Israel organizations and individuals have invested millions of dollars in resources to weaken and sabotage progressive electoral campaigns. The common thread among the targets of these attacks is their persistent call to secure Palestinian rights and stand up against Israeli aggression, thus threatening the unflinching U.S. and UK support for the state of Israel. #fromcorbyn2sanders Hear more about future events at http://www.mikopeled.com

In part one of this two-part online event, author, speaker, and human rights activist, Miko Peled, leads a round table discussion with esteemed journalists, politicians and political activists from both the U.S. and the UK to tackle the question, “Are Zionist Organizations Targeting Progressive Politicians?” This event was held online via Zoom on May 6, 2020. Speaker Panel: Chris Williamson: Former Labour MP for Derby North, and City Council Leader, Activist @ https://twitter.com/DerbyChrisW Ali Abunimah: Author, Co-founder @ The Electronic Intifada @ https://twitter.com/AliAbunimah Dr. Wilmer Leon: Author, Host @ Inside the Issues @ https://twitter.com/DrWLeon Miko Peled: Israeli-American Author & Human Rights Activist @ https://twitter.com/mikopeled Summary: Investigative reporting has revealed that special interest, pro-Israel organizations have actively worked to disrupt, discredit and ultimately bring down progressive candidates in the U.S. and the UK. Whether engaging in public smear campaigns or working under the radar to thwart elections, pro-Israel organizations and individuals have invested millions of dollars in resources to weaken and sabotage progressive electoral campaigns. The common thread among the targets of these attacks is their persistent call to secure Palestinian rights and stand up against Israeli aggression, thus threatening the unflinching U.S. and UK support for the state of Israel. #fromcorbyn2sanders Hear more about future events at http://www.mikopeled.com

In this episode, Miko connected with an old friend, Rabbi Yaakov Shapiro, a retired rabbi emeritus of a congregation in Queens, New York. The rabbi is an author known for his exceptional understanding of Judaism and various components of Jewish identity and is perhaps best known for his original and outspoken stance defending the historic Orthodox Jewish position that rejects the concept of Jewish nationalism and thus, opposes Zionism. Miko and Rabbi Shaprio had a thorough conversation about anti-Zionism in the context of Orthodox Judaism, the origins of this movement, how it plays out within Israel, anti-semitism, and nation state building in the name of Judaism. It's a fascinating conversation and viewpoint that is seldom brought onto into the greater conversation of Palestine and Israel. **Don't forget to register for our upcoming two-part online event, “From Corybyn to Sanders: Are Zionist Organizations Targeting Progressive Politicians?” which will feature two excellent guest panels. Part one will take place on May 6th and part two is May 13th. Go to mikopeled.com to register for this event which will be held on Zoom.** Music credits: Sabaya Al Intifada - “Jabal Al Zaytoun” Maurice Louca, “Al- 'Asr Adh-Dhahabi (The Golden Age)” Solidarity www.mikopeled.com

We asked our listeners to submit their questions for Miko on the subject of Palestine, Israel, and Middle East  Politics for a special Q&A episode of the podcast. This is part two of the listener Q&A with author and human rights activist, Miko Peled, who tackles questions about: Why haven't other Arab countries launched military attacks on Israel? Israel's manufactured image on the world stage Will Israel dismantle apartheid in the style of South Africa? What is legitimate Palestinian resistance?  How can Israeli youth build bridges with Palestinian youth? Why do certain countries still have diplomatic relations with Israel? What do you make of the Bernie Sanders campaign as it relates to the fight for Palestinian justice? Please continue to support PCRF's current COVID-19 Humanitarian Response Fund for Palestine, which you can donate to right now at www.pcrf.net Music credits: Sabaya Al Intifada - “Jabal Al Zaytoun” Maurice Louca, “Al- 'Asr Adh-Dhahabi (The Golden Age)” Solidarity, www.mikopeled.com

We asked our listeners to submit their questions for Miko on the subject of Palestine, Israel, and Middle East  Politics for a special Q&A episode of the podcast. We received so many questions that this will be split into two episodes. Here is part one of the listener Q&A with author and human rights activist, Miko Peled, who tackles questions about: Coronavirus in Palestine Origins of the historical land of Palestine The Ultra-Orthodox anti-zionist movement The status of the Holy Land Foundation Five The legitimacy of Palestinian resistance Indoctrination in the Israeli educational curriculum Please continue to support PCRF's current COVID-19 Humanitarian Response Fund for Palestine, which you can donate to right now at www.pcrf.net Music credits: Sabaya Al Intifada - “Jabal Al Zaytoun” Maurice Louca, “Al- 'Asr Adh-Dhahabi (The Golden Age)” Solidarity, www.mikopeled.com

Steve Sosebee is the founder of Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF), a non-profit humanitarian organization formed in 1991 that has been providing life saving, critical relief to Palestinians ever since. Since COVID-19 became a global reality, The Palestine Children's Relief Fund has been working on the ground in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, as well as Lebanon and Jordan's refugee camps to help support the public health care system and response by providing equipment and materials.  Miko gets an update from Steve, who is currently on the ground in the West Bank amidst this virus, and they discuss the current situation, infection rates, what PCRF's relief campaign looks like, and what all of us can do to pitch in and support PCRF's current COVID-19 Humanitarian Response Fund for Palestine, which you can donate to right now.  Donate to the COVID-19 Humanitarian Response Fund for Palestine @ pcrf.net Music credits: Sabaya Al Intifada - “Jabal Al Zaytoun” Maurice Louca, “Al- 'Asr Adh-Dhahabi (The Golden Age)” Solidarity,   www.mikopeled.com

This episode was recorded directly from the Naqab desert in Southern Palestine, home to a large bedouin community, and where Miko spoke with Rafat Abu Aish, a bedouin Palestinian activist and citizen of the state of Israel. Rafat was one of the main organizers of the protest against the Israeli government's ethnic cleansing program called "The Prawer Plan” and has been arrested dozens of times by the Israeli authorities for his activities. Here, Miko and Rafat discuss the bedouin struggle for justice and freedom in Palestine in the face of Zionism and sustained efforts by Israel to ethnically cleanse the native bedouin populations from the Negev Desert. **CORONAVIRUS SUPPORT FOR GAZA** One way of providing direct support to the people of Gaza as they brace for the Coronavirus is to donate to “Face Masks for Gaza”, a GoFundMe campaign that is raising funds for a Gaza factory to manufacture face masks for medical workers and the general population. Please donate here -- https://www.gofundme.com/f/facemasks-for-gaza Music credits: Sabaya Al Intifada - “Jabal Al Zaytoun” Maurice Louca, “Al- 'Asr Adh-Dhahabi (The Golden Age)” Solidarity www.mikopeled.com

In this episode, Miko Peled spoke with Palestinian conflict facilitator, Umar al-Ghubari of Zochrot, an NGO that formed in 2002 to promote acknowledgement and accountability for the ongoing injustices of the Nakba and the reconceptualization of the Return as the imperative redress of the Nakba. Zochrot is also well known for developing a mobile app called iNakba, which allows users to locate and learn about Palestinian localities destroyed during, and as a result of, the Nakba since 1948.  ***We are putting out an important call for our listeners and friends to contribute to Zochrot's “48 Hours to Acknowledge the 48 Crimes” fundraising campaign on March 22 & 23. You can donate via www.zohchrot.org and www.facebook.com/Zochrot. The fundraising campaign will go live just prior to March 22 and will last 48 hours. Please chip in what you can do support the crucial work of Zochrot*** Solidarity! www.mikopeled.com

In our debut episode, Miko Peled speaks with Bassem Tamimi in person from his village of Nabi Salih. Bassem Tamimi is a prominent Palestinian leader from the village of Nabi Saleh and one of the leaders of the popular resistance movement. Many outside of Palestine know him as the father of Ahed Tamimi, who was famously incarcerated by Israel after she slapped an IDF solider. Miko and Bassem sat down after a community meeting to discuss the current state of Palestinian resistance and what a just future must contain for Palestinians.  About Miko Peled: Miko Peled aims to shine a light on under-reported Palestinian experiences through conversations with the brave human rights defenders doing the work on the ground. Miko is an Israeli-American author, writer, speaker, and human rights activist living in the United States. He is considered by many to be one of the clearest voices calling for justice in Palestine, supporting the Palestinian call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) and the creation of a single democracy with equal rights in all of historic Palestine.  www.mikopeled.com