Occupied Thoughts

In this episode of "Occupied Thoughts," FMEP's Sarah Anne Minkin conducts a series of short interviews with analysts and experts discussing what's new and what's not new in the results of this week's Israeli elections. Tune in to hear: Yousef Munayyer, non-resident fellow at Arab Center DC Amjad Iraqi, editor and journalist at +972 Magazine Dr. Maha Nassar, associate professor at the University of Arizona and non-resident fellow at FMEP Hagai El-Ad, executive director of the Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem and Lara Friedman, president of FMEP.

In this episode of Occupied Thoughts, Natasha Roth-Rowland, Orly Noy, and Peter Beinart join FMEP’s Sarah Anne Minkin to discuss Jewish Supremacy. Some analysts (Orly Noy and Peter Beinart among them) use “Jewish supremacy” as a way of explaining Israeli political and social structures broadly. At the same time, Jewish supremacist politicians are predicted to gain significant power in the Israeli government in the next election. In this podcast, we discuss what “Jewish supremacy” means when Jewish critics of Israel use it, what value there is in trying to understand Israel as a Jewish supremacist regime and/or society, and how this analytical framing relates to other frames including apartheid and settler colonialism. Original music by Jalal Yaquoub.

In this episode of Occupied Thoughts, FMEP’s Lara Friedman speaks to Sheryl Nestel, co-author of a new report published by Canada’s Independent Jewish Voices (IJV), entitled, Unveiling the Chilly Climate – The Suppression of Speech on Palestine in Canada. Sheryl discusses why the report was necessary, the research methodology it entailed, the key findings, what the authors and IJV hope the report will achieve, and why this report matters not just for Canada, but for the world.

In this episode of Occupied Thoughts, journalist and human rights activist Basel Adraa joins FMEP's Sarah Anne Minkin to discuss the acceleration of threats and violence from the Israeli army and settlers in Masafer Yatta, both inside of Firing Zone 918, which is under special unique threat of expulsion and forced population transfer, and outside of it, including in A-Twani, Basel's village. See www.fmep.org for resources on the many incidents and developments Basel discussed.  Basel Adraa is an activist, journalist, and photographer from the village of A’Twani who publishes on +972 and Humans of Masafer Yatta on Instagram and Substack. Basel's Twitter: @basel_adra Sarah Anne Minkin, PhD is the Director of Programs and Partnerships at FMEP. Her Twitter: @saminkin. Original music by Jalal Yaquoub.

In this episode of FMEP’s Occupied Thoughts podcast, Jessica Montell, Executive Director of the Israeli human rights organization HaMoked, joins FMEP’s Lara Friedman to discuss the latest version of Israel's new procedures -- published, updated, and due to be implemented on October 20, 2022 -- governing all entry of foreigners solely to the West Bank. As Hamoked has noted in its September 14, 2022 analysis of the new regulations, this new version includes a few substantive changes, but "most of the flaws remain and some even exacerbated." Hamoked further notes: "the new procedure is highly restrictive and needlessly hampers the entry of foreign passport holders to the oPt and their ability to stay there without interruption….All this, without any legal basis or reasonable grounds, and contrary to Israel’s obligation to act for the benefit of the protected population living under occupation.” For more information and resources, please visit: https://fmep.org/resource/24402/

In this episode of "Occupied Thoughts," FMEP's non-resident fellow Dr. Maha Nassar is joined by Dr. Basil Farraj to discuss Palestinian political prisoners, which is a central issue for Palestinians living under Israeli occupation. Their discussion examines on how Israel's "carceral regime" is a key component of Israel's occupation, how arbitrary "administrative detention" is a key tool within that regime, how military courts system functions, and the effects all of this has on Palestinians and their struggle for liberation. For more information and further resources, please visit: https://fmep.org/resource/palestinian-political-prisoners-and-israels-carceral-regime/

On this episode of Occupied Thoughts, FMEP's Kristin McCarthy is joined by Amy Cohen of Ir Amim to unpack the threat that land registration poses to Palestinians. Though land registration is a complex and bureaucratic process, Ir Amim characterizes it as one of (if not the) most pressing modes of dispossession facing Palestinians living in East Jerusalem. Listen to understand why and how Israel is cynically exploiting land registration to grow settlements, expropriate more land, and push Palestinians out of the city. For resources mentioned in this podcast, please visit: https://fmep.org/resource/a-settler-tool-a-catch-22-for-palestinians-land-registration-in-east-jerusalem/

During the 2022 Democratic Party Primaries Israel-aligned funders invested tens of millions of dollars to defeat progressive candidates who, as part of a broader rights-based, democratic agenda, support Palestinian rights. To examine this phenomenon and its implications, FMEP non-resident Fellow Dr. Maha Nassar will host political strategist Rania Batrice, FMEP President Lara Friedman, and analyst Dr. Yousef Munayyer in conversation to address questions like: How does Israel/Palestine show up in Democratic Party politics today? How deep is the embrace of Palestinian rights among progressive candidates and in the grassroots? What has pushback from Israel-aligned funders (from both parties) looked like and how may it manifest in the future, and what does it mean for progressive organizing and candidates in the future? Original music by Jalal Yaquoub.

In this episode of Occupied Thoughts, FMEP's Lara Friedman speaks with Israeli journalist Noam Sheizaf about the deepening love affair between the American and Israeli "new right" - a topic that Noam examined in his recent article in +972 Magazine, An Israeli home for America’s New Right. Noam Sheizaf is a Tel Aviv based journalist, the founding editor of +972 Magazine where he still writes, along with Haaretz and other publications. Noam recently completed a documentary about Hebron, titled "H2: The occupation Lab," that premiered at the Doc Aviv film festival in Tel Aviv. Lara Friedman is President of FMEP. Original music by Jalal Yaquoub.

In this episode of FMEP’s Occupied Thoughts podcast, FMEP’s Lara Friedman speaks with Omar Shakir, Israel and Palestine Director at Human Rights Watch, about Israel’s further targeting of Palestinian human rights/civil society, with the "ratification" 8/17/22 of Israeli decisions to designate 6 Palestinian NGOs as terror organizations, and Israel's move 8/18/22 to raid and shut down the groups. Further resources/links: https://fmep.org/resource/this-is-not-a-drill-israel-brings-the-hammer-down-on-the-palestinian-ngo-sector-ft-omar-shakir/