Palestine Debrief (Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East)
Explorez tous les épisodes de Palestine Debrief
| Date | Titre | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03 Feb 2022 | Talking to Amnesty about their Apartheid Report (w/ Nihad Ben Salah) | 00:51:54 | |
Earlier this week, Amnesty International published a landmark study concluding that Israel maintains an apartheid regime of oppression and domination over the Palestinian people as a whole. To dive further into this report, Michael and Tom are joined by Nihad Ben Salah of Amnistie internationale canada francophone, who shares with us insight into the motivations behind this report, and what it will mean for Amnesty’s work going forward.
Links from this podcast:
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| 08 Feb 2022 | Can you run for office and support Palestinian human rights? (w/ Shameela Shakeel) | 00:57:45 | |
Many Canadians contemplate running for political office one day. But what if supporting Palestinian human rights automatically disqualifies you from running for a political party? Newmarket education advocate Shameela Shakeel thought she’d be a great fit as a nominee for the Liberal Party in Ontario’s May election. But despite her long-time community activism for public education and her deep roots in the riding, in the eyes of the Ontario Liberal Party, her support for Palestinian human rights seems to have been a disqualifying issue. Shameela joins the conversation today to talk about her experiences.
Links from this podcast:
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| 14 Feb 2022 | Reaction: CJPME ‘infiltrates’ pro-Israel lobby’s webinar on Amnesty’s Apartheid report | 01:01:08 | |
Even before Amnesty published its report on Israeli Apartheid, Canada’s pro-Israel groups were dismissing it as antisemitic. But what are they saying now? Yesterday, CJPME ‘infiltrated’ CIJA’s “Has Amnesty International Lost its Way?” webinar to hear whether Amnesty’s report had caused any serious reflection among Israel’s supporters. Unfortunately, the session was an echo chamber of denial and dismissal. In this episode, Tom and Michael respond to the ludicrous claims and misinformation presented in this recent anti-Amnesty webinar.
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| 17 Feb 2022 | Enduring political purgatory for supporting Palestinian human rights (w/ Rana Zaman) | 00:49:39 | |
In 2019, the NDP removed Rana Zaman as a federal election candidate over her tweets defending Palestinians during the 2018 Gaza March of Return. Although Rana took responsibility for the comments she made, and although she was approved to run for the Greens in 2021, she continues to face attempts to ostracize her from the public conversation. Rana joins the conversation today to talk about her experiences as a community activist and political candidate.
Links from this podcast:
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| 28 Feb 2022 | Canada’s Ukraine response highlights extreme double-standard on Palestine | 00:57:09 | |
Canada’s reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last week has been prompt, forceful, and wide-ranging. But there are obvious similarities between Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and Israel’s aggression against the Palestinians, raising questions about the consistency of Canada’s foreign policy. In this episode, Tom and Michael examine Canada’s response to Russia’s invasion and explore the double-standard evident in how it responds to Israel’s violence, occupation, and annexation against Palestinians. Links from this podcast:
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| 02 Mar 2022 | BDS Victory at the University of Toronto (w/ Moe Alqasem) | 00:46:13 | |
There was a major BDS victory in February when the University of Toronto Students’ Association, one of the largest student unions in the country, passed a motion in support of divesting from companies that are complicit in the Israeli occupation. Tom and Michael are joined by Moe Alqasem of the Palestinian Youth Movement to discuss the vote and what it says about the state of the solidarity movement on campus today.
Links from this podcast:
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| 04 Mar 2022 | If only Palestine benefitted from the media's treatment of Ukraine | 00:41:02 | |
In the first few hours of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, many media commentators expressed disbelief that war could emerge again in Europe. War, these commentators seemed to suggest, was something that only happened in "impoverished and remote populations" in places "like Iraq" or "areas in North Africa." But the media's bias against the Middle East – especially Palestine – goes far beyond the naïve blunders of on-air commentators. In this episode, Tom and Michael compare the media's coverage of Ukraine to that of Palestine and uncover all manner of ironies and double standards.
Links from this podcast:
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| 09 Mar 2022 | Lobby Roundup: B'nai Brith Canada patrols the Facebook likes of Montreal City Councillors! | 00:42:07 | |
In this episode, Tom and Michael discuss some of the recent outrageous claims, assertions, campaigns and complaints of pro-Israel lobby group B'nai Brith Canada. We start with a ridiculous announcement suggesting that the Canadian government is falling over itself to fund “antisemitic NGOs” at home and abroad. Next, we turn to a story where they are literally trying to police the Facebook likes of Montreal city councillors. Following that, we take some time to look at their report which supposedly debunks the whole raison d’être of the UN’s Commission of Inquiry. And finally, we touch on a story where they claim that the UofT Graduate Student Union has suffered a humiliating defeat for holding firm in support of BDS.
Links from this podcast:
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| 14 Mar 2022 | Decolonize Palestine (w/ Rawan and Fathi) | 01:03:37 | |
Anyone who has spent time arguing about Israel and Palestine on the internet knows that there is a lot of misinformation out there, which aims to obscure the reality of Israeli apartheid and settler-colonialism. In this episode, Tom and Michael are joined by Rawan and Fathi, the creators of the fantastic resource website “Decolonize Palestine,” to talk about fighting the social media war, what decolonization means for Palestine, and to debunk some of our favourite pro-Israel myths. You can follow Rawan on Twitter at @RiverToSea48, and Fathi at @AManInTheSun.
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| 24 Mar 2022 | Israel’s war on children (w/ Defense for Children International - Palestine) | 01:01:22 | |
For Palestinian children under occupation, last year was the most violent since 2014. From bullets, to tear-gas, to arbitrary arrests, and early morning raids, there are many features of Israel’s brutal military occupation which make Palestine unsafe for children. Defense for Children International – Palestine (DCIP) is an NGO which has been documenting Israeli abuses and advocating for the rights of children since 1991, and which was recently outlawed by the Israeli government. On this episode, Tom and Michael are joined by DCIP’s Brad Parker and Shaina Low to learn more about Israel’s war on children and their advocates.
Links from this podcast:
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| 28 Mar 2022 | Together Against Apartheid (w/ Independent Jewish Voices Canada) | 00:53:25 | |
Independent Jewish Voices Canada (IJV) has been campaigning for Palestinian rights and against Israeli apartheid since 2008. In March, they ramped up these efforts with a focused new campaign called “Together Against Apartheid,” which hopes to build on the momentum of Amnesty’s recent apartheid report. Tom and Michael are joined by IJV’s Corey Balsam and Louise Smith to discuss the campaign, and how Canadians can get involved.
Links from this podcast:
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| 01 Apr 2022 | Will Palestinians ever have a place in the Canadian Museum for Human Rights? (w/ Candice Bodnaruk) | 00:40:24 | |
Since its construction on a First Nations historical site, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg has been mired in controversy. Throughout its brief history, interest groups have clamoured for influence over the content of the museum's galleries, and the colonial dispossession of Palestinians from their land is just one of many human rights atrocities which has been ignored by the museum's content developers. Will a museum scandal in 2020 precipitate change, or will the museum continue to be dominated by a perspective reflecting white privilege and special interests? Journalist Candice Bodnaruk – who has followed the story for years – joins us for the conversation.
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| 12 Apr 2022 | Michael Lynk reflects on Israeli apartheid and his tenure as UN Special Rapporteur | 01:00:11 | |
Canadian lawyer Michael Lynk served as the UN's "Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights in the [occupied] Palestinian territories" from 2016 to 2022.. During his mandate Lynk faced intense criticism from pro-Israel voices, and Israel banned him from even visiting occupied Palestine. Nonetheless, he distinguished himself remarkably over his six-year term, and just issued a final report concluding that Israel is practicing apartheid. As his tenure comes to an end, Tom and Michael chat with Lynk about his most recent report, and his experiences overall as UN Special Rapporteur.
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| 14 Apr 2022 | Shining a light on Canada's expanding arms trade with Israel | 00:35:34 | |
Tom and Michael discuss CJPME’s new report on Canada’s arms exports to Israel, and the alarming possibility that Canadian-made weapons may be contributing to violent and illegal Israeli practices. We break down what we know (and what we don’t know) about Canada’s arms exports to Israel, talk about recent trends from a historical perspective, and explain why an embargo on military trade is so necessary. | |||
| 21 Apr 2022 | Are people thinking differently about Israel and Palestine? (w/ Prof. Will Youmans) | 00:46:41 | |
Prof. William Lafi Youmans from George Washington University joins the discussion today as we talk about the image of Israel and the Palestinians in media and public opinion, and how this is changing. Together we talk through the ways in which the public discourse on Palestine-Israel is changing, and the forces pushing it one way or another. We also address the ways in which grassroots groups can help to shape the media discourse, and why the public debate is often resistant to change. Links from this podcast:
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| 22 Apr 2022 | Why did Amnesty start talking about Apartheid? (w/ Saleh Hijazi of Amnesty International) | 00:55:17 | |
It has been nearly three months since Amnesty International published their landmark report on Israel’s apartheid against the Palestinians. In this episode, Michael and Tom are joined by Saleh Hijazi, who leads Amnesty’s office in Jerusalem. We talk about why Amnesty came to the conclusion of apartheid, the threats they’ve faced from the Israeli government, and what ‘apartheid’ has to do with Israel’s current attacks at the Al-Aqsa mosque. Links from this podcast:
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| 29 Apr 2022 | Let's talk about anti-Arab racism in Canada (w/ Dania Majid) | 00:58:28 | |
In 2021, CJPME co-published the first national survey on anti-Arab racism in Canada, in collaboration with the Arab-Canadian Lawyers Association (ACLA) and the Canadian Arab Federation. In this episode, Dania Majid, president of the ACLA joins us to talk about the survey and what it says about the insidious problem of racism against Arab-Canadians. Together we discuss both high-level data and personal examples of how this racism undermines the lives and prospects of Canada's Arab community.
Links from this podcast:
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do. | |||
| 09 May 2022 | Introducing Nur Watad and the All Things Palestinian Canadian Podcast | 00:36:36 | |
In this episode, we are joined by Nur Watad, a Palestinian Canadian living in London Ontario who is also the host of the brand new CJPME podcast “All Things Palestinian Canadian.” Tom and Michael speak to Nur about her vision for ATPC, and why it is important to provide a platform for discussions of Palestinian-Canadian identity, history, and culture. We also hear about Nur’s experiences growing up in Jerusalem on both sides of the Green Line, and discuss why Palestinian culture can’t be separated from politics.
Links from this podcast:
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| 16 May 2022 | Niki Ashton on why the NDP must be a champion for Palestinian human rights | 00:48:52 | |
Among Canadian politicians, NDP MP Niki Ashton has been one of the most consistent voices in support of Palestinian rights. Ashton joins Michael and Tom to talk about why it is important for her to challenge Canada’s complicity in Israeli apartheid. We also discuss what it was like trying to advocate for Palestine under the pro-Israel leadership of Tom Mulcair, assess whether the position of the NDP has improved in recent years, and hear why international solidarity is so necessary.
Links from this podcast:
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| 19 May 2022 | Omar Shakir of Human Rights Watch on the apartheid consensus and being deported from Israel | 00:46:54 | |
One year ago, Human Rights Watch published a landmark report on Israeli apartheid. On this episode Michael is joined by Omar Shakir, HRW’s Israel and Palestine director, to reflect on the reactions to that report and the growing international consensus on apartheid. In addition, we talk about his experience of being deported by Israel, documenting Israeli war crimes in Gaza, and the how killing of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh demonstrates Israel’s pattern of violence against journalists.
Links from this podcast:
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| 23 May 2022 | Legal victory against wine from illegal Israeli settlements (w/ David Kattenburg and Dimitri Lascarus) | 00:45:50 | |
In a legal victory this month, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) ruled that “Product of Israel” labels on wine from illegal Israeli settlements are “false” and violate Canadian consumer protection law. On this episode, Michael is joined by David Kattenburg and lawyer Dimitri Lascaris, who have led this multiple-year legal battle against settlement wine. We talk about what the legal decision means, the challenges ahead to get accurate labeling, and the importance of ending trade with illegal settlements altogether.
Links from this podcast:
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| 03 Jun 2022 | McGill can’t destroy student solidarity with Palestine (w/ SPHR McGill) | 00:40:11 | |
Earlier this year, McGill students won a major victory when a campus referendum passed by 71% to adopt a Palestine Solidarity Policy. Almost immediately, however, this decision was suppressed by university administrators and the student association. In this episode, Michael is joined by members of Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR McGill) to discuss their recent victory, and how they are dealing with McGill’s attempts to crush student activism.
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| 09 Jun 2022 | Islamophobia and the 9/11 Generation (w/ Jasmin Zine) | 01:11:31 | |
On this episode, Michael and Tom are joined by Jasmin Zine to talk about her new book on Islamophobia and the 9/11 generation. We discuss how Islamophobia is more than just “fear” or “hate” towards Muslims, and why we should understand it as a “structure of oppression.” We also talk about the surveillance that Muslims students face on campus, the gendered nature of Islamophobia, and evaluate whether Canada is doing enough to address white supremacist and anti-Muslim violence.
Links from this podcast:
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| 13 Jul 2022 | Palestine Solidarity in Canada: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats | 00:46:47 | |
Two months ago, Fernwood Publishing announced a new book, Advocating for Palestine in Canada: one of the first-ever books about Palestinian solidarity work in Canada. Tom Woodley, one of Debrief’s regular hosts wrote a chapter in the book discussing the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that lie before the Palestinian solidarity movement in Canada. With Michael on vacation, our podcast engineer Madeleine Moffatt takes the microphone to interview Tom about his chapter, and to explore the potential opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for the movement. Links from this podcast: Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do. | |||
| 20 Oct 2022 | Unveiling the Chilly Climate: The Suppression of Speech on Palestine in Canada (w/ Independent Jewish Voices) | 00:58:17 | |
On this episode, Michael and Tom are joined by Sheryl Nestel and Rowan Gaudet of Independent Jewish Voices Canada to talk about their new report on the suppression of speech on Palestine on Canadian campuses. We look at how pro-Israel groups have used harassment and intimidation against pro-Palestine academics to create a “chilly” atmosphere for debate. We talk about how students have been affected by these attacks and discuss the role of the controversial IHRA definition of antisemitism in suppressing speech. Links from this podcast: Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do. | |||
| 26 Oct 2022 | ATIP Documents Reveal What Canada’s Foreign Affairs Experts REALLY Think About Canada’s Pro-Israel Record at the UN | 00:49:46 | |
Tom and Michael discuss a recent report authored by Michael and its implications for upcoming votes on Palestinian human rights at the United Nations General Assembly. The report, based on documents obtained through an access to information request, found that Canada’s career foreign affairs officials are highly critical of Canada’s staunchly pro-Israel record, and have been pushing for a change in the government’s approach. We break down the report’s findings and what they say about Canada and its reputation on the international stage.
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| 02 Nov 2022 | Canadian media and pro-Israel bias (w/ Davide Mastracci) | 00:58:04 | |
Is Canadian media biased towards Israel and against Palestinians? Where does bias come from, and how can we challenge it? On this episode, Michael and Tom are joined by Passage’s Davide Mastracci, author of a chapter on Canadian media and pro-Israel bias in the book Advocating for Palestine in Canada (Fernwood, 2022). We talk about the role of journalists, editors, corporate owners, and lobby groups in pushing media coverage to be favourable to Israel, and how these factors undermine reporting on Israel’s human rights abuses.
Links from this podcast:
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do. | |||
| 07 Nov 2022 | From South Africa to Israel: How apartheid states try to deflect criticism | 00:45:09 | |
Last spring, Fernwood Publishing announced a new book, Advocating for Palestine in Canada: one of the first-ever books about Palestinian solidarity work in Canada. Michael Bueckert, one of Debrief’s regular hosts wrote a chapter in the book looking at how Israel seeks to deflect and dismiss criticisms of its oppressive and apartheid practices. This subject matter is also the focus of Michael’s PhD dissertation. Join us as Michael discusses his chapter, and learn how today’s apologists for Israel take an approach eerily similar to that taken by apologists for apartheid South Africa.
Links from this podcast:
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| 15 Nov 2022 | The Islamophobia Industry in Canada (w/ Jasmin Zine) | 01:05:29 | |
What and who are the main drivers of anti-Muslim hate in Canada? On this episode, Michael and Tom are joined by Jasmin Zine, author of a new report on the Canadian “Islamophobia Industry.” We talk about some of the key organizations, personalities, and discourses responsible for perpetuating anti-Muslim hate in Canada, and how the connections between them form an ecosystem of hate. As part of this discussion, we will look at the role of certain fringe-right, pro-Israel and anti-Palestinian voices in spreading Islamophobic views.
Links from this podcast:
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do. | |||
| 23 Nov 2022 | Will Calgary cancel its contract with apartheid? (w/ Saba Amro and Annette Lengyel) | 00:31:44 | |
In this episode, we are joined by Saba Amro and Annette Lengyel, two Calgary-based activists who have been at the forefront of pressuring Calgary to cancel a contract with Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) – a Spanish/Basque company which is unethically involved in a $2.5 billion CDN contract to expand Jerusalem Light Rail (JLR) network. Join us as we discuss Calgary’s contract with apartheid, and how Calgary’s Palestinian solidarity groups are trying to bring it to an end.
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| 30 Nov 2022 | Report from Palestine: CJPME’s eyewitness account of Israeli apartheid | 00:53:29 | |
CJPME’s Michael Bueckert recently returned from a two-week trip to Palestine-Israel. During his time there, Bueckert met with dozens of Palestinian community leaders and organizations, politicians, youth activists, business leaders, and academics. He also visited current hotspots including Sheikh Jarrah, the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and Jenin, as well as unrecognized Bedouin villages in the Naqab. Get an update from Palestine as Bueckert shares his observations, and ponders what the future may hold for Palestine, Israel, and Canada.
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| 16 Dec 2022 | How dangerous is Israel’s new far-right government? (w/ Natasha Roth-Rowland of +972 Magazine) | 00:56:13 | |
On November 1st, Israelis completed their fifth election in four years, returning Benjamin Netanyahu to power with the support of extreme, far-right figures who are about to play a major role in the emerging coalition government. Although negotiations to form the government are still underway, it is commonly said that this may be Israel’s most far-right government in history. On this episode, we are joined by Natasha Roth-Rowland of +972 Magazine to break down the election, introduce us to the key players, and reflect on the impact that this may have on the lives of Palestinians under apartheid. Links from this podcast:
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| 20 Dec 2022 | Liberating Palestine (w/ Ramzy Baroud and Ilan Pappé) | 00:43:31 | |
On this episode, Tom and Michael are joined by Ramzy Baroud and Ilan Pappé, co-editors of the book “Our Vision for Liberation: Engaged Palestinian Leaders and Intellectuals Speak Out.” In their new book, they bring together a diverse group of Palestinian voices – from filmmakers to religious figures to politicians and more – to share their own experiences and perspectives on the way forward for Palestine. We discuss the meaning of Palestinian liberation and decolonization, why the May 2021 uprising continues to be a source of optimism, and whether there’s a growing consensus among Palestinians about the need for a one-state solution. Links from this podcast:
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do. | |||
| 02 Feb 2023 | War Crimes in Jenin (w/ UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese) | 01:03:28 | |
On this episode, Michael is joined by Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967. We talk about Israel’s recent deadly attack on the Jenin refugee camp and why she believes these actions violate international law. We also talk about apartheid, settler-colonialism, and what we can expect to see from the UN’s Commission of Inquiry and the International Court of Justice, both of which are investigating Israel’s occupation. Links from this podcast: Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do. | |||
| 09 Feb 2023 | BMO’s Apartheid Loan (w/ Emma Paling of The Breach) | 00:23:20 | |
On this episode, Michael is joined by Emma Paling of the Breach to talk about the recent discovery that the Bank of Montreal (BMO) gave a $90m loan to Israel’s largest weapons company Elbit Systems. We discuss Elbit’s human rights record, Canada’s own contracts for military technology from Elbit, and why some investors have decided to divest from the company. Links from this podcast:
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do. | |||
| 15 Feb 2023 | How University Partnerships with Israel Harm Academic Freedom (w/ Dyala Hamzah and Jillian Rogin) | 00:47:39 | |
Last summer, a number of Canadian university presidents participated in a controversial trip to Israel, for the purpose of building partnerships between Canadian and Israeli universities. The trip, which was organized by a major pro-Israel lobby group, has sparked major concerns over the possible impact on human rights and academic freedom. On this episode, Michael is joined by faculty members Dyala Hamzah and Jillian Rogin to talk about what we know about the delegation, how Israeli universities are complicit in oppression, and how Israel restricts academic freedom for Palestinians. Links from this podcast:
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| 21 Feb 2023 | Canada ignores its own warnings on Israel (w/ Alex Cosh of The Maple) | 00:42:59 | |
Is the Trudeau government ignoring warnings from its diplomats about Israel’s human rights abuses? On this episode, Michael is joined by Alex Cosh of the Maple to discuss his ongoing reporting on what Canadian officials are saying behind the scenes, and how that often conflicts with Canada’s public statements. We talk about Canada’s warm reception to Israel’s far-right government, its reaction to Israel’s 2022 attack on Gaza, and how it stopped pushing for accountability over Israel’s assassination of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. Links from this podcast:
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| 07 Mar 2023 | Palestinian Liberation through Tatreez, with Wafa Ghnaim | 00:52:50 | |
In this episode of "Debrief," we introduce you to the other CJPME podcast: "All Things Palestinian Canadian." Focused on the lives and experiences of Palestinians in the diaspora, "All Things Palestinian Canadian" (ATPC) has interviewed Palestinian authors, filmmakers, artists, and more. In this episode, ATPC speaks with Wafa Ghnaim, an award-winning Palestinian researcher, educator, author and expert in Tatreez living in Washington, DC. Her book, titled, Tatreez and Tea: Embroidery and Storytelling in the Diaspora was published in 2018 and documents the stories and meanings behind the Palestinian embroidery motifs that were handed down to Wafa by her mother, Feryal Abbasi Ghnaim, an award-winning artist herself. Join us as Wafa shares the story of moving from embroidery circles with her mother and aunts, to being the first ever Palestinian embroidery instructor at the Smithsonian Museum. Links: Wafa’s Tatreez and Solidarity Website, https://www.tatreezandtea.com/ Buy Wafa’s book, Tatreez and Tea: Embroidery and Storytelling in the Daspora Article about Wafa Ghnaim in Vogue Magazine Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do. | |||
| 10 Mar 2023 | Weekly Round-Up: Huwara Pogrom, Senator Trip to Israel, Kufiyah Ban at Halifax School | 00:41:36 | |
In this news round-up episode, Tom and Michael discuss several important recent developments: Canada expresses concern about the settler pogrom on the Palestinian town of Huwara; Canadian senators meet with a far-right member of the Israeli Knesset; and a Halifax school bans students from wearing the Kufiyah, in an incident of anti-Palestinian racism. Links from this podcast: · CJPME: Canada must hold Israel responsible for settler terror (Feb 27) · CJPME: Senate delegation to Israel raises human rights concerns (March 1) · CJPME: Halifax School Board must apologize for incident of anti-Palestinian racism | |||
| 17 Mar 2023 | Weekly Round-Up: Smear campaign against Sarah Jama; Pushing for media accountability on Palestine-Israel | 00:38:08 | |
In this news round-up episode, Tom and Michael discuss two important recent developments: The smear campaign against progressive Ontario NDP candidate Sarah Jama over her support for Palestinian human rights, and a new initiative from CJPME to demand great accountability of Canadian media in their news coverage of Palestine-Israel. Links from this podcast:
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do. | |||
| 29 Mar 2023 | Visualizing Palestine (w/ Aline Batarseh) | 00:50:33 | |
What is data storytelling? How do we shift the dominant narrative on Palestine? On this episode, we are joined by Aline Batarseh, Executive Director of Visualizing Palestine. We discuss the work of Visualizing Palestine, its successes, its challenges, its new strategic plan, international solidarity, and the importance of shifting the narrative toward justice. Links from this podcast: · Visualizing Palestine’s main website · Visualizing Palestine 101 · VP’s Palestinian Journeys · VP’s Growth of a Movement Timeline · VP’s Palestine Open Maps
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| 14 Apr 2023 | Weekly Round-Up: Al-Aqsa attack – Canada’s response; Bob Rae comment; Gaza Farm Aid Project | 00:43:10 | |
In this news round-up episode, Reem joins Tom and Michael to discuss last week’s attack on Palestinian worshippers in the Al-Aqsa compound, and how Canada responded. They’ll also talk about an interesting comment by Canada’s ambassador to the UN, and a recent humanitarian initiative for Gaza’s struggling farmers. Links from this podcast:
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| 05 May 2023 | 75th Anniversary of the Nakba (Webinar with Zochrot) | 00:53:12 | |
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Nakba (“catastrophe” in Arabic), when more than 700,000 Palestinians were forcibly expelled from their homes and country during the creation of Israel. To mark this occasion, CJPME and the Ottawa Forum on Israel Palestine recently hosted a webinar with Umar al-Ghubari and Rachel Beitarie, co-directors of Zochrot, a Jaffa-based organization which is dedicated to exposing the truth about the Nakba in Israeli society and promoting the right of return for refugees. This podcast episode features an excerpt from that webinar. Links from this podcast: · Full video recording of the webinar (April 16, 2023) · Support Zochrot’s crowdfunding campaign Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do. | |||
| 31 May 2023 | The Palestine Laboratory (w/ Antony Loewenstein) | 00:55:03 | |
In this episode, Michael and Reem are joined by Antony Loewenstein to discuss his latest book, The Palestine Laboratory: How Israel Exports the Technology of Occupation Around the World. We discuss how Israel’s arms industry uses the occupied Palestinian territories as a testing ground for weaponry and surveillance technology that it then exports around the world. We also discuss the censorship of Palestinians and their allies by social media companies and the growing impact of direct action campaigns against Israeli weapons manufacturers like Elbit Systems. Links from this podcast: · Buy Antony's book The Palestine Laboratory: How Israel Exports the Technology of Occupation Around the World · Antony's website and Twitter · Palestine Action in the UK #ShutElbitDown Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do. | |||
| 15 Jun 2023 | Bridging Palestine with the world (w/ Inès Abdel Razek of the Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy) | 00:44:43 | |
In this episode, Michael is joined by Inès Abdel Razek, Executive Director of the Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy (PIPD), an independent Palestinian organization focused on international mobilization and digital campaigning for Justice, Freedom and Equality. We discuss the work of PIPD and Palestine Virtual Reality, trends in Palestinian solidarity since May 2021, and what Palestinians think of Israel’s far-right government. Links from this podcast:
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do. If you can, rate us and write a nice review if you like what you hear. It helps other people find our podcast and learn about the issues. Here are the instructions on how to find, rate, review and share the podcast on eight different platforms: Apple, Spotify, Google, TuneIn, Deezer, Stitcher, Pocket Casts, and iHeartRadio. | |||
| 21 Jun 2023 | Settler-Colonial Violence in Occupied Palestine (w/ Jalal Abukhater) | 00:47:24 | |
In this episode, Michael is joined by Jalal Abukhater, a Palestinian writer and activist based in Jerusalem, to discuss settler-colonial violence and dispossession in occupied Palestine. We discuss Israel’s attacks on the Palestinian presence in Jerusalem, Israel’s repeated military invasions in the West Bank (including this week’s deadly attack on Jenin), and Palestinian armed resistance. Links from this podcast:
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do. If you can, rate us and write a nice review if you like what you hear. It helps other people find our podcast and learn about the issues. Here are the instructions on how to find, rate, review and share the podcast on eight different platforms: Apple, Spotify, Google, TuneIn, Deezer, Stitcher, Pocket Casts, and iHeartRadio. | |||
| 22 Aug 2023 | Defending the Right to Boycott (w/Ben Jamal, Director of Palestine Solidarity Campaign) | 00:48:00 | |
In this episode, Michael is joined by Ben Jamal, Director of Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) in the UK. They discuss the anti-boycott bill currently being pushed by the British conservative government, how it poses a threat to freedom of speech and expression, and how civil society is fighting back to defend the ‘right to boycott.’ Links from this podcast: Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do. If you can, rate us and write a nice review if you like what you hear. It helps other people find our podcast and learn about the issues. Here are the instructions on how to find, rate, review and share the podcast on eight different platforms: Apple, Spotify, Google, TuneIn, Deezer, Stitcher, Pocket Casts, and iHeartRadio. | |||
| 31 Aug 2023 | Resisting Apartheid in Masafer Yatta (w/ Basel Adra and Daniel Roth) | 00:46:13 | |
In this episode, Michael is joined by Palestinian journalist and activist Basel Adra, and Daniel Roth of the Centre for Jewish Nonviolence, to discuss Israel’s plans to expel more than 1,000 Palestinians from their homes in Masafer Yatta. We hear about what is happening on the ground, and discuss the role of journalism and international solidarity in challenging dispossession and apartheid. Links from this podcast:
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| 06 Oct 2023 | Fargo Tbakhi: Envisioning a future Palestine | 00:55:25 | |
In this episode, Tom is joined by Fargo Tbakhi, a queer Palestinian American writer and performance artist based in Washington D.C. and winner of 2018 Ghassan Kanafani Resistance Arts Prize. His writings have been published in various literary publications including The Berkeley Review. He is also the recipient of several fellowships. Fargo’s writings and performances challenge notions of erasure and colonization and propose a reality of a free and unoccupied Palestine. Links: Subscribe to this podcast and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do. | |||
| 28 Sep 2023 | Ahmed Masoud: Amplifying Palestinian voices | 00:50:04 | |
In this episode, Rafeef, Tayla, and Tom are joined by Ahmed Masoud, Gaza-born Palestinian writer, director, and academic based in the United Kingdom. Ahmed is the author of Come What May and Vanished which address issues in Gazan society, as well as in broader trends in Palestinian history. Ahmed has also directed a number of plays and is the co-founder of PalArt, a collective initiative aimed at promoting Palestinian voices and content in the arts and media. Listen in as we learn about Ahmed’s interest in creative writing and his efforts to amplify Palestinian voices. Links:
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| 15 Sep 2023 | Ussama Makdisi: Narrating our Middle Eastern History | 00:49:17 | |
In this episode, Rafeef, Tayla, and Tom are joined Dr. Ussama Makdisi, Palestinian-American scholar and academic, currently a Professor of History and Chancellor’s Chair at the University of California Berkeley. Dr Makdisi is the author of several books and publications on sectarianism, Ottoman and Arab history, US-Arab relations, and US missionary work in the Middle East. Listen in as we discuss Dr. Makdisi’s achievements and contributions to Middle-Eastern history, Arab identity and issues around Palestine-Israel. Links:
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| 02 Aug 2023 | Chris Gazaleh: Palestinian-American Muralist & Activist | 00:45:36 | |
In this episode, Rafeef, Tayla, and Tom are joined by Chris Gazaleh, Palestinian-American muralist, activist, and community organizer. Using different mediums like ink, paint, and digital illustrations, Chris uses powerful symbols and imagery to advocate for Palestinian human rights and social justice. Listen in to learn about Chris’s art, his inspiration, and his efforts to use art to advocate for Palestinian justice and liberation. Links:
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| 17 Jul 2023 | Heifa Odeh: Author of “Dine in Palestine” | 00:47:07 | |
In this episode, Tayla and Tom are joined by Heifa Odeh, Palestinian-American chef, recipe developer and food blogger. Founder of the blog Fufu’s Kitchen and author of the recent cookbook, Dine in Palestine, Heifa seeks to celebrate and preserve traditional Palestinian dishes and recipes. Listen in to learn about Heifa’s expression and celebration of her Palestinian identity and culture through food. Links:
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| 12 Jul 2023 | Mirna Bamieh: Performing Palestinian Food | 00:46:39 | |
In this episode, Rafeef, Tayla and Tom are joined by Mirna Bamieh, Palestinian chef, artist and founder of the Palestine Hosting Society - a cultural and social project that seeks to reclaim and revitalize Palestinian food practices and dishes. Listen in to learn about Mirna’s commitment to celebrating the Palestinian identity, culture, and heritage through food. Links:
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| 07 Jul 2023 | Farah Nabulsi: From Stockbroker to Award-Winning Director | 00:42:11 | |
In this episode, Rafeef, Tayla and Tom are joined by Farah Nabulsi, Palestinian-British filmmaker and human rights advocate. She has written and produced four short films including Today They Took My Son and Nightmare of Gaza. Her most recent short The Present has won over 50 International awards for its powerful portrayal of the daily struggles faced by Palestinians living under Israeli occupation. Listen in as we discuss The Present, her inspiration, and her efforts to use film to share the Palestinian experience under Israeli occupation and apartheid system.
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| 07 Jun 2023 | Darin Sallam: Fearless about Palestine | 00:48:49 | |
In this episode, Rafeef, Tayla and Tom are joined by Darin Sallam, Palestinian-Jordanian writer, director and filmmaker. Her most recent film, Farha, follows a young-girl’s traumatic experience during the Nakba. Despite obstacles in producing the film, Farha has been extremely well-received, especially among Palestinians for its realistic depiction of the devastating events of the Nakba. Listen in as we discuss Farha, her inspiration, and her efforts to use film to share important Palestinian stories and experiences. Links:
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| 19 May 2023 | Maysoun Odeh: Empowering Palestinian women through radio | 00:50:15 | |
In this episode, Rafeef and Tayla are joined by Maysoun Odeh, Palestinian entrepreneur and co-founder and director of “NISAA”, the first Arabic radio station in the Middle East that is run by women for women. Launched in 2010, NISAA’s mission is to transform the perception of “women’s role in society by highlighting their social engagement, successes, and creativity.” Maysoun has worked to help inform and inspire Palestinian to assert their rights and empower themselves.
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| 12 May 2023 | Vivien Sansour: Seeds, Solidarity & Social Change | 00:47:26 | |
In this episode, Tom, Rafeef and Tayla are joined by Vivien Sansour, the Palestinian-American founder of the Palestine Heirloom Library – a cultural and social project that works with farmers and advocates to recover and conserve threatened crop varieties. Through her art and storytelling, Vivien advocates for greater social engagement with Palestinian agriculture, heritage, and culture. Currently working on an autobiographical book documenting her work on seeds in Palestine and around the world, Vivien weaves together her personal experiences and research, making her work both a cultural and political act. Links:
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| 05 Apr 2023 | Nasser Jaber: NYC Restauranteur & Palestinian Entrepreneur | 00:56:18 | |
In this episode, Rafeef and Tom are joined by Nasser Jaber, the Palestinian-American co-founder of the Migrant Kitchen - a social enterprise in NYC which showcases the stories and cuisines of immigrant chefs. Nasser arrived in New York from Ramallah in 2001 hoping to make it big on Wall Street; but ended up being one of the city’s most influential restauranteurs. His journey as an advocate for marginalised communities, refugees, and immigrants is just beginning.
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| 23 Mar 2023 | Najat El-Khairy: Painting her way back to Palestine | 00:48:24 | |
In this episode, we’re joined by Najat El-Taji El-Khairy, a Palestinian-Canadian artist who has created a unique art form combining her interests in both embroidery and porcelain painting. Najat’s art has been exhibited in various venues throughout North America, the Middle East and Europe. Najat has made it her mission to immortalise, protect and preserve the art of Palestinian embroidery. As she describes it, she’s, ‘Painting her way home, one stitch at a time.’ Links:
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| 08 Mar 2023 | Wafa Ghnaim: Teaching Palestinian Liberation through Tatreez | 00:51:36 | |
In this episode, we’re joined by Wafa Ghnaim, an award-winning Palestinian researcher, educator, author and tatreez expert living in Washington, DC. Her book, titled, Tatreez and Tea: Embroidery and Storytelling in the Diaspora was published in 2018 and documents the stories and meanings behind the Palestinian embroidery motifs that were handed down to Wafa by her mother, Feryal Abbasi Ghnaim, an award-winning artist herself. Join us as Wafa shares the story of moving from embroidery circles with her mother and aunts, to being the first ever Palestinian embroidery instructor at the Smithsonian Museum. Links:
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| 14 Feb 2023 | Rana Nazzal: Research, Human Rights, Art and Activism | 00:50:55 | |
In this episode, we’re joined by Rana Nazzal, a Palestinian-Canadian artist living between Palestine, Ottawa and Toronto. Among other things, Rana’s powerful art explores Palestinians’ relationship with the land, and the themes of Palestinian memory and loss. In addition to her art, she is also an activist and campaigner on grassroots issues including not only Palestinian human rights, but also climate change, Indigenous rights, and more. Join us as we talk to Rana about her art, and how it’s an expression and extension of her activist roots and passion. And Rafeef Dajani joins ATPC to co-host her first podcast. Links:
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| 09 Feb 2023 | Rafeef Dajani: ATPC’s New Co-host | 00:30:58 | |
As we launch our first ATPC episode for 2023, we note that we sadly said goodbye to Nur Watad in December, as she made the decision to move on to new career challenges elsewhere. But we are thrilled to have lined up a very articulate and capable new co-host in the meantime, Ms. Rafeef Dajani. Rafeef has been a friend to CJPME for several years, and more importantly, an ardent participant in the global Palestine solidarity movement. So this is our chance to introduce Rafeef, and have her talk a bit about her journey up until this point. | |||
| 08 Dec 2022 | Fida Jiryis: Finding her elusive place as a Palestinian | 00:54:42 | |
In this episode, we’re joined by Fida Jiryis, Palestinian author currently living in Ramallah. Jiryis grew up in Lebanon and Cyprus, the daughter of famed Palestinian thinker and leader, Sabri Jiryis. As her family fled Israel’s oppression and wars, Jiryis’ life has spanned the full spectrum of the Palestinian people’s forced fragmentation: in Israel, the West Bank and the diaspora. Her writings include several collections of Arabic short stories; a contribution to the book, Kingdom of Olives and Ash, a Washington Post bestseller; and Amputated Tongue, an anthology of Palestinian literature. Her most recent book, Stranger in My Own Land describes her and her family’s remarkable life journey which is, in many respects, the story of Palestine. Our lead host, Nur Watad was unable to be present, so ATPC’s backup host, Thomas Woodley, interviewed Ms. Jiryis.
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| 29 Nov 2022 | Rimah Jabr: Bringing the Palestinian experience to Canadian stages | 00:53:31 | |
In this episode, we’re joined by Rimah Jabr, a Palestinian play wright and theatre director based in Toronto who is currently pursuing her PhD in Theatre and Performance Studies at York University. Rimah’s career arc is far from ordinary: after studying and working in accounting for several years, Rimah finally had her breakout opportunity at age 30, and found herself at Belgium’s Royal Institute for Theatre, Cinema & Sound. There, while she earned her Masters degree, she wrote and directed a number of plays. With her late start, Rimah is making up for lost time with an ambitious vision which includes her most recent co-production, “Broken Shapes,” with visual Artist Dareen Abbas, which premiered earlier this month and runs through Dec. 4th at The Theatre Centre in Toronto! Links: Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do. | |||
| 25 Nov 2022 | Wafa Alzaghal: Introducing Canada to the Arab orchestra | 00:54:17 | |
In this episode, we are joined by Wafa Alzaghal, Palestinian-Canadian President & CEO of The Canadian Arabic Orchestra. Wafa grew up playing the Qanun, also known as the dulcimer, after being inspired by his father’s love for classical Arabic music. Wafa co-founded the Canadian Arabic Orchestra in 2014, and has been busy touring Canada with a repertoire of both Western and Eastern tunes. Join us for a conversation with Wafa to hear about his motivation to establish the Canadian Arabic Orchestra, and his experiences presenting to Canadian audiences. Learn more:
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| 16 Nov 2022 | Dalia Elcharbini: Expressing Palestinian Identity Through Contemporary Art | 00:43:43 | |
In this episode, we are joined by Dalia Elcharbini, Palestinian-Canadian contemporary artist and international exhibitor based in Toronto. While Dalia’s artistic style is distinct and unique, she frequently infuses it with symbolism and memories of Palestine. Listen in as we discuss her art, her inspiration, her Palestinian identity and her efforts to use art to help children impacted by war. Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do. | |||
| 08 Nov 2022 | Serene Husni: Patiently capturing Palestinian reality in film | 00:50:36 | |
In this episode, we are joined by Serene Husni, a video editor, mentor, writer and translator. A Diasporic Palestinian and immigrant from Jordan turned Canadian settler, she calls herself “a displaced human existing between multiple cultures, languages, and locales.” She creates most of her own work in her mother tongue, Arabic. Freely available to watch online, her latest film “Brown Bread & Apricots” (2020) talks about the importance of the pantry in her father’s exiled Palestinian family. The film won the Qayrub Award for “Best Canadian Short Film” from the Toronto Arab Film Festival in 2022. She is also co-writer and co-editor of the recent feature documentary Eulogy for The Dead Sea (2022), directed by Polina Teif. Serene holds an MFA in Documentary Media from the Toronto Metropolitan University. Learn more: Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
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| 01 Nov 2022 | Saeed Teebi: Sharing the Diaspora Palestinian Experience through Fiction | 00:44:52 | |
In this episode, we are joined by Saeed Teebi, a writer and lawyer based in Toronto who has recently released a highly celebrated book of short stories entitled, “Her First Palestinian.” Teebi’s book is a collection of stories about diaspora Palestinians struggling to find their place as immigrants to Canada. It is also one of five books shortlisted for the $60,000 Atwood Gibson Writers' Trust Prize for Fiction this year. The title story in the book, "Her First Palestinian," was also shortlisted for the 2021 CBC Short Story Prize. Teebi was born to Palestinian parents in Kuwait and has lived in Canada since 1993.
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| 24 Oct 2022 | Shadia Qubti: Wrestling with reconciliation, justice, faith and gender | 00:46:26 | |
Shadia Qubti is a Palestinian from Nazareth who is currently completing a degree in Interreligious and Indigenous Studies at Vancouver School of Theology in Canada. Prior to coming to Canada, Shadia studied International Relations and English Language at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, as well as Conflict Resolution and Nonviolent Action at Trinity Dublin College in Ireland. She has worked for over 10 years in policy initiatives and peacebuilding in various organizations, both local and international, working with both Palestinians and Israelis. Through her academic and professional work, Shadia seeks to amplify the voices of Palestinian women and create open discussions about the struggles that they face. Much of her work revolves around reconciliation, identity and political mobilization with a certain focus on Palestinian Christians. Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do. | |||
| 23 Sep 2022 | Abeer Barakat: Empowering and supporting the people of Gaza | 00:42:34 | |
Abeer Barakat is a Palestinian lecturer of English at the University College of Applied Sciences in Gaza and is a PhD candidate at the University of Putra Malaysia. Abeer is an activist for the Palestinian cause and has done amazing activism work in the field of female empowerment and has provided mothers and children impacted by attacks on Gaza with continuous psychological support. She as well has published a number of academic articles about the Palestinian-Israeli media discourse. Abeer is also apart of Rose2Rose, a Malaysian women NGO that is working for the support of the Palestinian women and children, through education and is a part of MyCARE Malaysia which is a Humanitarian Aid Non-profit organization. In this episode, Abeer joins Nur and Tom to talk about the work she initiated when it comes to providing psychological aid and empowerment to Gazan citizens, its impact, and how Canadians can offer help. Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do. | |||
| 14 Jul 2022 | Shawky Fahel: Palestinian-Canadian Business Leader and Philanthropist | 00:58:33 | |
Shawky Fahel came to Canada in the 1960’s and started his first business in 1979 with a $1000 loan and nothing more than a few carpet and paint supplies. Based in Waterloo, ON, Shawky became successful businessman, political activist and philanthropist who has received innumerable awards over the years, both at the local and national level, for his various contributions. Yet amidst all this busyness and success, he has remained committed to improving the lives of Palestinians, both in Palestine and in the diaspora in Canada. His most recent philanthropic gesture – one that we’ll discuss during our conversation – was a donation of $100,000 to launch a Foundation for Palestinian Studies at the University of Waterloo. Learn more:
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| 20 May 2022 | Malak El Batroukh: Helping Palestinian Youth Connect with their Heritage | 00:41:23 | |
Malak El Batroukh, a Palestinian-Canadian based in Waterloo has just launched an exciting new community project called Sporas (Scattered.) Through this project, Malak aims to make Palestinian culture and tradition more accessible to diaspora youth. In this episode, we talk to Malak about her vision for Sporas, and her broader work as a activist for Palestinian rights and freedom. Learn more:
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| 13 May 2022 | James Kafieh: The Nakba's significance over generations of Palestinians | 00:54:24 | |
In this special Nakba edition, lawyer James Kafieh joins the conversation. Kafieh has advocated for the rights of Palestinians and Arabs in Canada his whole life, leading both the Canadian Arab Federation and the Palestinian Canadian Congress at various points. Kafieh was born in Canada to Palestinian parents who were among the first Palestinian refugees to emigrate to Canada. Raised as a second generation Canadian, the son of immigrants, hear how his understanding of his Palestinian identity, and the Nakba has evolved over time. Links from this podcast: Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do. | |||
| 26 Apr 2022 | Grace Batchoun: The challenges of Palestinian human rights organizing | 00:38:04 | |
Like many Palestinian Canadians, Grace Batchoun came to Canada as a young person, and had to find her way in a new country, with two new languages. But she never forgot her Palestinian roots, and two decades after arriving in Canada, she co-founded Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME). In this episode, Grace joins Nur to talk about her Palestinian identity, her vision and work for Palestinian human rights, and the challenges she faced along the way. Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do. | |||
| 22 Apr 2022 | Dr. Munir El Kassem: How Palestinians Celebrate Ramadan in Canada | 00:46:12 | |
Ramadan began on April 2nd, and Palestinian Muslims join other Muslims across Canada in spiritual reflection, in acts of charity, and in gathering in community. In this episode, Nur and Tom are joined by Dr. Munir El Kassem to talk about Ramadan, and how it can strengthen the ties of heritage, history, and identity among Muslim Palestinian-Canadians. Dr. El Kassem also describes what Ramadan traditions are unique to Palestinians, and how being an ethnic minority in North America influences Ramadan observances. Links from this podcast: Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do. | |||
| 21 Apr 2022 | Al Asala: Dabke in the Digital Age (w/ Omar Hassouneh & Wassef Yasin) | 00:50:49 | |
In the late 2000s, the Al Asala Dabke group was formed in London, Ontario. Al Asala, is an Arabic word that translates to "authenticity" in English, which is exactly what Al Asala dabke represents, and more! Al Asala is a dynamic group of young people who infuse authentic Palestinian folkloric dance with Canadian influences for a largely digital audience. Through their creativity and media savvy, they have created an huge platform for themselves across Canada, North America, and worldwide. Their energetic videos showing off Palestinian dance steps at weddings and other events– have won them fans in the hundreds of thousands around the world. Today, two members of Al Asala, Omar Hassouneh and Wassef Yasin, join us to talk about their experiences with Al Asala, and their broader vision for this vibrant dance troupe Links from this podcast: Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do. | |||
| 21 Apr 2022 | Sarah El Naffar: Making it all work as a Palestinian Millennial Lifestyle Influencer | 00:50:37 | |
In 2021, Sarah El Naffar, social media content creator on Instagram and Tik Tok, started using her lifestyle platform to raise awareness on what’s going on in Palestine. She took it upon herself to make her younger audience understand the challenges faced by her country of origin, especially in light of Israel's ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah and the events that followed in May, 2021. Sarah joins Nur and Tom to talk about her experience as a Palestinian Canadian influencer speaking about Palestine on her social platform, and what she encountered along her journey. Links from this podcast: Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do. | |||
| 13 May 2024 | The Nakba Bill: with NDP MP Matthew Green | 00:32:10 | |
In December of last year NDP MP Matthew Green took the lead in sponsoring a Private Member’s bill, informally named “the Nakba Bill.” While the text of Green’s bill has not been made public, Green has made clear that his bill will call for Canada to formally acknowledge the Nakba and its tragic consequences for the Palestinian people. We talk private member bills, the Nakba, Parliament's Palestine motion, Canada's culpability, the IOF, the chances of Green's bill passing, and sleeping better at night. It is worth noting that past Nakba bills introduced around the world failed to pass, including those by Rashida Tlaib in the US, and Layla Moran both in the UK, both of whom are Palestians. Matthew Green is not Palestinian. Thank you for listening to the ‘Palestine Debrief’ podcast. This podcast is produced by Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) and hosted by Wissam El Cheikh Hassan. Click here to support the work of CJPME. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Tiktok. | |||
| 27 May 2024 | Ontario Keffiyeh Ban: Smokescreen, Racism or ? - with Chris Zabaneh | 00:34:19 | |
On April 17th 2024, the keffiyeh was banned from being worn by staff and guests in the Ontario legislature by speaker Ted Arnott. There had been no formal complaints nor was a motion presented to Ted Arnott for this ban, yet he acted on his own authority to impose the ban. This conversation with Chris Farris Zabaneh talks about the Keffiyeh Ban, how it came into place, the distraction tactic taken of imposing the ban, the supremacist approach of limiting non-white cultural attire and what can be strategically done to reverse the ban. | |||
| 05 Jun 2024 | Exposing Anti-Palestine Media Biases: with Zahraa Al Akhrass | 00:30:27 | |
Last month The Breach published an article written by a whistle blower exposing CBC's extensive systemic anti-Palestinian biases in their reporting since October 7. In this episode journalist Zahraa Al Akhrass who was fired from Global in November 2023 after posting pro-Palestinian content on her social media, shares her experiences with similar biases working at Global. | |||
| 12 Jun 2024 | Canada's Policies Towards Israel After Oct. 7: with Dimitri Lascaris | 00:34:21 | |
We talk about Canada’s policies towards Israel since the beginning of genocide with a person with a long list of credentials that include Activist, Journalist, Lawyer and a person who ran for the Green Party in 2020 Dimitri Lascaris. Thank you for listening to the ‘Palestine Debrief’ podcast. This podcast is produced by Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) and hosted by Wissam El Cheikh Hassan. | |||
| 18 Jun 2024 | Defaming Palestinian Activism: with Michael Bueckert | 00:27:16 | |
On October 16, 2023, the Canadian government appointed Deborah Lyons, former Ambassador of Canada to Israel (2016-2020), as the new Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism. The Special Envoy Lyon's office is a joint unit of both Canadian Heritage and Global Affairs Canada, bringing her role into the realm of international relations (whereas the Special Representative on Combating Islamophobia is singularly located in Canadian Heritage). Additionally, her mandate comes directly from the Prime Minister, and it involves promoting the controversial and anti-Palestinian International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism (IHRA). It also includes the creation of an IHRA handbook, purportedly to help civil servants, politicians, and police departments to apply it to real-world situations. | |||
| 02 Jul 2024 | Israel Bombs Hospitals: with Dr. Yipeng Ge | 00:46:13 | |
Our guest for this episode is Dr. Yipeng Ge - follow him on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. | |||
| 11 Jul 2024 | McGill Student Encampment: with SPHR McGill | 00:27:34 | |
On April 2nd, pro-Palestinian student groups in Montreal started an encampment on the McGill campus, demanding that the university divest its finances from companies complicit in Israel's genocide in Gaza, like weapons companies BAE Systems and Lockheed Martin. Early this morning, on the 10th of July, it was dismantled. McGill hired a private security firm to shut down the encampment, after the university failed to have it disbanded by the police and following 2 injunctions which were rejected by Quebec courts. | |||
| 23 Jul 2024 | ICJ Advisory Opinion on Israel: with Michael Lynk | 00:24:04 | |
Here to give us clarity on the ICJ ruling, its importance and significance, what to expect in how Canada would react, is Canadian legal academic, and associate professor at University of Western Ontario, professor Michael Lynk. He was the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the 1967 occupied Palestinian Territories. Follow Michael Lynk on X. | |||
| 14 Aug 2024 | Canada's Active Role in US Imperialism: with Muhannad Ayyash | 00:30:05 | |
Canada is adamant on their support to Israel, despite when it is becoming extensively clear that Israel is driving the whole world to the brink of a third world war. With the attack that happened last Friday night in a school in Gaza that killed 100 people gathering for morning prayers, it is imperative to understand why Canada refuses to change its stance on Israel. Here to help us make sense of all this, is Professor of Sociology at Mount Royal University and author of 2 books, and writer of serval political articles on racism, decolonisation, in several news outlets Muhannad Ayyash. Thank you for listening to the ‘Palestine Debrief’ podcast. This podcast is produced by Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) and hosted by Wissam El Cheikh Hassan. | |||
| 26 Aug 2024 | How Canada Still Arms Israel: with Rachel Small | 00:29:04 | |
worldbeyondwar.org/canadastoparmingisrael This catches Canada is several lies they have made since October. The lie of sending only “non-lethal” weapons. The lie that the Trudeau government stopped all arms exports to Israel earlier this year. As it turns out they do not need export permits nor approvals to send weapons to the US, which in turn sends them to the Israeli military. Here to talk to us more is Rachel Small from World Beyond War who has been monitoring and supporting grassroots resistance to the Canada-Israel arms trade. Follow Rachel on X. | |||
| 10 Sep 2024 | Canada's Racist Visa Program for Gazans: with Safinaz El-Solh | 00:23:00 | |
On January 9th, 2024, IRCC started accepting applications for a Temporary Residence Visa Program for Gazans with Canadian Family Ties that was called "Crisis in Gaza: Special Measure for Extended Family". Not long after it became clear that the program was not designed to accept refugees. Nothing about the program was urgent and in comparison to past programs the “special measures” seem to highly indicate racism towards Palestinians. We have Safinaz El-Solh from Gazan Canadian Community Group who were directly affected by the crisis with family Gaza who organized together to focus on the program. | |||
| 24 Sep 2024 | CRA revocation of the JNF's Charitable Status: with Corey Balsam (IJV Canada) and Nicholas Pope | 00:35:08 | |
In August 2024, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) revoked the charitable status of the Jewish National Fund of Canada (JNF). This is significant because the JNF is central to the Zionist movement, historically acquiring land in Palestine for exclusive Jewish settlement. It has also supported Israeli military projects and illegal settlements in occupied Palestine. | |||
| 23 Oct 2024 | Tech's Role in Genocide: with Paul Biggar | 00:26:25 | |
This episode discusses how Israel utilizes technology in their genocide in Gaza, we talk about the AI Lavender, social media censoring of Palestinian voices, media's extensive biases towards the Israel narrative, and IDF soldiers/ Israel government officials who hold positions in media organizations. | |||
| 04 Nov 2024 | Challenging the Media’s “Palestine Exception”: with Jason Toney | 00:58:16 | |
This episode is a conversation with Jason Toney, Director of Media Advocacy at CJPME about Canada's Media Ethics and our Media Accountability Project. We talk about the Canadian media's ethics, standards, biases, and erasure of Palestinian content. We speak about the impact CJPME had on media and the challenges we face. | |||
| 13 Nov 2024 | The Gaza Visa Program: Designed to Fail, Humiliate and Impoverish | 01:02:32 | |
This episode is five interviews with Canadians who suffered mentally, emotionally and financially in their attempts to be reunited with their families in Gaza under the governments Temporary Resident Visa Program for Gazans (TRV). | |||
| 20 Nov 2024 | Israel Bans Aid Agency (UNRWA) for Palestinian Refugees: with Ardi Imseis | 00:41:01 | |
This episode we speak to Ardi Imseis, currently Assistant Professor at Queen’s Faculty of Law in 2018, following a 12-year career as a UN official in the Middle East, first with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), and then with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). We talk about UNRWA's history, establishment and implications of Israel banning of UNRWA. | |||
| 26 Nov 2024 | What You Don't Hear in Mainstream Media About the Gazan Genocide: with Jon Elmer | 00:42:31 | |
We speak with Jon Elmer to provide us alternative views on reporting in Gaza and Lebanon. This episode was recorded before the ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanon. | |||
| 03 Dec 2024 | Mouin Rabbani: The Fragile Ceasefire, Iran, Syria, and the Future of the Conflict | 00:36:58 | |
Watch the episode on YouTube. | |||
| 10 Dec 2024 | Francesca Albanese: ICC Warrant, Canada's UN Vote, Her Canada Visit & More! | 00:46:51 | |
Francesca Albanese joins the Palestine Debrief podcast to discuss a variety of important topics: the people who inspire her, her interview with Piers Morgan, her recent tour of Canada, the ICC arrest warrants against Israeli officials Netanyahu and Gallant, the hostility she faces from certain reporters, Canada’s vote at the UN, and her role as the UN Special Rapporteur. | |||
| 17 Dec 2024 | How Zionism Perpetuates Antisemitism w/ Dr. Ariella Aïsha Azoulay | 00:40:50 | |
In this episode of Palestine Debrief, I speak with Dr. Ariella Aïsha Azoulay, a renowned scholar, filmmaker, and author whose work focuses on the intersections of colonialism, photography, and historical narratives. Ariella was born in Israel but rejects the Israeli identity, where she identfies as a Muslim Jew. The refers to Israel as The Zionist Settler colony during the episode. | |||
| 28 Jan 2025 | The Lawsuit Challenging Canada’s Role in the Genocide w/ Emilio Dabed | 00:39:15 | |
In this episode we speak with Emilio Dabed, the founding member of Legal Centre for Palestine, a lawyer specialised in international law and constituational matter. We talk about the legal proceedings in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice against the Attorney General of Canada for Canada’s failure to act to prevent genocide and in violation of its legal obligations under the Genocide Convention of 1948 as well as the plaintiff’s rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom. The Plaintiffs seek a declaration that Canada has a duty to take all measures wihtin its power to prevent genocide, and that Canada has violated that duty. They also seek a declaration that Canada’s acts and omissions have villated the plaintiff’s Charter rights to security of the person and to equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimitation. Follow Legal Centre for Palestine on X and Instagram. Thank you for listening to the ‘Palestine Debrief’ podcast. This podcast is produced by Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) and hosted by Wissam El Cheikh Hassan. | |||
| 11 Feb 2025 | The Rise of Anti Palestinian Racism in Canada amidst the Genocide w/ Dania Majid | 00:44:17 | |
To help us understand APR, its definitions, implication, importance of connection to the Nakba and how it evolved after Oct 7 I am joined by lawyer Dania Majid, co-founder and president of the Arab Canadian Lawyers Association, best known for defining APR in her 2022 publication Anti-Palestinian Racism: Naming, Framing, and Manifestations. She is also the artistic director of the Toronto Palestinian Film Festival. Follow Arab Canadian Lawyers Association on X. Thank you for listening to the ‘Palestine Debrief’ podcast. This podcast is produced by Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) and hosted by Wissam El Cheikh Hassan. | |||