Podcasts about palestine pod

This week on the Palestine Pod, Lara and Michael cover the ongoing genocide in Palestine with updates from on the ground in Gaza and the West Bank including Israel's bombing of the Al-Ahly Baptist Hospital (again) on August 31, 2024 and the invasion of multiple cities and refugee camps in the West Bank including Jenin where Israeli occupation forces besieged the city, destroyed 70% of the city's roads in a manner of days and, at the time of recording of this episode, killed 22 Palestinians. Lara reminds us this is all part of the plan to ethnically cleanse Palestine which has been ongoing since Day 1 over 76 years ago noting that Israeli officials are even calling for the “temporary” displacement of Palestinians from the West Bank, a tactic which has historically never proven to be temporary and has only ever been used as a means by Israel to steal more Palestinian land. Lara and Michael also critique a recent move by NYU to propose that “Zionist” be considered a protected class under the school's code of conduct, a move which comes on the heels of social media giant Meta announcing that content targeting Zionism or Zionists could be removed under the company's hate speech policy. Finally, the Palestine Pod recalls the brutal killing of the brilliant Palestinian content creator Medo Halimy and the legal case for the mainstream media's role in perpetuating the genocide of the Palestinian people.

On this Moats, George Galloway askes a simple question. How depraved do you have to be to bomb refugee families in their tents? No fire brigade, no hospitals, no aid. And still our politicians, like the wretched Keir Starmer, not just support the latest ‘ghastly mistake' but the ones before and to come. Rid us of them in the General Election! Diane Abbott ‘lynched' + Rayner's porn child + Starmer more evil than Sunak + mutant in Tel Aviv, it's all debated here on Moats.‘I cry over my own children watching what is happening to children in Gaza.' And with the complicity of our so-called political leaders, says former ambassador Craig Murray who returns to Moats as the world falls into further chaos is joined by Lara Elborno.Craig Murray: Historian, Former British Ambassador and Human Rights Activist-Twitter: https://x.com/craigmurrayorg-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php-Website: https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/Lara Elborno: Palestinian-American International Lawyer, Activist and Co-host of The Palestine Pod -Twitter: https://x.com/thegazangirlPodcast Twitter- https://x.com/palestinepod- Instagram: https://instagram.com/gazangirlPodcast Instagram- https://instagram.com/thepalestinepod-YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ThePalestinePod Become a MOATS Graduate at https://plus.acast.com/s/moatswithgorgegalloway. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this Moats, George Galloway MP asks will no one stop Israel from ‘mowing the lawn' and selling the land? You are dancing in the street one day in Gaza, dead the next. By taking over Gaza border crossing to Egypt Israel has breached Camp David accords and declared war. Will Egypt respond? Be serious. What next for Ukraine? Scott Ritter delivers his weekly war report. Lara Elborno paints a picture of the apocalyptic scenes in Rafah and Gaza, where there is nowhere safe for the Palestinians to escape to. Will these people ever be able to return to their homes?Scott Ritter: Former UN Weapons Inspector and Marine Corps Intelligence Officer, Author and Political Analyst.- Twitter: https://twitter.com/realscottritter- YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ScottRitterAgain- Website: ScottRitterExtra.com- Telegram: https://t.me/ScottRitter2. Lara Elborno: Palestinian-American International Lawyer, Activist and Co-host of The Palestine Pod - Twitter: https://x.com/thegazangirl- Podcast Twitter: https://x.com/palestinepod- Instagram: https://instagram.com/gazangirl-YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ThePalestinePod- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thegazangirl Become a MOATS Graduate at https://plus.acast.com/s/moatswithgorgegalloway. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this Moats, George Galloway stakes his claims at being the potential People's Prime Minister in waiting. If the UK voted for the person leading the party rather than a local party candidate, Sunak and Starmer would shake at the thought of debating George Galloway. Legal advice has puts whole front bench of British politics in frame for war crimes, along with the US, in being complicit in Gaza genocide. ‘The law on its own is not going to lead us to freedom.' Palestinian-American International Lawyer, Activist and Co-host of The Palestine Pod, Lara Elborno coruscating appraisal of the limits of law and how to achieve Palestinian self-determination. Netanyahu's needs surgery, if he was to no longer be the leader what would Israel look like, who would succeed him from his long line of followers? Anti-Zionist Israeli and former Israeli soldier returns to Moats to give his insight into the minds of the Israeli public, is there still support for the genocide in Gaza from Israel people? Lara Elborno: Palestinian-American International Lawyer, Activist and Co-host of The Palestine Pod -Twitter: https://x.com/thegazangirlPodcast Twitter- https://x.com/palestinepod- Instagram: https://instagram.com/gazangirlPodcast Instagram- https://instagram.com/thepalestinepod-YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ThePalestinePod- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thegazangirlMiko Peled: Anti-Zionist Israeli, Author of The General's Son and host of The Miko Peled Podcast- X: https://twitter.com/mikopeled- Website: https://mikopeled.com/ Become a MOATS Graduate at https://plus.acast.com/s/moatswithgorgegalloway. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael Schirtzer, Comedian and co-host of the Palestine Pod, discusses Zionism and Anti-Semitism within the context of Palestine. We believe this is an important issue so we can consider this episode part 1 of 2 on this topic. The Palestine Pod: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePalestinePod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michael_schirtzer?igsh=eXhybTF0MXA4NDFx

On this Moats, George Galloway gives his take on the chaos and farce in the UK parliament and how Labour policy has been outsourced to Israel and tried to bully and buy the Commons Speaker. The world is waking up and young people in particular will decide the future of Palestine says Palestinian Activist Arab Barghouti but It's very hard to find hope in the United Nations anymore. Lara Elborno returns as a crackdown on Pro-Palestinian protests is promised under a Trump administration as the Democrats send more weapons to Israel meaning both candidates will continue to fund death and destruction. In the British court, Julian Assange is subject to one-sided extradition agreement, even though Assange isn't a US subject why should he be subject to their law? Joe Lauria paints a picture of what he has seen in the hearingsFollow Lara Elborno https://x.com/thegazangirl YouTube"@thePalestinePodFollow Joe Lauria https://x.com/unjoe & YouTube: @consortiumnews8774Arab Barghouthi: Palestinian Activist:- Twitter: https://x.com/arabbarghouthiLara Elborno: Palestinian-American International Lawyer, Activist and Co-host of The Palestine Pod -Twitter: https://x.com/thegazangirlPodcast Twitter- https://x.com/palestinepod- Instagram: https://instagram.com/gazangirlhttps://instagram.com/thepalestinepod-YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ThePalestinePodJoe Lauria: Author and Editor in Chief at Consortium News-Twitter: https://twitter.com/unjoe?lang=en Get bonus content on Patreon Become a MOATS Graduate at https://plus.acast.com/s/moatswithgorgegalloway. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

@JonathanRandall  is back with another episode of American Jew the interview. His guest for this episode is fellow Comedian, activist, and American Jew Michael Schirtzer. Check out Michael as the co-host of the Palestine Pod @ https://www.palestinepod.com/ and follow him on Instagram @Michael_Schirtzer Follow Jonathan across social media @JonathanRandall

This week Lara and Michael (mostly Lara) break down the significance of the ICJ ruling in the Genocide case brought by South Africa against Israel from the perspective of a Palestinian lawyer with an emphasis on international law.   
While this decision will not in and of itself compel Israel to stop bombing and starving Gaza, it gives us a useful tool to be used in furtherance of the freedom struggle. As Nkosi Mandela said when he appeared on the Palestine Pod in May 2021, all forms of resistance must be applied at once to cause the disruption necessary to bring about the collapse of the settler colonial apartheid Zionist entity.

On this Moats, George Galloway reflects on the ICJ ruling that says Israel must prevents Genocide in Gaza, months after thousands have died in the conflict. Why has the vast majority of the media ignored the judgment, presstitutes, starvation and a well-oiled conspiracy around the bombing of Palestinians and Gaza? The UK Prime Minister and Keir Starmer Gone into hiding twenty-four hours after the Hague judgement and Israel has killed another 200 people, isn't the opposition leader supposed to be a human rights lawyer? International lawyer Lara Elborno, US political analyst Garland Nixon and Human Rights Activist Craig Murray join Moats to discuss the ICJ ruling, the effects it will have across the world and why US President Biden should avoid his own nation being accused in the Hague for War Crimes.Lara Elborno: Palestinian-American International Lawyer, Activist and Co-host of The Palestine Pod -Twitter: https://x.com/thegazangirl- Podcast Twitter: https://x.com/palestinepod- Instagram: https://instagram.com/gazangirlGarland Nixon: Radio Talk Show Host and Political Analyst- Twitter: https://twitter.com/garlandnixon- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gnixon-Instagram: https://instagram.com/garland.nixon-YouTube: https://youtube.com/@garlandnCraig Murray: Historian, Former British Ambassador and Human Rights Activist-Twitter: https://x.com/craigmurrayorg-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php-Website: https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/ Get bonus content on Patreon Become a MOATS Graduate at https://plus.acast.com/s/moatswithgorgegalloway. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For years, in driving around the Bay Area it's been common to spot pink billboards from a company called JewBelong, with pro-Jewish statements ranging from “Jewish Mothers: The original Yelp” to “All jews welcome. Refreshments and guilt to follow”. More recently, those billboards have become a strange and sinister zionist platform, recently printing statements like “Hamas is your problem too” or “keep calling me a zionist – nothing makes me prouder”. JewBelong posted on its instagram a particularly inflammatory image, saying, “Trust me. If Israel wanted to commit genocide in Gaza, it could.” Joining us today, to give us some background about JewBelong, is Michael Schirtzer, LA-based co-host of the Palestine Pod podcast, as well as an actor and comedian who has written for NBC Sports, The Young Turks, and our Pacifica sister station in LA – KPFK. Check out the Palestine Pod: https://www.palestinepod.com/ Follow Michael Schirtzer on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michael_schirtzer/ —- Subscribe to this podcast: https://plinkhq.com/i/1637968343?to=page Get in touch: lawanddisorder@kpfa.org Follow us on socials @LawAndDis: https://twitter.com/LawAndDis; https://www.instagram.com/lawanddis/ The post The Menace of JewBelong's Genocidal Intent w/ Michael Schirtzer appeared first on KPFA.

There's growing pressure to hold Israel to account for its war on Gaza. More countries are now referring it to international courts. And its president is facing a criminal complaint in Switzerland. So can international justice stop Israel? HOST: Elizabeth Puranam GUESTS: Lara Elborno - International Lawyer and Human Rights Advocate who co-hosts the weekly podcast, The Palestine Pod. William Schabas - Professor of International Law at Middlesex University in the United Kingdom.  Jennifer Cassidy - Lecturer in Diplomacy and International Law at the University of Oxford and a former UN and EU diplomat. Connect with us:@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Embark on a captivating episode of A2 The Show featuring the talented comedian Michael Schirtzer, celebrated for his roles in Warner Brother's "Funky Monkey" and an International Starburst commercial. Joined by Jewish comedian, activist, and cohost of the "Palestine Pod," Michael shares his profound commitment to Palestinian justice and liberation. The episode adds a humorous touch with discussions about New York tunnels and their playful exploration of being "Jew experts." The conversation delves into the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, media representation, and the neocolonial crusade. Michael reflects on his global comedy tours, exploring the contrast between peaceful teachings in Judaism and the actions of Zionism, all while navigating identity and advocacy in stand-up comedy. Tune in to this blend of laughter, insightful dialogue, and a commitment to justice. 00:00 - The underground Jewish tunnels in New York 05:00 - Reflection on the Palestinian cause and media's role in shaping perceptions 10:08 - Media Representation and Shifting Narratives in the Palestinian Cause 15:04 - Comparison of the situation in Gaza to the Holocaust 19:55 - Personal experiences of unlearning Zionist indoctrination 25:01 - Discussing the origins of anti-Zionist stance 30:07 - Navigating identity and advocacy in Stand-Up Comedy 35:36 - Exploring the historical roots of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict 40:00 - The neocolonial crusade in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict 45:00 - Discussion on the contradiction between peaceful teachings in Judaism and the actions of Zionism 50:20 - Zionist lobby's influence on US politics and experiences doing stand-up comedy on the topic Welcome to "A² The Show" – your ticket to the human mind's wild rollercoaster! We're a crew of pals from Lebanon, now globally scattered, who combat homesickness with friendship, gaming, fiery chats, and a sprinkle of controversy. Our podcast is more than just words; it's a fun-fueled rebellion against the everyday, and a beacon in the mental health fog. With a diverse lineup of guests who've braved the depths of the human psyche, we're here to inspire resilience, provoke thought, and tickle your funny bone. So strap in for a journey through the human mind's crazy maze. It's like your favorite videogame, but the cheat codes are science, empathy, and a dash of madness. Dive into "A² The Show" – your unforgettable adventure starts here! Ride the digital waves with us on social media: @a2theshow Ali "The Professor" Haajl @alitheprofessor alitheprofessor.com Saeed El Jammal @saeedjay97 Mohamed Owydat @mowydat Abbas Jawhar @abbasjawhar3 Ameer Asmar @cold_and_flew Sherif Seif El Nasr --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/a2theshow/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/a2theshow/support

On this Moats, George Galloway reflects on the images of a disoriented little girl in Gaza as she stumbles through the smoke and rubble in a stained and dishevelled party dress looking for her parents or sanctuary. How can the world look away from such an image? In the Hague, South Africa buries Israel under the accusations of genocide as Israel continues to argue its right to self defence under international law. Jewish former South African ANC commander, Ronnie Kasrils, talks his pride in his country at the Hague, a South Africa that is willing to fight for the freedoms of suppressed people and how Jews have historically opposed racism and apartheid. Palestinian-American Lawyer, Lara Elborno, says her people feel seen as South Africa refers to the Nakba and genocidal intent against the Palestinian people in the Hague and why this case may have massive ramifications across the world for suppressed people. Niko House returns to Moats to discuss the landslide victory for Donald Trump in the first contest for the Republican race for a presidential nominee and why he needs to pick his running mate carefully.Ronnie Kasrils: Former Minister of Intelligence Services of South AfricaLara Elborno: Palestinian-American International Lawyer, Activist and Co-Host of The Palestine Pod - X: https://twitter.com/thegazangirl- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gazangirl- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePalestinePodNiko House: Political Commentator and Founder of MCSC Network- X: https://twitter.com/realnikohouse- Instagram: https://instagram.com/realnikohouse- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikoforthepeople- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Forthepeoplepodcast305 Get bonus content on Patreon Become a MOATS Graduate at https://plus.acast.com/s/moatswithgorgegalloway. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're joined by Jewish comedian, activist, and cohost of the Palestine Pod, Michael Schirtzer, who explains why and how he became so deeply committed to the cause of Palestinian justice and liberation. Speaking just days after congress approved a resolution equating anti-Zionism with antisemitism, we discuss how the term “antisemitism” has been used to shut down valid criticisms of Israel. LINKS:—The Palestine Pod—Speech by Palestinian lawyer Lara Elborno at the Stop The War Coalition rally in London on 12.2.24 http://tinyurl.com/583ys8pe—Follow these IG accounts: @michael_schirtzer, @thepalestinepod, @gazangirl, @palestinianyouthmovement, @wolpalestine, @palestine.academy, CALLS TO ACTION—Advocate for Palestine at home, at work, local councils, etc—Get involved with the Palestinian Youth Movement, Within Our Lifetime Palestine, Palestine Action UK, Palestine Action US, —Get engaged in our community with local organizers for Palestine (like local Students for Justice in Palestine chapters)The Free Palestine Cocktail100   ml Watermelon Juice30     mlLime Juice15     mlSimple Syrup (1:1 ratio) to tasteSmall pinch of saltOptional:25     mlMidori Melon Liqueur or green juice25     mlClear spirit of your choice: Mezcal, Tequila, Gin, Vodka, Arak, etc etc Combine all ingredients except (Midori or other green ingredient) in a mixing tin and shake with cubed ice until drink is properly diluted and chilled. Fine strain into a Collins glass or your favorite transparent drinking vessel filled with pebble or crushed ice. If adding Midori, add Midori first and layer the watermelon on top to create the look of a watermelon's rind and flesh. Garnish with a small watermelon wedge and top with a few raisins.Glassware:  Your favorite transparent drinking vesselGarnish:  Small watermelon wedge and raisinsCOCKTAILS & CAPITALISM MERCH!Punk With A CameraSupport the showCocktails & Capitalism is an anticapitalist labor of love, but we could use your help to make this project sustainable. If you can support our work with even a dollar a month, that would really help us continue to strengthen the class consciousness of folks suffering under capitalism around the globe. https://www.patreon.com/cocktailsandcapitalism

On this Moats, George Galloway gives his take on the Al-Shifa hospital lie and the footage of babies left to die by Israel and murder incorporated on the West Bank – the 62nd child to be murdered since 7/10. You may not have seen the footage as more and more videos are being suppressed on social media which is effected the truth being told as it. Prof Mohammad Marandi returns to the show who believes Israel used to be an asset to the US, but now it's a burden, as genocide taking place in front of a global audience has changed the equation. Co-host of The Palestine Pod, Lara Elborno, gives the landscape that American-Palestinians must now navigate as they protest or protect Muslim spaces at the risk of losing their jobs and being targeted by hate crimes.Professor Seyed Mohammed Marandi: Professor of English Literature and Orientalism at the University of Tehran.- X: https://x.com/s_m_marandi- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Prof.MohammadMarandiLara Elborno: Palestinian-American International Lawyer, Activist and Co-host of The Palestine Pod.- X: https://x.com/thegazangirlPodcast X - https://x.com/palestinepod-YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ThePalestinePod Get bonus content on Patreon Become a MOATS Graduate at https://plus.acast.com/s/moatswithgorgegalloway. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Lara and Michael cover the egregious story about Zionist female soldiers who forced Palestinian women to strip at the threat of attack dogs and automatic weapons. We discuss Netanyahu's proposal to deport "all African migrants" after flare-ups in the Eritrean communities inside 48. Lara breaks down the reality of navigating a maze of 21st-century settler colonialism in which all the most physical locations for your life are interrupted by checkpoints, violent settlers, and a literal apartheid wall. Also, we talk about online censorship as The Palestine Pod was recently demonetized on Instagram for no other reason than our reporting. 

This week The Palestine Pod covered the colonial entity's genocidal campaign in Gaza, we spoke about the ongoing Nakba, settlers celebrating 75 years of murder and forced expulsion, and the damn near total silence from the world when entire families are massacred in Palestine.

This week on the Palestine Pod, Lara and Michael cover the significance of the shows of Palestinian solidarity at the World Cup in Qatar by players and fans. The Pod then covers the murder of a 16-year-old Palestinian girl Jana Zakarneh by Israeli snipers who shot her 4 times as she stood on the roof of her home in occupied Jenin during a recent occupation raid on the Palestinian city as well as the reckless reporting by Western outlets such as the BBC, CNN, and the NYT that followed, acting as cover for Zionist crimes by failing to publish who killed her in their headline, and worse, acting as an arm for the Zionist propaganda machine by swiftly publishing the official Zionist response (that they “unintentionally” sniped her) without the slightest bit of scrutiny. Lara explores the chronic state of hypocrisy that is the Zionist ideology, oscillating between lies like the land was empty, the Palestinians don't exist, they left freely and occasional spurts of truth like the recent bombshell admissions portrayed in the documentary Tantura by Israeli filmmaker Alon Schwarz who interviewed elderly Zionist terrorists giddy to describe the murder, ethnic cleansing and rape they committed of Palestinians on camera. Michael continues to remind us that none of these people have any right to represent Judaism which is categorically opposed to this evil that they spread. Lara and Michael finish by commenting on the recent interview of Israeli MP Zvika Fogel where he explained that Zionists were too merciful to Palestinians leading Michael to conclude that this just means they want to do even more murder.

This week Lara and Michael discuss the decision to move the UK embassy to Jerusalem, and how this constitutes an act of aggression. We cover the self-commissioned Facebook/Meta report that admits the company censored Palestinians and favored Hebrew content during the moderation process. We at The Palestine Pod joke we knew that already because we were on the business side of the censorship.  We discuss the Chilean President standing before the UN, calling on all nations to protect Palestinian human rights. We cover how the Chilean President also canceled a credentials ceremony for an Israeli ambassador after finding out about yet another extra-judicial assassination by the occupation, and the political fallout that ensued as a result. We also cover how every week there is a new body, a new state, and a new media outlet that has come to the conclusion that the assassination of Shireen Abu Akleh was in fact intentional, and carried out by the Zionist regime. To which we say, no sh*t sherlock.  

This week Lara and Michael sit down with our second return guest to The Palestine Pod. It's Max from Palestine Action. He's back to celebrate the closing of 2 of Elbit's weapons systems in the UK and kicking the company out of London entirely with the direct action network, Palestine Action. We discuss the various tactics the group employed to drive up the cost of doing business for the war profiteers in the business of bloodshed. We talk about the importance of getting involved in whatever capacity you can to help be a part of the liberation of Palestine. We only feel like we have no power when we choose not to exercise our own. We conclude with a discussion about respectability vs. effectiveness. Lara makes the point that in the heat of the moment, most people never get the respect they deserve but if they are effective, history will respect them forever. 

This week Lara and Michael celebrate the 50th episode of The Palestine Pod. We do a quick recap of guests and share our appreciation for everyone who has enjoyed the project so far. We cover the various shootings that occurred over the past few weeks. Some at the hands of the occupation, and some at the hands of Palestinians resisting. We discuss the difference in reaction when Ukrainians resist using violence vs. when Palestinians resist using violence. We dissect how the Israeli media is trying to justify the occupation of Palestine while supporting the right to self-defense from the occupation in Ukraine. We discuss the real origins of terrorism and the gravity of the violence that Palestinians face every single day. A former Israeli general promises Palestinians another Nakba. The so-called "safest place for Jews" needs to recommit itself to security apparently, by beefing up its police budget. We cover the occupation's reaction to Palestinian resistance which includes a stupidly named "Operation Break the Wave" and how that includes tear gassing hospitals. US Senators obstruct justice in the name of "fighting antisemitism" and we also cover Land Day and the various protests around the world commemorating the Palestinians who lost their lives protecting their land. We talk about how the Israeli lobby is gunning for Lowkey, and the New York Times finally mentions the Apartheid Israel report, some 52 days late, and only as a footnote. 

This week Lara and Michael sit down with Diana Buttu, a fierce human rights lawyer, former PLO negotiator, Palestinian citizen of Israel and political analyst at the Institute for Middle East Understanding. Diana offers her views on the Amnesty International Report and about where we are in the aftermath of the May uprising. She tells the Palestine Pod the story of how her father's family was ethnically cleansed from his village near Nazareth. Lara and Diana analyze Israel's absurd relationship to the law, and Michael asks Diana what we can learn from the South African anti-Apartheid struggle. Diana also shares behind the scenes stories from her time negotiating for the PLO.

This week Lara and Michael discuss how several Palestinian youth were murdered, execution-style, by the Apartheid State's Yamam Brigade responsible for dressing up as and infiltrating Palestinian circles. Michael reminds us that zionists do not just murder people for armed resistance, but they also assassinate thinkers, people who can sway public opinion, foreign generals, and most recently scientists. Michael also throws back to the very first anti-zionist Jew murdered by the Haganah in 1924, Jacob De Haan. Lara provides a BDS update that includes Texas lawsuits, Harvard students boycotting Sabra, and Death on the Nile. Michael covers how Lebanon broke up an Israeli spy ring and the Palestine Pod discusses the latest in US and Israeli reactions to Amnesty International's report finding Israel guilty of running an Apartheid regime.

This week Lara and Michael hash out the good and the bad from Amnesty International's recent report documenting Israel's Apartheid against Palestinians and dissect the Zionist response (i.e loose cannon false accusations of antisemitism and/or terrorism). Lara queries how many more reports we need before we will believe Palestinians and demand an end to the Apartheid regime? The Palestine Pod somewhat rejoices following news of Meta's (formerly Facebook) recent removal or various Israeli cyberstalking accounts because as Michael reminds us: only Facebook gets to spy on our data! Lara relishes in the fact that FOX News inadvertently promoted the arguments against zionism and settler-colonialism in one of its articles by heavily quoting a recent University of Chicago SJP Instagram post and failing to present any convincing rebuttals. Lara and Michael conclude this week's episode by chatting about Yair Lapid's response to the ADL letter on settler terror, calling it a “stain" on Israeli society that he will totally look into and not ignore. 

On this episode of The Palestine Pod, Lara and Michael do a deep dive into firsthand accounts/primary sources of the massacre at Tantura. We cover it both from the testimonies of the perpetrators and the few people who survived. Lara reads a survivor's account included in The Palestinian Right of Return Under International Law, a book by Professor Francis Boyle. Michael dissects footage from an upcoming documentary entitled Tantura that just premiered at Sundance as well as the attempts by Dr. Illan Pappe and graduate student Theodore Katz to bring the horrors of the massacre to light, and everything the Israeli government did to silence those who dared to speak out. Michael covers the demolition of the Salhiya family home and provides updates on what has been happening in Sheikh Jarrah since much of the world stopped paying attention.  We reference the Occupation's war on Palestinian elders and the ADL asking Israel to tone down the terrorism. Lara provides a brief update on the Burnat brothers, and the episode concludes with updates on the successes of Palestine Action in their efforts to kick Elbit Systems out of the UK.   

This week we take a stroll down memory lane and relive the best moments from the first 15 episodes of The Palestine Pod. From its inception in March 2021, we hear the most influential moments from guests including Amer Zahr, Nora Barrows-Friedman, Miko Peled, Dr. Steve Salaita, Massoud Hayoun, Adnan Barq who reported live from the ground in East Jerusalem during the assault on Sheikh Jarrah and Gaza in May 2021, Anwar Hadid & Vin Arfuso up through the interview with Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela from the Royal House of Mandela. It's an episode full of highlights you won't want to miss!

This week Lara and Michael sit down with the founder and CEO of Palestinian Hustle, Samer Fidy. Samer shares the journey that led him to start the Palestinian-owned small business that donates a portion of every sale to charities in the United States fighting food insecurity, and NGOs on the ground in Gaza providing clean water. Samer speaks of his desire to teach his children about responsibility and giving back to both local and global communities. Michael jokes about Samer's affinity for Starbucks and contemplates whether or not one should strike up a conversation with your barista about Palestine. Samer surprises the Palestine Pod with stories of his past career pursuits then shares wild memories from his time living in Palestine. Finally, The Palestine Pod announces a limited apparel drop in collaboration with Palestinian Hustle, available on both our websites. 

This week Lara and Michael sit down with Noor Elkhaldi, Palestinian-American fashion model/influencer, and host of the popular podcast Arab-American Psycho, discussing the success of her podcast, its origins, and the meaningful conversations she has had on it with Palestinians like her mother, Hawaiian activists, and other people impacted by colonialism. Lara and Michael do a deep dive into Noor's family history learning that she only found out her parents were refugees this year because of their reluctance to relive past trauma. Noor reflects on traveling to Palestine as an American citizen and the privileges she experienced over Palestinians on the ground. Noor reminds us of Zionist cultural appropriation of Palestinian food, and the beautiful and rich Palestinian food community in New York. Finally, Noor enlightens the Palestine Pod on her experience being a visibly Muslim woman in fashion, with the perils and the joys included. 

This week's storyteller is Lara E, also known as Gazan Girl. Lara is a Palestinian American international lawyer and activist, and a resource that I use when learning and educating myself on Palestinian current affairs. She acts as counsel in international disputes and dedicates a large part of her legal practice to human rights work, including accompanying asylum seekers in asylum proceedings before French jurisdictions. ⠀  Lara also has a weekly podcast called The Palestine Pod that she co-hosts with Jewish American comedian Michael Schirtzer. They talk all things Palestine, and of course in this conversation, we also talk all things Palestine. We go into an analysis of the Media's representation of the Palestinian struggle; we go into Lara's personal story, her family story, intergenerational trauma, and we get into detailed descriptions of her favorite Palestinian dish, which is also one of my favorite Palestinian dishes. All this and more on Podcast Noor. ⠀  Follow Lara:  www.instagram.com/gazangirl  www.twitter.com/thegazangirl ⠀  Follow Noor:  www.instagram.com/noor  www.twitter.com/ntagouri ⠀  More Podcast Noor:  www.noortagouri.com/podcastnoor  www.apple.co/noor

This week Lara and Michael discuss the bombshell Washington Post article exposing a vast dragnet surveillance system used by the IOF against Palestinian society. Programs Blue Wolf and Wolfpack use state-of-the-art facial recognition technology to track and identify all movements by Palestinians, and has been called "a secret Facebook for Palestinians" according to an IOF soldier. Palestinians are given ratings and the programs use flashing colors to indicate whether the Israeli soldier should arrest, detain, or leave Palestinians alone. Squid Game anyone? The system was built in part by incentivizing the occupation's military units to take pictures of as many Palestinians as possible from children to elders by awarding prizes to those units that took the most pictures. The Palestine Pod covers the work being done to expose the occupation by Citizen Lab in Toronto and provide an update on the use of Israel's Pegasus spy software against Palestinian human rights organizations recently deemed "terrorist" organizations by the Apartheid State. Michael also discusses how Zionism is suffocating academic freedom in the UK with the termination of Professor David Miller and Lara reminds that these restrictions are related to the adoption of the IHRA definition of anti-semitism, which has so far been adopted by around 30 countries. Lara and Michael chuckle at Biden's milquetoast platitudes towards funding UNWRA as their financial situation deteriorates by the day. Finally, we talk about how the occupation is attempting to acquire Bunker Buster bombs from the USA because bombing above ground is so early 2000s. 

This week Lara and Michael discuss Instagram censoring our profile by announcing that as of October 25, 2021 we would no longer have access to the link button on @thepalestinepod account for purported violations of community guidelines. Lara queries what threshold Instagram is applying to make this decision to deprive users of critical features since @thepalestinepod account has only ever had one post removed from its account (which in any event did not violate Community Guidelines). Several other Palestinian content creators have received the alert that they too would lose access to the link button with the application providing no recourse to challenge this decision. This unfortunate move appears to be a coordinated effort to continue to crackdown on free speech on the platform especially as it concerns Palestinian human rights. This is all the more so since Instagram's decision to deprive certain users of the link feature comes only a week after a Human Rights Watch report detailing censorship of posts and accounts by Instagram including with specific reference to posts unjustly removed from Lara's account @gazangirl. Instead of heeding the call by Human Rights Watch to carry out an independent investigation into the censorship of Palestinian content, Instagram has doubled down by unjustly depriving Palestinian content creators of their right to link to further sources through their profiles. Lara and Michael also cover the recent meeting of the UN Security Council where the US envoy to the UN made some ludicrous statements condemning Hamas for allegedly holding two Israelis prisoners while nearly five thousand Palestinian men, women, and children languish inside Israeli political prisons. Lara provides an update on the Burnat brothers, and sadly Muhammad Burnat, the younger brother remains imprisoned by the Apartheid State without charge with a so-called court date that continues to be postponed. The Palestine Pod also discusses the pivotal role Colin Powell played in getting the United States on the course to invade Iraq, something the Israeli lobby took credit for. Michael covers an article in Jewish Currents that exposes American Jewish businessmen who are funding the Palestinian activist blacklist, Canary Mission.

This week, the Palestine Pod hosts Yousef Mema aka @JoeGaza93. Yousef is a nurse, social media activist, and humanitarian. His Instagram profile rose to prominence during the May 2021 Israeli assaults on Gaza where he spent every day of the 11-day attacks showing the world first-hand accounts from life in Gaza. He shared photo and video (including live) footage from his home in Gaza City during the shelling as well as from Al Shifa Hospital, one of the main hospitals in Gaza where he was working at the time as a nurse in the orthopedic department. Joe talks to us about what it was like to survive these Israeli assaults. Lara recalls filming an Instagram live with Joe in May while he was at home during the shelling and the sound of Israeli drones and missiles interrupting the conversation every couple of seconds. Lara and Joe discuss one of the most brutal nights of the May assaults, May 16, 2021, when Israel committed the Al-Wehda Street Massacre, and heavily shelled one of the most prominent residential and commercial streets in Gaza, leveling entire apartment buildings and killing entire families including Dr. Ayman Abu al-Ouf, one of Gaza's leading doctors, and several of his family members as they slept. The Israeli occupation forces are said to have used 11 advanced precision-guided missiles along several meters of Al-Wehda Street without warning, leading to the killing of around 50 Palestinians and significant damage to the street and infrastructure. In response to international condemnation, the Occupation forces said that the casualties were an unforeseen “freak” consequences of an attempt to target tunnels under the street. Michael queries whether anyone really believes their outrageous claim that this was unforeseeable (they did use advanced weaponry designed specifically to kill on one of the densest residential streets in Gaza after all - what else would you expect to happen?). Joe reminds us that the Israeli siege is intended to keep Palestinians in Gaza preoccupied with basic needs such as food and electricity to hinder the pursuit of liberation. Michael compliments Joe's beard and Lara suggests Michael's facial hair resembles that of Julian Assange.

This week Lara and Michael speak with Jon Elmer, Canadian writer and photojournalist specializing in the Middle East and Canadian foreign and military policy. He has lived in and reported extensively from the occupied Palestinian West Bank and Gaza - specifically based in occupied Jenin, Bethlehem, and Gaza City. He has covered the al-Aqsa intifada, the so-called Israeli "disengagement" of Gaza which was followed by the imposition of a siege on Gaza as well as factional strife in Gaza. His work appears in the Journal of Palestine Studies, Le Monde diplomatique, and The Progressive. He is also the co-host of an amazing podcast called “The Brief” with Nora Barrows Friedman, a dear friend of the Palestine Pod. In light of the recent 21st anniversary of the Second Intifada, Jon speaks to us about his time reporting on the Second Intifada while he was in Palestine. With first-hand accounts from occupied Jenin, to analysis on the tactics used by Palestinians to resist Israeli colonial violence as well as the impact of the Second Intifada on Palestinian life until today, Jon paints a complex, layered picture of life in occupied Palestine, the cost of resistance to daily life, and the bravery and heroism of Palestinians fighting for their freedom. Lara reminds us that Palestinians are in a rights-based struggle and Michael recalls that Jews of the Warsaw ghetto used similar tactics of resistance as Palestinians, calling anyone who supports the former but not the latter fundamentally inconsistent in their approach to the right to freedom.

This week we talk to the brilliant Palestinian-American author Rifk Ebeid whose children's book “Baba What Does My Name Mean?” was recently censored by the “Free” Library of Philadelphia (yes it's really called that) in online anti-racist blog posts created by a librarian for the library's social media connecting the Palestinian struggle to the struggle for Black liberation in the US. Lara goes line by line to deconstruct and rebut the painfully anti-Palestinian, contradictory and incoherent statement issued by the so-called "Free" Library to support its decision to censor this and other Palestinian content on its social media platforms. Michael shows us how the Free Library statement supporting censorship, in equating support for the Zionist Organization of America as a rejection of anti-semitism, is actually a statement of anti-Semitism itself. Rifk recalls other instances of censorship she has faced for producing Palestinian content at the hands of allegedly liberal organizations. On a related note, the Palestine Pod also discusses the York, Pennsylvania diversity book ban which has recently been reversed due to outcry from black and brown communities following the taping of this episode. Lara and Michael recall the importance of unlearning the mainstream white supremacist narrative that many young Americans are indoctrinated with in middle and high schools across the country.

My guest this week is Michael Schirtzer. He is a standup comedian & slam poet born in NY and raised in LA. He and his writing have appeared on The Jimmy Dore Show, TYT, and KPFK. He is the co-host of The Palestine Pod.Sit down with your favorite comedian and filmmaker Mike Eshaq from REVOLT TV, Comedy Central, & NETFLIX. He's the creator of The Ed and Moe Show , MTV CRIBS ARAB AMERICAN STYLE & former producer of Swamp People on History Channel. Buy Merch! https://mikefromdetroit.com/shopFind Guest: @Michael_SchirtzerFind Mike Eshaq:Website: https://mikefromdetroit.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikefromdetroit/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MikeFromDetroit/Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikefromdetroitYouTube #1: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChcotyIbOkdK6eKwE_ZNBpwYouTube #2: https://www.youtube.com/user/MikeEatsnaxTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mikefromdetroit?#PublicYemeniNo1 #MikeEshaq #MichaelSchirtzer #MikeFromDetroit #palestine #gaza #occupation #israel #politics

This week we sit down with the vibrant 21-year old Palestinian female artist, painter, and activist Malak Mattar coming to us straight from Gaza, Palestine. Malak takes us through her experience growing up in Gaza under Israeli siege and surviving four Israeli military assaults from early childhood to adulthood. She tells us about her path to painting, the inspiration behind the subjects in her art, her favorite Palestinian painters, and how the Israeli siege on Gaza has affected her ability to travel as an artist and sell her art (she operates an Etsy store based in Turkey to avoid censorship by the Apartheid State which would have to approve the packages she sends out of Gaza). She describes the current situation in Gaza since the latest assaults in May including heightened restrictions on the entry of goods due to Apartheid Israel's blocking of chocolate, wedding dresses, and certain acrylic colors (like white and black paint colors). Malak evokes the meaning of living as a free Gazan woman against the backdrop of the brutal siege and occupation. She critically reminds us that "Peace is no longer a priority; Freedom is" and takes us through her dreams for the future. The Palestine Pod queries whether there are breakfast burritos in Gaza.

Lara and Michael are back to the Palestine Pod after a few weeks off (shout-out self-care) and start the episode with a survey of stories from the last few weeks on the ground in Palestine. The Israeli settler colony and its Apartheid regime are up to business as usual, expelling Palestinians from their homes, using the colonial courts to entrench ethnic cleansing, and shooting and killing Palestinians who dare protest against living under Israeli siege. Lara and Michael discuss one of the biggest stories of this summer: the decision by Ben & Jerry's to stop selling their infamous ice cream on settlements built on stolen Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank and the Israeli government's ensuing global public meltdown and disproportionate response. Lara points out that Apartheid Israel's reaction is an indication of its recognition that it is losing legitimacy (despite its frantic efforts to control its image) and fear that other high-profile companies will follow suit calling into question its ever-expanding settlement enterprise and colonial project more generally. Lara and Michael cover a new twist in the Ben & Jerry's saga that is so absurd it could only be satire (but it's real-life). Lara covers Palestine Legal's new infographic laying out the services and support it provides to activists who are being targeted, surveilled, or censored encouraging all activists in making themselves aware of the support available for carrying out the work of the liberation struggle. Lara and Michael comment on the sinister nature of Naftali Bennett's visit to the US to meet with President Biden on the heels of his latest declaration that he would be expanding the illegal settlement enterprise.

This week on the Palestine Pod, we sit down with Hadar Cohen, a Mizrahi feminist multi-media artist, healer and educator originally from Jerusalem with lineage from all over the Middle East including Iran, Iraq, Syria and and Palestine. Hadar is a Jewish mystic with Sephardic roots who works to build decolonial frameworks for worshiping God. Her artistic mediums include performance, movement, writing, weaving, sound and ritual. During the global intifada of unity, Hadar came out as a strong anti-Zionist Jewish voice from on the ground. She speaks to us about her family's presence in Palestine harkening to a time long before Zionism, the power of memory as a liberation tool, and the meaning and importance of decolonizing the mind. Lara quotes Hadar's fierce rebuke of Zionism while imagining a life in Palestine post Zionism. Hadar insists on reclaiming the Arab Jewish identity as something separate and unique from European notions of Judaism in response to Arab Jewish trauma that resulted from the Zionist movement. Michael and Hadar dive deeper into the Zionist weaponization of anti-semitism and Michael reminds us that "nobody does anti-semitism like Zionists do." 

This week's guest is Lara (@gazangirl), Palestinian activist, lawyer, and co-host of The Palestine Pod. We chat about finding humor in darkness, censorship on Instagram, the right of return for Palestinians, what it means to be “American” as a Palestinian, and so much more. Enjoy psychos! @gazangirl https://www.instagram.com/gazangirl Listen to 'The Palestine Pod' https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-palestine-pod/id1559480967 @noore https://www.instagram.com/noore @arabamericanpsycho https://www.instagram.com/arabamericanpsycho New episodes every Sunday, and if you made it this far please rate and review on iTunes. Okay love you, bye! x

This week, the Palestine Pod interviews Lyla June, an Indigenous public speaker, artist, scholar and community organizer of Diné (Navajo) and Tsétsêhéstâhese (Cheyenne) nations from Taos, New Mexico. Lyla speaks to us about the ill-effects of colonialism in Turtle Island (i.e. the United States) especially on food and ecosystems and Lara draws comparisons to Palestine. Lyla describes what makes a sustainable culture and recalls the sustainability of indigenous culture as well as the suitability of indigenous food to indigenous communities on a personal level. We speak about the importance of Land Back in Turtle Island and the Palestinian right of return and Lyla shares with us her journey to learning about and supporting the struggle for Palestinian liberation. Michael queries how white settlers in Turtle Island can best get involved in a Land Back movement. 

This week, Palestinian model Qaher Harhash joins the Palestine Pod. Qaher speaks first hand about his experience receiving a barrage of anti-Palestinian and Islamophobic messages from Zara's head of design, Vanessa Perilman, in response to an Instagram story he posted from his room showing the infamous black water tanks on top of Palestinian homes in occupied East Jerusalem compared to the Jewish Israeli rooftops which have no tanks at all since they are hooked up to water 24/7, highlighting the racist distribution of resources on occupied Palestinian land to favor to occupier and disadvantage the occupied. Michael recalls Zara's long history of racist policies and practices towards employees and shoppers alike. Lara dismantles Vanessa's racist diatribe and the Pod revisits how some of Vanessa's comments are an extension of Israeli pinkwashing, the official government policy to paint Israel as being this haven for LGBT+ folks in an effort to conceal its apartheid policies towards Palestinians and divert international condemnation by associating itself with freedom and liberal values. Qaher reminds us that even the notion of Israel being an LGBT+ safe haven is an awful distortion of the reality of life for LGBT+ folks in Israel. Qaher lets us in on what it is like to work as a Palestinian in high fashion and Michael reminds us why Palestinians can never see "eye to eye" with their colonizer.      

This week, Laila El-Haddad, co-author of the Gaza Kitchen, joins the Palestine Pod. In honor of the publication of the third edition of the book, Laila shares with us some of the new recipes that she learned on her last trip to Gaza in 2019. Laila paints for us a culinary picture of Gaza and explains how intimately the history and politics, including in particular the Nakba of 1948, affect the local cuisine. Laila and Michael go back in time to recall a rich history of Gaza since Alexander the Great. Laila provides an update on her family in Gaza further to Israel's latest assaults which she notes focused on Gaza's commercial hub and city center unlike previous Israeli assaults which tended to focus on the periphery of the besieged enclave. Lara queries where Gaza's love for the chili pepper came from. Laila recalls that conversations about Gaza's resistance should never lose sight of the fact that resistance itself is not the goal: Liberation is the goal and resistance is the means. Michael instigates bamya-gate part two.

The unconditional support that the U.S. has for 'Israel' is unmatched but will we ever witness a breakup when it comes to this toxic relationship?Recently, the Palestinian Prisoners Affairs Commission has reported that since 1967, there have been approximately one million arrests of Palestinians by the IOF. More than 50,000 of these arrests are children. I would like to also add that a generous amount of these Palestinian prisoners died as a result of torture, medical negligence, and there are those who have been murdered by the IOF after they have been released from prison.In today's episode,  I sit down with Lara who is a Palestinian-American International lawyer and the cohost of the Palestine Pod which is a weekly podcast that breaks down the latest Palestine related news with the aim of supporting Palestinian liberation, justice and equality on the ground and in exile.In this discussion, Lara mentions how her friend Iyad Burnat was unable to record a podcast episode with her because the IOF raided his home and kidnapped his two sons. And when I say raided, I mean that the IOF destroyed everything in sight. While Lara and I were recording this episode, Iyad was unaware of the location of his children. But as of today there has been an update and unfortunately the discovery of his sons whereabouts should have brought him relief, but instead it brought on more heartache.This is because both of his sons are being held in one of the worst military prisons in the world and it's located in Jerusalem. This prison is infamous for its torture methods and it's purpose is to extract false confessions and place ludicrous charges against Palestinians.I hope that you can keep the Burnat family and every other Palestinian family in your prayers and most importantly try your best to amplify their stories and their voices.Just recently I had come across this following statement:'It is a miraculous feat of propaganda that an occupying army convinced so many that it is the victim of the people it is occupying.'Not only are the IOF terrorizing Palestinian families but they are also brutally attacking our journalists in order to further suppress the truth, while the world continues to turn a blind eye.In this discussion, Lara also covers the myth of coexistence, 'Israel's' blatant intentions to separate Palestinians from one another, the importance of using the correct terminology when it comes to what is unfolding in Palestine and 'Israel's' racist and discriminatory laws.Enjoy and follow the pod on Instagram:@unsweetenedandunfilteredFollow Lara  on Instagram:@gazangirlTune into the Palestine Pod here:Palestine Pod

In today’s episode we speak with Rasha Budeiri about the current situation in Palestine. Rasha tells us her very personal story of growing up in her family home in the neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah — one of the 28 houses that the Israeli side is trying to expropriate — and about her day to day experience of living under occupation. Other topics that we touch on include the current living conditions in Gaza and the West Bank, the historical roots of the current situation, the 73th anniversary of the Nakba, the stance of the Palestinian people towards Fatah and Hamas, and the changing tides of traditional media, social media, and public opinion. The discussion ends with a note on the BDS movement and ways in which we can stand in solidarity with, and take action in support of, the Palestianian liberation struggles, according to each’s capacities and possibilities. Re(Sources) Forced expulsions in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of Jerusalem https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/1/what-is-happening-in-occupied-east-jerusalems-sheikh-jarrah https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/11/sheikh-jarrah-residents-speak-out-on-israels-forced-expulsions Israel targeting media outlets in Gaza (15 May) https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/15/building-housing-al-jazeeera-office-in-gaza-hit-by-israeli-strike https://cpj.org/2021/05/israeli-air-strikes-destroy-buildings-housing-more-than-a-dozen-media-outlets-in-gaza/ Associated Press executive editor calls for independent inquiry into Israel’s claim that media building hosted Hamas assets (17 May) https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/17/gaza-bombing-ap-chief-independent-inquiry-al-jalaa Referenced NYT article (15 May) https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/15/world/middleeast/associated-press-gaza-israel-airstrike-media.html Transcript of US President Joseph R. Biden's call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in which the American chief of state supports “Israel’s right to defend itself” (15 May) https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/05/15/readout-of-president-joseph-r-biden-jr-call-with-prime-minister-benjamin-netanyahu-of-israel-3/ The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement https://www.bdsmovement.net/call Example of protest against Israel’s attacks, one of the many around the world (15 May) https://www.itv.com/news/2021-05-15/thousands-march-in-free-palestine-protest-in-london-as-gaza-violence-continues US administration approves $735m weapons sale to Israel (17 May) https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/05/17/power-up-biden-administration-approves-735-million-weapons-sale-israel-raising-red-flags-some-house-democrats/ [sometimes asks for subscription] Israel to keep strikes at ‘full force’, says Netanyahu (17 May) https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-57131272 Israel’s hard right turn (2020) https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium.MAGAZINE-losing-hope-for-change-top-left-wing-activists-and-scholars-leave-israel-behind-1.8864499 [sometimes asks for subscription] artwork by Alis Balogh intro/outro song: Mesh Ma’ Enno by Makimakkuk https://soundcloud.com/makimakkuk https://open.spotify.com/artist/1foIEikUEDSL8sCj5BLFcv https://www.youtube.com/user/starmakan Further reading/listening Ilan Pappé, "The ethnic cleansing of Palestine" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYIyEEYogNM&t=835s Episode on The Palestine Pod (podcast) with Palestinian-American scholar Steven Salaita on decolonization in Palestine & North America https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jeS5VKEps4 Norman Finkelstein, on apartheid in Israel (Connections Podcast episode) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmfsJAF8ujc Noam Chomsky: Israel and Palestine (lecture) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUsXt8TmVfU

This week we are joined by Israeli-American author, activist, and speaker Miko Peled. Author of The General's Son and Injustice, Miko Peled reflects on his path from growing up the son of an Israeli war general in as "strong of a zionist family as you could possibly have" to becoming an anti-zionist activist for Palestinian rights, and supporter of BDS and the creation of one democratic state with equal rights for all in historic Palestine. Miko dismantles the myth that there can be a liberal zionism concluding "there never was, there never is, and there never can be a good version of a racist ideology" and that "zionism is a form of neo-fascism." The Palestine Pod sends its solidarity to Palestinians in Jerusalem who are currently resisting expulsion from their homes and racist violence by Israelis and Miko refers to the "Judaization of Jerusalem" as "ethnic cleansing 101" and warns that Israel is hell-bent on destroying Jerusalem, an ancient city and its Muslim holy sites. Miko reveals the antisemitic origins of the Zionist movement. Lara commends a recent episode of Miko's podcast which shed light on demonstrated attempts by the zionist lobbies to suffocate Palestinian history by infiltrating the US K-12 educational system and intimidating teachers who dare depart from pro-zionist lesson plans. Miko offers a word of advice to Palestinians in the diaspora who encounter Israeli intelligence at the airport or crossings when trying to visit Palestine.

This week Amer Zahr joins the Palestine Pod and tells us how he uses comedy as a means of expression, advocacy for Palestinian rights, healing, and art. He shares with us some of his comedy icons and admits what he really thinks about white male comedians (sorry Michael). Commenting on the recent storming of the capitol and attempted coup of the US, Amer contemplates how “unbelievably awesome” whiteness is. Amer reflects on his viral video “Akhaduha Mafroosheh” (Arabic for "they took it fully furnished" referring to the Zionist takeover of Palestine as the theft of a fully furnished land, society, and culture) including scenes that did not make it into the final cut. Amer tells us what “Akhaduha Mafroosheh” meant to his family by describing the displacement of his mother's family from Akka, Palestine: “Israel is a lot more than ethnic cleansing. It is ethnic replacement. They literally moved into our grandparents' houses.” By relying on the findings of researchers Ronald Ranta and Yonatan Mendel, Lara dispels the common myth that dishes claimed by “Israeli cuisine” like hummus, falafel, and knafeh are the gifts of Mizrahi Jews coming to Israel from Yemen and Iraq. In fact, these foods were taken from the local indigenous Palestinians who were eating these foods on the land of Palestine for centuries upon centuries. As Amer says, “it's not that hard. Go to a Israeli hummus place […] and then go to a Palestinian hummus place in Ramallah and […] they taste pretty much the same and guess what - the Ramallah guy has been there for 200 years and the Tel Aviv guy just got there. So you figure it out. They are copying our hummus […] the food of the land and of course they are.” Lara asks Amer to tell us some of his favorite Palestinian food memories from his “older than Israel” grandmother. A fierce bamya debate breaks out between Lara and Amer (thanks Michael).  

Lara and Michael welcome you to The Palestine Pod! Lara discusses her family's history and origins from Yaffa and Gaza, Palestine including how her family became stateless refugees, the broader history of the Palestinian struggle including the expulsion of the majority of the Palestinian population in 1948 as a result of the establishment of the state of Israel on top of historic Palestine, Israel's ongoing land theft of Palestinian land as well as its oppressive system of apartheid, occupation, and siege which continue until today. Lara reflects on her college activist years and the path that led to her pursuing a career as an international lawyer focusing on refugee rights. Michael focuses on his experience growing up in a pro-Israel Jewish household and his evolution to becoming an anti-Zionist including his realization that Israel was an apartheid state, involvement in campus activism, and absurd encounters with his former IDF frat brothers. Lara and Michael explain the difference between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism and the weaponization of the latter in order to suppress any discussion of the very harmful consequences of the implementation of the Zionist project in Palestine: the creation of the world's largest refugee population (8 million Palestinian refugees today out of a global population of 13 million people), the majority of whom remain stateless and prevented from returning to their land by Israel as well as the daily deprivation of rights by Israel of the Palestinians who continue to live in historic Palestine (whether in Israel, the West Bank, or Gaza).