<p>I interview Rawan Odeh, the managing CO-director of New Story Leadership, in this episode. We chat about how to infuse diplomacy with activism using personal stories, how the occupation is forcing people to be silent about their stories,  on the importance of forming allyships between Palestinians and Israelis for building credibility and swaying the opinions of US lawmakers,  and on being compassionate to yourself. We also discuss the importance of developing a community of young leaders from Israel and Palestine to sociopolitical and economic changes in the region and what it means to be an ally. </p>

<p>New Story Leadership: <a href="https://www.newstoryleadership.org/summer-2020-update" rel="nofollow">https://www.newstoryleadership.org/summer-2020-update</a> </p>

Episode 13: Episode 12: Thabet Abu Rass

Hello everyone, my name is Dr. Anwar Mhajne. I am an Assistant professor of Political Science at Stonehill College in Massachusetts. I created Olive Branch due to my frustration with the never-ending conflict affecting my family and friends in Israel and Palestine. I am hoping that this podcast will help restore our hope in achieving sustainable and equitable peace. Therefore, Olive Branch interviews activists with ties to Israel and Palestine who use non-violent means to promote peace and end the Israeli occupation of the Palestine Territories. 
Join me as I talk with activists dedicated to their work, even though it sometimes alienates them from their families and communities. In these conversations, they think through alternatives to violence and how these concepts might disrupt cycles of bloodshed. Olive Branch provides ideas and tools for changing Israeli and Palestinian social attitudes, political ideologies, and policies.
Image Credit: Stef Murawsky
The music is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0