Palestine Debrief

A December article in Al Jazeera describes Canada’s foreign policy towards Israel and Palestine as “schizophrenic.” It’s like Canada supports Israel, wants to support Israel, but is also worried about supporting it too much because it will affect their false image of Canada as a “peace loving, refugee welcoming nation.”  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. Continue reading

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. Continue reading

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. 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. Continue reading

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 Palestinian. Matthew Green is not Palestinian.  Continue reading

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. Continue reading

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. Continue reading

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. Continue reading

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. Continue reading

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.’ Continue reading

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.   Continue reading