Makdisi Street

The brothers welcome Daniel Levy, president of the US Middle East Project (USMEP) and former negotiator, to discuss how Israelis employ negotiations to pursue their political goals of expansionism,  the role of the US as a supposed third-party guarantor, and the growing internal political chaos threatening the Israeli political status quo. Watch the video edition on our YouTube channel Date of recording: April 7, 2025. Follow us on our socials: X: @MakdisiStreet YouTube: @MakdisiStreet Insta: @Makdisist TikTok: @Makdisistreet Music by Hadiiiiii *Sign up at Patreon.com/MakdisiStreet to access all the bonus content, including the latest one*

The brothers welcome Palestinian analyst and researcher Abdaljawad Omar (@hhamayel2) to the show to discuss the nature of the Palestinian Authority's collaborative dealings with the Israeli occupation, how it compares against other examples of collaboration historically, how supporters of the PA regime view their role through the prism of national liberation, and why Palestinians in the West Bank are not able to do more to fight colonial expansion. Check out Abduljawad's recent articles and interviews Watch the video edition on our Youtube channel Date of recording: April 1st, 2025. Follow us on our socials: X: @MakdisiStreet YouTube: @MakdisiStreet Insta: @Makdisist TikTok: @Makdisistreet Music by Hadiiiiii *Sign up at Patreon.com/MakdisiStreet to access all the bonus content, including the latest one*

The brothers welcome artist and activist Wael Tarbieh from the occupied Golan Heights to discuss the Israeli colonization of the region since 1967, the mixed ethnic and confessional makeup of the Indigenous population, and their decades-long steadfastness in retaining their political and legal identity. For more information on the ethnic cleansing of the Golan, check out Al Marsad https://golan-marsad.org/category/map-en/ Watch the video edition on our Youtube channel Date of recording: March 24, 2025. Follow us on our socials: X: @MakdisiStreet YouTube: @MakdisiStreet Insta: @Makdisist TikTok: @Makdisistreet Music by Hadiiiiii *Sign up at Patreon.com/MakdisiStreet to access all the bonus content, including the latest one*

The brothers welcome Palestinian anthropologist (and former chemical engineer) Hadeel Assali. They discuss the kidnapping of Mahmoud Khalil, the history of tunnels and the ecology of Gaza, the ontological relationship of the Palestinians to their indigenous environment that the US-backed Zionist colonizers seek to destroy, the different forms of resistance to incessant colonial surveillance, the story of a secret Israeli population transfer scheme to move Palestinians from Gaza to Paraguay, and the possibilities of life and mutual aid amidst the ongoing genocide. "Opacity in Gaza" http://www.arabstudiesjournal.org/ "Maintaining the Social Fabric: Mutual Aid in Gaza" https://www.palestine-studies.org/en/node/1656919 Watch the episode on our YouTube channel Date of recording: March 10, 2025. Follow us on our socials: X: @MakdisiStreet YouTube: @MakdisiStreet Insta: @Makdisist TikTok: @Makdisistreet Music by Hadiiiiii *Sign up at Patreon.com/MakdisiStreet to access all the bonus content, including the latest one*  

The brothers welcome psychoanalytic scholar, professor and licensed clinical psychologist Lara Sheehi to discuss the historic role of psychoanalysis in national liberation struggles, the connection between the revolutionary work of Franz Fanon and the Palestinian resistance, and how liberal educational institutions are facilitating fascist attacks on oppositional voices. Watch the episode on our YouTube channel Date of recording: March 3, 2025. Follow us on our socials: X: @MakdisiStreet YouTube: @MakdisiStreet Insta: @Makdisist TikTok: @Makdisistreet Music by Hadiiiiii *Sign up at Patreon.com/MakdisiStreet to access all the bonus content, including the latest one*      

The brothers welcome Ramallah-based journalist Mariam Barghouti (@MariamBarghouti) to discuss the ongoing de facto annexation of the West Bank, the unchecked growth of colonial outposts, the role of the mainstream Western media in whitewashing and censoring this violence, and the position of the Palestinian Authority as a subcontractor to the Israeli occupation. Watch the episode on our YouTube channel Date of recording: Feb 11, 2025. Follow us on our socials: X: @MakdisiStreet YouTube: @MakdisiStreet Insta: @Makdisist TikTok: @Makdisistreet Music by Hadiiiiii *Sign up at Patreon.com/MakdisiStreet to access all the bonus content, including a live conversation with Samir Makdisi*      

The brothers welcome journalist and writer Mohammed el-Kurd to the show to discuss his new book, Perfect Victims and the Politics of Appeal (2025), his family's surreal experiences with Jewish Israeli settlers in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah, the role of resistance in the broader meaning of the term, and why Palestinians can never surrender to the "politics of appeal." Watch the episode on our YouTube channel Date of recording: Feb 3, 2025. Follow us on our socials: X: @MakdisiStreet YouTube: @MakdisiStreet Insta: @Makdisist TikTok: @Makdisistreet Music by Hadiiiiii *Sign up at Patreon.com/MakdisiStreet to access all the bonus content, including a live conversation with Samir Makdisi*    

Aslı Bâli, a Professor of Law at Yale and President of the Middle East Studies Association, dives into the pressing issues of academic freedom and geopolitical conflicts impacting scholars advocating for Palestinian rights. She discusses the rise of anti-Palestinian sentiment in the U.S., the repression faced by educators, and the ethical obligation of academics to support human rights. Bâli also explores the implications of U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, the challenges of upholding international law, and the alarming suppression of free expression on campuses.

Wadie Said, a Professor of Law at the University of Colorado and an expert in terrorism law, joins the discussion. He critiques the evolving definitions of 'terrorism' since 9/11, highlighting how these labels affect political narratives and legal implications. They delve into the impact of Trump’s political agenda on immigration and foreign policy, alongside the resilience of Gaza's people amid turmoil. The conversation also addresses the chilling effects of terrorism designations on activism and the unsettling shift towards competing versions of truth in public discourse.

Sherene Seikaly, an associate professor of history at UC Santa Barbara and editor of the Journal of Palestine Studies, joins Anthony Alessandrini, Professor of English and Middle Eastern Studies. They discuss the AHA's controversial stance on Israeli actions, particularly the term 'scholasticide.' Fear and manipulation in political discourse are examined, revealing deep divides in academic responses. The necessity of bold activism against repression and the generational dynamics of pro-Palestine advocacy highlight a critical moment for scholarly integrity and ethical engagement.