Lara dives into this week’s episode by breaking down a recent US court case which rules that boycotts are not a protected form of speech. In over 30 states, employees are protesting a law required of them by employers stating that they will not boycott Israel, and this often has no bearing on the job responsibilities. In better news, the European Union recently lifted funding restrictions on Palestinian organizations citing no ties to terrorism, as no evidence has surfaced. Michael shares a story of a young Israeli boy who was sexually assaulted and then arrested by the Israeli government when he tried to report it, and Lara investigates why most articles reporting on Palestinian on Israeli violence use the phrase ’lightly wounded’ when speaking about Israeli soldiers. Michael points out how the tactics used by the occupation are the same as those used by the Nazis. Lara discusses The Youth Law and how child labor/jailing is forbidden everywhere else in the world except for in Israel. The duo also look into the ‘shoot to wound’ policy carried out by Israeli forces and the ensuing amputee crisis in Gaza.

Lara and Michael have the pleasure of interviewing renowned journalist Jamal Elshayyal this week. Jamal began his field experience aboard the Mavi Marmara as part of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla. The first time he witnessed someone being killed in front of him. Jamal also highlights his colleague Shireen Abu Akleh’s career and her murder by Israeli forces, which still demands an investigation. He touches on the murder of a number of journalists, Ghufran Harun Warasneh being one of them. Many names have not received as much attention despite the ongoing targeting of journalists attempting to cover the Palestinian right to resistance.

Jamal also speaks of the BDS movement, specifically companies like General Mills and Ben & Jerry’s who have divested. Finally, he touches on what it was like to cover the news of the Arab Spring and Muammar Gaddafi’s death.

Adnan Barq is talented Palestinian journalist and documentary filmmaker residing in occupied east Jerusalem. Lara and Michael have the pleasure of speaking with Adnan for a second time (check out episode 11 for our first sit down with Adnan) this week. The pod gets an exclusive first-hand account of Walid al-Sharif’s funeral and the violence that ensued as a result. We also circle back to talk about the beloved journalist Shireen Abu Akleh and we get Adnan’s take on how her senseless murder has furthered the resistance movement. Adnan gives insight on the ‘cemetery of numbers’, or the occupation’s practice of withholding slain Palestinian bodies. You’ll also hear about how higher education institutions within occupied Palestine are reacting to actions for justice, and how individual students are affected. Learn what a ‘Karenizer’ is and be part of the discussion.

Lara & Michael discuss the murder of beloved journalist Shireen Abu Akleh who was killed by the occupation on May 11, 2022. The pod takes a moment to recognize all Palestinian journalists who have been targeted by the occupation, and we discuss Shireen’s life and work, and the aftermath of her death.