La Voz de César Vidal Interview with Jonathan Kuttab: The reality of Gaza as seen through the eyes of a Palestinian Christian - 01/11/24
Today César Vidal will interview attorney Jonathan Kuttab.
Jonathan Kuttab is a co-founder of the Palestinian human rights group Al-Haq and co-founder of Nonviolence International. A well-known international human rights attorney, Jonathan practices in the US, Palestine and Israel. He is a Palestinian Christian, and serves on the Board of Bethlehem Bible College and is President of the Board of Holy Land Trust. Jonathan was the head of the Legal Committee negotiating the Cairo Agreement of 1994 between Israel and the PLO.
After graduating with his Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD) from Virginia Law School, and practicing a couple years on Wall Street, Jonathan returned home to Palestine. Jonathan was visiting scholar at Osgoode Law School at York University in Toronto in the Fall of 2017, and is a founding director of Just Peace Advocates Mouvement pour une Paix Juste, a Canadian based international law human rights not-for-profit organization. Jonathan is currently the executive director of Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA).
Jonathan is a partner of Kuttab, Khoury and Hanna Law Firm in East Jerusalem.
Jonathan Kuttab’s articles have appeared in the Middle East Institute, Arab News, Arab Center Washington DC, Al Jazeera, the Electronic Intifada, and others.
Jonathan provides analysis regarding International Law & Human Rights, understanding the facts on the ground, what options are possible beyond a two state solution and Christian Zionism.
Renowned Palestinian human rights attorney Jonathan Kuttab joins us to share his unique perspective as a Palestinian Christian advocating for non-violence and justice. Through personal stories and reflections from his book "The Truth Shall Set You Free," Jonathan offers a firsthand account of the ongoing Israeli occupation and its impact on non-Jewish communities in Israel. His experiences shed light on the broader implications of the Zionist movement, challenging us to confront issues of expulsion and discrimination faced by Palestinians.
Our conversation takes a deep dive into the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, examining the potential and pitfalls of law and nonviolent resistance as tools for change. Jonathan's involvement in the Oslo Accords and the Cairo Agreement negotiations provides a revealing look at the complexities and disappointments of these peace efforts. Despite the initial hope for establishing a Palestinian state, Jonathan reflects on the lack of commitment from Israel, suggesting that the accords may have been more strategic than sincere.
In a poignant discussion on justice and peace, Jonathan emphasizes the need for fairness, equality, and adherence to international law. He draws parallels between the cycle of violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and lessons from the Holocaust, urging a focus on universal human rights over power-driven agendas. As we conclude, Jonathan leaves us with a heartfelt expression of hope, inspired by the civil rights movement, envisioning a future where justice and equality are realized for all.