Today on the show, we welcome Palestinian American lawyer and activist Dima Khalidi, who is the founder and director of Palestine Legal, an independent organization, with headquarters in Chicago, IL,  that provides legal advice, advocacy, litigation support and dedicated to protecting the civil and constitutional rights of college students and grassroots activists within the US who speak out for Palestinian freedom by challenging efforts to threaten and legally bully activists into silence and inaction. Dima shares her Palestinian backstory, that led to the establishment of Palestine Legal, in 2012, where she currently serves as the organizations director.  We discuss her well renowned father, Rashid Khalidi,  who is the Edward Said Professor of Modern Arab Studies at Columbia University and has co-authored several books and was born the year of the Palestinian Nakba i and dedicated his life to the cause and how, was it  growing up as the daughter of this highly acclaimed and recognized Palestinian  intellectual, author and activist. Dima highlights the challenges the organization faces on multiple fronts, including vis a vis IHRA, Anti-Semitism, BDS, and  the prevalent 'Palestinian Exception' when it comes to free speech and right to boycott in the US, and shares the most  egregious cases they have handled to date, and highlighed milestones and key successes. Dima shares her views on the future of Palestine advocacy in the U.S. and where in her expert opinion, where the Palestinian solidarity movement is headed? Learn more about Palestine Legal: https//palestinelegal.orgInstagram: @pal_legalListen to episodes, wherever you listen to podcast and view episode on YouTube.Subscribe, like, share and rate episode.Follow: @freepalestinepod on instagram and YouTube@lamabazzari@linahadid@cravingpalestine@palestinelobby

Today on the show, we welcomed Peter Beinart,  Liberal columnist, journalist and political commentator and former editor of the New Republic. Peter has authored 3 books and is currently editor at large at Jewish Currents and professor of journalism and political science at Craig Newmark Graduate Schoolof Journalism and Political Science.  He also writes the Beinart Notebookon Substack, a free newsletter. There’s a link to it in the show notes below.Peter shared his personal experience on his first trip to the occupied Palestinian territories and the start of his Palestinian activism. We discussed the Netflix series Fauda and Hollywood's role in white washing the occupation and the context of his statement published in the Jewish Currents "Jewish right of return should also apply to the Palestinians. If Palestinians hae no right of return, then neither do we."  We discussed the new IHRA definition on anti Semitism and 'Progressives except fotr Palestine'  that is prevalent in democratic and liberal circles, including the influence of lobbyist groups, such as 'Democrats for Israel', that bankrolls pro Israel candidates.We discuss the Palestinian Nakba, in its 75th year  anniversary and the growing grassroots movement within the Jewish American community, led by organizations such as Jewish Voice for Peace.Peter shares his views on envangelical Christian zionists and the newly elected Israeli government that includes fascists, and how can the influence and spin of US based groups such as ADL, Jewish Fund and AIPAC be countered. Follow Peter Beinart blog at https://peterbeinart.substack.com  and on twitter @peterbeinartSubscribe, share, like and rate @freepalestinepod whereever you listen to podcasts.Follow @freepalestinepod on YouTube Follow show and co-hosts on instagram:@freepalestinepod@lamabazzari @cravingpalestine@linahadid @palestinelobby 

Today on the show, we welcome the well-recognized Palestinian human rights defender and activist Issa Amro who joins from the heart of the old city of Al Khalil, Hebron in the occupied West Bank. Issa is also the Founder of Youth Against Settlements. We discussed the situation on the ground in occupied Hebron, the Huwara pogrom, Masafer Yatta and how activists in the diaspora can support these communities facing daily harrassment, apartheid and ethnic cleansing by the occupation army and armed Israeli settlers. We discussed the pogrom committed in Huwara that led to Israeli settlers burning farms, vehicles and over 30 homes  and destroyed the livelihoods of hundreds of families.Issa updated us his recent visit to the US and visits to occupied Hebron by local and foreign activists and groups, including guided tours organized by Breaking the Silence Israel.Follow @issaamro on Instagram and twitter for daily updates on occupied Hebron and living under a brutal occupation and apartheid.     

Today on the show, we welcomed Rabbi Brant Rosen who founded in 2015, Tzedek Chicago, a non-Zionist and social justice focused synagogue with its core values creating Jewish spiritual communities rooted in values beyond Zionism, where he serves as a Rabbi. Rabbi Rosen is also co-founder of the Jewish Voice for Peace Rabbinical Council and he chronicles his path towards Palestinian solidarityand Judaism beyond Zionism in his blog, Shalom Rov.We discussed Rabbi Rosen's founding of Tzedek Chicago, his pro Paestinian activism, the growing movement within the US to end the Israeli occupation, within the American Jewish community and the current Israeli government and the intersectionality of global social justice movements. Well recognized 1uote by Rabbi Rosen on his solidarity with the Palestinian people:“The cornerstone value of my religious tradition commands me to stand in solidarity with all who are oppressed? It would thus be a profound betrayal of my own Jewish heritage if I consciously choose not to stand with the Palestinian people. That Jewish liberation is intrinsically bound up with Palestinian liberation.” A must watch episode. 

Today on the show, we welcome the globally recognized and one of the most iconic and distinguished  Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour who is well-known as a pioneer in Arab art with his exceptional and comprehensive portfolio revolving around the continued revival of Palestinian identity, as it captures images rooted in the land, its people, and its struggle against the occupation. Mansour is also an illustrator, art instructor and author and has contributed greatly to art education and promotion in the Palestinian territories and resides in the heart of occupied Jerusalem.We discuss Mansour's childhood, having been born in Birzeit in 1947,  a year before the Palestinian Al Nakba, the catastrophe, and how  that period shaped and inspired his passion for the arts.We also discuss his recollections of having witnessed and lived through the 1967 day war and illegal occupation of the West Bank,  that saw the displacement of hundreds of thousands of additional Palestinians, and how this tumultuous period resonated through his art and the evolution of his creative expression?  We delved into the contemporary art scene in central Europe and the lack of Levantine art representation  both in museums and  galleries in the West and Mansour's views on how Palestinian artists can penetrate Western art spaces and correct the narrative of our existence? We discuss Mansour's role as a  pivotal cultural leader that  has contributed greatly toart education and promotion across the Palestinian territories and as co-founder of the Wasiti Art Center in Jerusalem and the state of the current state of the art scene across Palestine.We delved into what Sliman  hopes resonates with people who view his art vis a vis Palestine and ways to support emerging  Palestinian artists,  and Mansour's hope that new Palestinian artists choose to stay true to their identity through their art, that is rooted in our land, culture and heritage as a way to re-inforce our existence as Palestinians and showcase the beauty of our identity and culture to a global audience. Follow @slimanmansour on instagram  Follow @freepalestinepod on instagram 

Today on the show, we welcome the well-recognized South African artist, activist and educator Adam Broomberg as we discuss the newly formed Israeli government,  Jewish supremacy, deteriorating situation on the ground and Palestinian activism. We delve into Netanyahu's power and influence on Israeli politics, spanning decades, and the growing grassroots movement within Israel that is taking to the streets to protest Netanyahu's policies and corruption. We also discuss the growing radical settler led movement set on destroying Al Aqsa mosque, Islam's third holiest site and the pulling the lid on Israel's zionist propagands as it continues to falsely equate any criticism of Israel as anti-Semitic.  We also discuss how activists from the outside can continue to support the heroic activists on the ground, whose lives are under threat daily as they face the occupation head on.  

Today on the show, we welcome director and producer of Italian and Palestinian descent, Vin Arfuso, whose directorial debut film Walled Off is co-produced by Palestinian American model and musician Anwar Hadid, and a star-studded collaboration that includes Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters. The documentary screened  in October to raving reviews in Italy and NY, and follows their journey through occupied Palestine, and, as they explore the Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem, owned the iconic and anonymous British artist Banksy. The film intertwines the timeline of the occupation through art and sheds the lens on the harsh reality of the occupation along with the documentaries powerful capture of the faces, voices and firsthand account of Palestinian children as they share their personal stories growing up and living under occupation.We discussed the inspiration behind the film, Vin and Anwar's first trip to Palestine and the most challenging and most powerful moments experienced behind the camera, during production in Palestine.We also discuss Walled Off's success in artistically challenging the Western media narrative regarding Palestine and depicts the absurdity of the occupation. We tap into Vin's childhood and what led to his activism, how he deals with any Israeli backlash, and what impact he wishes resonates with the audience as they watch Walled Off. Upcoming screening planned in Doha, Qatar and we discuss additional screening dates and official release on screening platforms. 

On this weeks episode, we welcomed distinguished Jerusalem based film maker, writer and director Najwa Najjar and we delved into her extraodinary work in film, including in both documentary and fiction.Her critically acclaimed films include Eyes of a Thief, Between Heaven and Earth and Pomegranates and Myrrh, among others.We discussed her passions for film making, how living in the occupied Palestinain territories inspires her story telling and work and her creative process.We also discussed the biggest challenges filmmakers face in the occupied territories, recurring themes in her critically acclmaimed films revolving around identity and homeland and the callenges faced by Palestinian produced films to be screened on mainstream western media and on  major platforms.We also discussed Najwa's views on art washing the occupation through entertainment and cultural appropriation. 

Today on the show, we welcome renowned Palestinian multidisciplinary artist Khaled Jarrar whose acclaimed work has earned him international recognition and multiple awards, as he explores the realities and impacts of Occupation and modern-day power struggles through artistic interventions utilizing various forms of media, including performance art, photography, sculpture, installations and film. Khaled's viral and well recognized work includes the State of Palestine Stamp exhibited at the Beaux Arts in Paris, among others.We discuss Khaled's first hand experience of growing up and living under occupation in Jenin, in the occupied West Bank, the epicenter of Israeli daily genocide and illegal raids angst the Palesitnian people and how this has shaped and influenced his art and self expression.We discuss Khaled's brilliant work that explores the impact of modern day power struggles on ordinary citizens while seeking to maximmize the social potential of artistic interventions and the evolving art scene and realities of being an artist in the occupied alestinian territories. We also discuss the Jenin refugee camp which was the scene of one of the deadliest genocides being committed by Israel against the residents of the camp, during the 2nd Palestinian intifada, uprising. We also discuss art as a healing outlet, where words fail, for children in Jenin and across Palestine, to process traumatic events they experience living under Israel's brutal occupation and the unsurmountable daily stress, anxiety and unheald trauma through art workshops and artist led initiatives that offer means for Palestinian children to vent their trauma.

“Today on the show, we welcome Giovanni Fassina and Danah Abueida of the European Legal Support Center (ELSC), the first and only independent organization defending and empowering the Palestine solidarity movement in Europe and the United Kingdom.We discuss  ELSC's key role and activities as it defends and empowers advocates for Palestinian rights across mainland Europe and the United Kingdom through legal means.  And, their active work in improving and the monitoring of repression on Palestinian advocates in Europe by reporting any incidents of suppression and criminalisation.We also discuss the challenges they face and the cases and activists they represent and defend across Europe and the United Kingdom  with the objective of protecting the fundamental rights of advocates for Palestinian freedom. We discuss specific cases and ELSC's leading role inproviding legal advise and support to students, academics, activists, members of political parties, civil society organizations, artists and artistic and cultural institutions falsely accused of antisemitism on account of their Palestinian rights advocacy, alongside offering support for European and Palestinian civil society organisations unjustly accused of supporting terrorism due to their human rights and humanitarian work in Palestine.Giovanni Fassina is the programme director at ELSC and overseas the legal team and the strategic litigation work for the organization.   Danah Abueida, a junior legal officer overseeing cases in Germany.