Arab Talk with Jess & Jamal

Jess & Jamal discuss with Dr. Rabab Abdulhadi the confirmation hearing of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the US Supreme Court and the testimony of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford who testified that she was sexually assaulted by him. Dr. Abdulhadi discusses institutional bullying and how women are fighting back.

Jamal Dajani interviews Big Harp George (Bisharat) about his latest album: Uptown Cool. They discuss his latest release, his inspiration to pursue music after a successful academic career, the difference between the big chromatic harmonica and the smaller diatonic one. Big Harp George’s latest release Uptown Cool has been winning rave reviews. For more information visit BigHarpGeorge.com

Jess & Jamal discuss the demise of the Oslo agreement signed between Israel and the PLO at the White House twenty-five years ago to bring about an independent Palestinian state on the territories occupied by Israel in 1967. Today, most Palestinians believe that the Oslo agreement is dead and diminishes Palestinian rights. Jess & Jamal also discus Trump’s “Deal of the Century.”

Jess & Jamal discuss Israel’s secretly arming and funding at least 12 “rebel” groups in southern Syria. The Israeli military transfers, which ended in July of this year, included assault rifles, machine guns, mortar launchers and transport vehicles. Israeli security agencies delivered the weapons through three gates connecting the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights to Syria.

Jess and Jamal discuss how the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia may behead a Saudi woman activist for her work on human rights and justice in the Kingdom. They further discuss the implications for the Middle East and the role of US foreign policy in the region. Trump's political problems were discussed in light of the development of felony charges against Paul Manafort and Michael Cohen.

Jess and Jamal discuss the recent detainment of journalist Peter Beinart by the Israeli Shin Bet upon his arrival at Ben Gurion Airport as well as other Jewish Americans who have detained recently trying to enter Israel. Jamal, reporting from Jerusalem, reports on what is happening on the ground now in Palestine and they both discuss the implications of Trump Administration policies for peace in the Middle East.

Jess Ghannam interviews Attorney Behnam Gharagozli, who is representing Professor Rabab Abdulhadi of San Francisco State University. Professor Abdulhadi has been attacked legally by the Lawfare Project in an attempt to silence her and her academic work on Palestine. The judge in this case, Judge Orrick, has essentially dismissed the case against Professor Abdulhadi, but there is one more hearing this Wednesday, August 8th at 2pm. The outcome will have profound implications for academic freedom in the United States. Attorney Gharaghozli is co-council with Attorney Mark Kleinman on this important legal case.

Jess and Jamal discuss how Israel for years has been interfering with US elections via surrogates like AIPAC. The Russian election interference scandal pales in comparison to what these Israeli surrogates have been doing for decades to elect people to the Congress who are more loyal to Israel than the US. Jess and Jamal also discuss the release of Ahed Tamimi and her mother from prison, the failed Kushner peace plan in the Middle East and new developments in Syria.

Jess and Jamal explore the Trump Administration's attempt to create peace in the Middle East.

Jess & Jamal discuss Israel’s “nationality bill” which states only Jewish people have the right to self-determination in the State of Israel, declaring Israel a nation-state for the Jewish people and downgrading the status of Arabic from official language to “special status.” Please excuse the poor audio quality caused by technical difficulties.