Behind the Bastards It Could Happen Here Weekly 212
Dec 13, 2025
Dana Elkurd, a journalist specializing in Middle East politics, leads a gripping discussion on Arab-Israeli normalization and its implications for Gaza. She’s joined by Ben Schumann-Stoller, a producer unpacking the historical context of normalization and the Abraham Accords. Matan Kaminar, an anthropologist, explores the darker aspects of Abrahamic narratives and their impact on xenophobia. Together, they dissect how political and economic interests often overshadow Palestinian rights, shining a light on the complexities of reconciliation and reconstruction.
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Gaza Rebuild As Economic Reengineering
- The GREAT plan frames Gaza reconstruction as an economic reengineering that sidelines Palestinian political rights.
- Dana Elkurd warns the U.S.-Israeli vision treats Gaza as a workforce and incentivizes population removal rather than granting sovereignty.
Abraham Myth Masks Geopolitical Tradeoffs
- The Abraham Accords recast geopolitics as kinship under Abraham to legitimize Arab-Israeli ties.
- Ben Schuman-Stoler and Matan Kaminar argue this myth masks strategic security, economic, and elite grooming purposes.
Kinship Rhetoric Enables Authoritarian Peace
- Abraham operates as an ideological prism linking tolerance rhetoric to authoritarian control.
- Matan Kaminar traces how 'cousinage' rhetoric normalizes suppression of Palestinian claims while promoting elite economic projects.
