The Mondoweiss Podcast

On university and college campuses across the United States and Canada, student activists are organizing for Palestinian liberation under the banner of Students for Justice in Palestine, or SJP. As the student-led movement has grown dramatically over the last 20 years, so has anti-Palestinian pushback from Zionist groups and their allies. Organizations like Canary Mission, StopAntiSemitism.org, and other similar rightwing groups have focused a lot of their attention on the student activists of SJP. Despite this, the movement on campuses is strong and shows little signs of slowing down. Earlier this year, the National Students for Justice in Palestine organization held its 10th annual conference. In today’s episode Michael Arria speaks with three SJP activists about how the movement has grown over the last 10 years, and where it is headed in the future. Support independent media covering events in Palestine! Donate today at https://mondoweiss.net/donate Connect with us online Website: https://mondoweiss.net Facebook: https://facebook.com/mondoweiss YouTube: https://youtube.com/MondoweissVideos Instagram: https://instagram.com/mondoweiss Twitter: https://twitter.com/mondoweiss

Earlier this year, Mondoweiss contributing writer Sarah Doyal reviewed the new book, Except For Palestine: The Limits of Progressive Politics, from authors Marc Lamont Hill and Mitchell Plitnick. Sarah wrote: “Delving into the phenomenon long-named in leftist circles as [quote] “Progressive Except for Palestine” [end quote], Hill and Plitnick meticulously deconstruct progressives’ neglect of the Palestinian cause. They explain the ways in which the singular exception of Palestine from demands for equal rights betrays not only Palestinians but the progressive movement itself.” She went on to say: “Except for Palestine is a crucial and ultimately hopeful tool that better equips progressives to combat injustices within their own political circles.” On today’s show Josh Ruebner speaks with Marc Lamont Hill and Mitchell Plitnick about how they came to be advocates for Palestinian liberation, what needs to be done to push the struggle forward, and their critical new book. - - - - - Visit Uncle Bobbie’s online bookshop to buy the book: https://bookshop.org/shop/unclebobbies - - - - - - - - - - Links Marc Lamont Hill – Website: https://www.marclamonthill.com – Twitter: https://twitter.com/marclamonthill Mitchell Plitnick – Rethinking Foreign Policy: https://rethinkingforeignpolicy.org – Twitter: https://twitter.com/MJPlitnick Ending progressives’ Palestinian exception - Sarah Doyle: https://mondoweiss.net/2021/02/ending-progressives-palestinian-exception/ - - - - - - - - - - Visit Mondoweiss for critical coverage of Israel, Palestine, and related U.S. politics: https://mondoweiss.net Support our work with a tax-deductible donation: https://mondoweiss.net/donate/​ Subscribe to our free newsletters covering daily headlines, weekly politics updates, and tracking COVID-19 in Palestine: https://mondoweiss.net/newsletters/ Follow us on social media: – Facebook: https://facebook.com/mondoweiss – Twitter: https://twitter.com/mondoweiss – Instagram: https://instagram.com/mondoweiss – Youtube: https://youtube.com/mondoweissvideos - - - - - FREE PALESTINE

This episode is all about elections. On March 23rd Israel held its fourth national election in two years. And starting in May Palestinians in the occupied territory will be holding their first elections in 15 years. Both elections will serve as a referendum on the current leaders, and both will give us insight into what the future may hold, both for Palestinians living under Israeli occupation and, perhaps, Palestinians world-wide. First, Mondoweiss founder and senior editor Phil Weiss talks with the Israeli human rights activist and writer Yossi Gurvitz to unpack the results of the Israeli election and talk about what comes next. Later, Al-Shabaka Senior Analyst Dr. Yara Hawari and Mondoweiss contributing writer Dr. Haidar Eid speak to our Palestine correspondent, Yumna Patel, about Palestinian politics and whether democratic elections are even possible under Israeli occupation. Times: 01:38 – Yossi Gurvitz interview 31:11 – Dr. Yara Hawari interview 50:58 – Haidar Eid interview

Zaina Arafat joined Mondoweiss Associate Editor Allison Deger to discuss her new novel, YOU EXIST TOO MUCH. This program was part of the Mondoweiss Book Club, a go-at-your-own-pace program that explores new and contemporary Palestinian fiction. Join for free at https://mondoweiss.net/bookclub/. Support Mondoweiss with a tax-deductible donation. Links: – Read an exclusive excerpt of Zaina's novel at our website: https://mondoweiss.net/2021/02/book-club-zaina-arafats-outstanding-debut-novel-you-exist-too-much/ – Zaina's official website: https://zainaarafat.com/

Ahmad Abuznaid was recently named the Executive Director of the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights. In the wake of Trayvon Martin’s murder in 2012, Ahmad co-founded the Dream Defenders. He has interned at the International Criminal Court, presented before the United Nations’ Human Rights Committee and was the Director of the National Network for Arab American Communities. Michael Arria and Dave Reed spoke to him about the future of the Palestine solidarity movement, challenges to expanding BDS work, and how the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights is engaging with Jewish anti-occupation groups. Support Mondoweiss with a tax-deductible donation. Subscribe to THE SHIFT newsletter from Michael Arria. Links: A US human rights group is being sued by pro-Israel organizations over an alleged connection to ‘balloon terror’ - Michael Arria WATCH: A conversation on Palestinian solidarity with black communities w/ Ahmad Abuznaid, Noura Erakat, and Ajamu Amiri Dillahunt

In December 2020 Haymarket Books published Palestine: A Socialist Introduction featuring essays from a number of activists and thinkers inside the Palestine solidarity movement. The book was edited by Sumaya Awad and brian bean. Sumaya is the Director of Strategy and Communications for the Adalah Justice Project. brian is a founding editor of Rampant Magazine and is a socialist activist and writer. Our US Correspondent Michael Arria spoke to Sumaya and brian back in December when the book was released. Support Mondoweiss with a tax-deductible donation. Subscribe to THE SHIFT newsletter from Michael Arria. Links Mondoweiss: "What binds us together is our class politics": new book connects the fight for socialism with the Palestinian cause Haymarket Books: Book release webinar with Sumaya Awad, brian bean, Khury Petersen-Smith, and Jehad Abusalim Jacobin: Be Ready to Fight President Joe Biden on Israel-Palestine, Sumaya Awad and Hadas Thier

Just after the U.S. election in November of last year, our US politics correspondent, Michael Arria, spoke to Zeina Ashrawi Hutchison about the outcome and what it means for Palestinian-American's engaging with the US political system. Zeina is a Palestinian-American activist and DNC delegate from Virginia. You can read Michael's interview with Zeina here. We've covered Joe Biden a lot here at Mondoweiss. Here are some stand out pieces worth taking another look at: VIDEO: Sarah Lazare and Branko Marcetic discuss Biden’s foreign policy and the state of the Democratic Party Arab Americans overwhelmingly support Biden, list ‘race relations’ as biggest issue facing country When our President-Elect took on apartheid: ‘Dammit, our favorites are the people being repressed by that ugly white regime!’ Glad to be rid of Trump, Palestinians don’t expect much better from Biden More stories here. Sign up for Michael's weekly politics newsletter, THE SHIFT, at our website. You can also subscribe to one of our other free newsletters. Please support Mondoweiss with a financial donation today. Your support makes our work possible.

Mondoweiss Palestine Correspondent Yumna Patel interviews Ramallah-based analyst Diana Buttu about the story of 2020 -- normalization. Buttu discusses the impact of the normalization deals between Arab countries and Israel, the Palestine Authority's strategy (or lack thereof) in confronting the threat, and the challenges that lie ahead in 2021. Links: Mondoweiss: Palestinians are fed up with normalization, and how their leaders have handled it New York Times: The U.A.E.-Israel Flight Is Nothing To Celebrate  Sign up for our free newsletters at mondoweiss.net/newsletters/ Music by Podington Bear

What is it like when Proud Boys and Zionists attack you online at the same time? We spoke to Olivia Katbi Smith, national U.S. organizer for the BDS Movement and co-chair of the Portland chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America. In the last few weeks, Olivia was one of the targets of a doxxing attack by a member of the Proud Boys. Shortly after, she was named the "Anti-Semite of the Week" by a rightwing organization created to harass pro-Palestinian activists. Michael Arria spoke to Meera Shah, senior staff attorney at Palestine Legal, about their new website that tracks anti-BDS legislation around the U.S. These bills, in both federal and state legislatures, are direct attacks on basic free speech protections and will have repercussions far beyond the movement to end the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Links: News & Observer: NCSU investigating employee accused of Proud Boys membership. He calls it 'slander.' Willamette Week: Portland’s Democratic Socialists of America Co-Chair Is Suing an Alleged Proud Boy for Doxxing Anonymous Comrads Collective: Doxer Gets Doxed: "Proud Boy" Chadwick Jason Seagraves of NCSU DSA's BDS and Palestine Working Group on Twitter BDS Movement Palestine Legal and their new legislation tracker site.

SHOW NOTES Phil Weiss talks to Palestinian novelist Susan Abulhawa about her latest book, AGAINST THE LOVELESS WORLD. Adam Horowitz talks to organizers of the Palestine Writes Literature Festival, which launched online today. Click here to read Bill Mullen’s review of Susan Abulhawa’s “Against The Loveless World”, and here to watch to Phil’s full interview with Abulhawa. The Palestine Writes Literature Festival is underway! You can still register to attend by visiting this site. Sign up for our free newsletters at mondoweiss.net/newsletters/