Arab Talk with Jess & Jamal

Jess & Jamal discuss the bizarre mystery surrounding the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi and US-Saudi relations. Turkish officials have been leaking information to members of the press that Mr. Khashoggi was killed before his fingers were removed and his body dismembered inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.

Jamal Dajani discusses with Dr. Rabab Abdulhadi the disappearance of Saudi dissident and journalist Jamal Khashoggi and the silence of the Trump Administration. They also discuss the content of the new documents revealing that the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco (JCF) has been consistently funding far-right and anti-Muslim hate groups across the country as far back as 2003. With a 2017 budget of over $240 million, and assets totaling over $1 billion, the JCF funded these hate groups and agitators to the tune of more than 300 million dollars over the course of the years investigated. Read more about the JCF's funding at https://medium.com/@stephanieskora/the-jewish-federation-of-san-francisco-funds-far-right-and-anti-muslim-groups-and-i-can-prove-it-dc030484266c?fbclid=IwAR2tBuJYxUPeHXdmyZP0hFjDv408R7UCERWl-jfIbpw5OtAD_9OjDXljSII

Jess and Jamal discuss with Dr. Rabab Abdulhadi the recent exposé about Canary Mission. A shadowy online entity which publishes negative, often defamatory, portraits of activists, students and academics who are supportive of Palestinians, back the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement for Palestinian rights, or are critical of Israeli state policy in relationship to the Occupation of Palestine. Canary Mission has received $100,000 in funds from the Helen Diller Family Foundation, a “supporting foundation” of the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco.

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.