Occupied Thoughts

Featuring: Hassan El-Tayyab (FCNL), Rebecca Abou Chedid (Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP), and Josh Ruebner (IMEU) This session explored the unique role played by Congress in shaping US policy toward Israel/Palestine and the various intended and unintended consequences of that role. Recorded March 17, 2023. For resources and further information, please visit: https://fmep.org/resource/2023-congressional-briefing-series-on-palestine-and-israel-key-issues-for-the-118th-congress/

Part 5: Internal Palestinian Politics Featuring: Dr. Dana El Kurd (University of Richmond), Salem Barahmeh, and Khaled Hroub (Northwest University – Qatar) This session will look at the state of Palestinian politics and political institutions as well as the future of the Palestinian national movement, including the effects of the ongoing political division between Fatah & Hamas, the question of if, when and how to hold elections, prospects for internal political and institutional reforms, and the likely challenges of political succession (post-Abbas). Recorded March 10, 2023. For resources and information, visit: https://fmep.org/resource/2023-congressional-briefing-series-on-palestine-and-israel-key-issues-for-the-118th-congress/

Part 4 - Free Speech, Lawfare, & the Right to Protest Featuring: Suhad Babaa (Just Vision), Yousef Munayyer (Arab Center Washington DC), & Dylan Saba (Palestine Legal) In this session we explored issues surrounding grassroots activism in protest of Israeli policies, including through calls for boycotts, divestment and sanctions (BDS), and the parallel rise in efforts, including in Congress and state legislatures, aimed at curtailing criticism of Israel/Zionism and/or advocacy for Palestinian rights and their implications for free speech and a healthy policy debate on Israel and Palestine. Recorded March 3, 2023. For resources and further information, visit: https://fmep.org/resource/2023-congressional-briefing-series-on-palestine-and-israel-key-issues-for-the-118th-congress/

Part 3 - Human Rights & Accountability Featuring: Francesca Albanese (UN Special Rapporteur), Rabea Eghbaria (Harvard Law School), Shawan Jabarin (Al-Haq) This session will look at human rights conditions in Israel and the occupied territories, as they relate to both the Israeli government and Palestinian political actors in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, as well as the broader question of accountability. Recorded February 10, 2023. For resources and further information, visit: https://fmep.org/resource/2023-congressional-briefing-series-on-palestine-and-israel-key-issues-for-the-118th-congress/

Part 2: Extremism in Israel Featuring: Amjad Iraqi (+972 Magazine), Natasha Roth-Rowland (+972 Magazine), and Shaul Magid (Dartmouth) This session explored the rise and normalization of extremism and extremists in Israeli politics, particularly in light of the current far-right government of Benjamin Netanyahu, and what it means for Palestinian rights, prospects for peace, regional stability, and Israel’s standing in the international community. Recorded February 17, 2022. For resources and further information, visit: https://fmep.org/resource/2023-congressional-briefing-series-on-palestine-and-israel-key-issues-for-the-118th-congress/

Part 1 – Beyond Oslo Featuring: Omar Dajani, Dr. Maha Nassar, & Dr. Shibley Telhami This session examined the successes and failures of the Oslo process 30 years on and the extent to which the Oslo framework, including the two-state solution, remains relevant to a lasting peace settlement in Palestine/Israel. Recorded February 10, 2023. For resources and further information, visit: https://fmep.org/resource/2023-congressional-briefing-series-on-palestine-and-israel-key-issues-for-the-118th-congress/

In this episode of Occupied Thoughts, FMEP 2023 Palestinian Non-resident Fellow Dr. Yara Asi speaks with FMEP's Sarah Anne Minkin about how to understand Palestinian public health, especially in the West Bank and Gaza. What are the impacts of Israeli apartheid and occupation on Palestinian public health? What is the role of the Palestinian Authority? What are possibilities and priorities for change? Dr. Yara M. Asi is an Assistant Professor at the University of Central Florida in the School of Global Health Management and Informatics and a Visiting Scholar at the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard University in her capacity as Co-Director of the Palestine Program for Health and Human Rights. Sarah Anne Minkin is FMEP's Director of Programs & Partnerships. Original music by Jalal Yaquoub.

As Israel’s far-right has gained political influence and momentum, including with respect to the current government’s “judicial reform” plans, the outsized impact of the Kohelet Policy Forum - a formerly low-profile, high-impact Israeli think-tank - has increasingly been making headlines. These include the New York Times (“Who’s Behind the Judicial Overhaul Now Dividing Israel? Two New Yorkers”), Haaretz (The Kohelet Tentacles: Inside the Web Surrounding the Right-wing Think Tank).  Two key parts of this story -- insufficiently understood and examined by the media -- are the ties between Kohelet and right-wing fellow travelers and funders in the U.S., and their years-long efforts to influence policy and law not only in Israel, but in the United States, both at the state- and federal-level. Join FMEP & Jewish Currents for a conversation among experts who have been researching and documenting the activities and funding of the Kohelet Policy Forum including its transnational connections and impact of its work in both the U.S. and Israel/Palestine.  Featuring Ran Cohen (Democratic Bloc), Yousef Munayyer (Arab Center DC) & Eran Nissan (Mehazkim), and Lara Friedman (FMEP); moderated by Sarah Anne Minkin (FMEP).

In this episode of Occupied Thoughts, FMEP’s Lara Friedman speaks to Vito Todeschini (legal expert in human rights law, international humanitarian law and international accountability, focusing on Palestine/Israel and the wider MENA region) about ongoing efforts to enforce some measure of accountability on Israel for its actions vis-a-vis Palestinians via international legal bodies - most notably the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice. They also look at the stark contrast between the ICC’s quick action vis-à-vis Russia’s Vladimir Putin, and the ICC’s very slow process with respect to Palestine. For more details & resources related to this podcast go to: https://fmep.org/resource/the-quest-for-justice-for-palestine-at-the-icc-and-icj-where-things-stand-today-why-it-matters/

In this episode of Occupied Thoughts, FMEP's Sarah Anne Minkin speaks with +972's Haggai Matar about the developments of the last two days -- Netanyahu firing the Defense Minister after the latter spoke out against the judicial and legislative reforms; hundreds of thousands of Israelis protesting against the government; a general strike that has shut down businesses, universities, ports and the airport; and the planned far-right armed demonstration this evening in Jerusalem. Haggai talks about the tension between the Israelis who are protesting "under the banner of democracy" and the actual possibility of dismantling apartheid in Israel/Palestine. Original music by Jalal Yaquoub.