Adnan Barq, Occupied East Jerusalem, Global Intifada of Unity, Sheikh Jarrah, Al-Aqsa, ‘48, Settlers, Lynchings

Steve Salaita, Internationalism, Decolonization, Settler colonialism, Native Americans, Early Zionists, Reparations

This week, Lara and Michael discuss the absurdity of "settler Jacob," the American settler who can be seen in a recent viral video brazenly attempting to the steal the home of Mona al-Kurd, a young Palestinian woman who hails from the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in occupied East Jerusalem which is currently facing a mass ethnic cleansing campaign at the hands of Zionist settlers who are protected in their colonial pursuits by the Israeli army on a daily basis. #SaveSheikhJarrah because Palestinians, like all humans, deserve to live in their houses without foreign settlers invading and taking over talking about "God said so." Lara provides an update on the lawsuit before the Israeli Supreme Court in relation to the ethnic cleansing of Sheikh Jarrah and spoiler alert, it is loads of garbage and can only be described as quintessentially "Zionist logic." Michael considers that Zionists are like "New York and New Jersey mobsters who intimidate people by hanging them off a bridge" except they do that with logic (lol). Lara insists that the horrific expulsions in Sheikh Jarrah demonstrate that Israel is only interested in stealing more and more land, and that no amount of stolen land will ever be enough when the goal is a Greater Israel, which "map" covers several other countries in the region. Lara and Michael also reveal how Israel's repressive policies extend beyond its borders. For example, Israel provides Mexico with training and weapons in its counterinsurgency against the Zapatistas in Chiapas. Michael underscores the importance of connecting Palestinian activism with May Day solidarity by pointing to Israel's extraction of wealth from Palestinians. Lara provides an update on the Palestinian legislative elections and (spoiler alert), it's not looking good. Lara and Michael share the disturbing results of a global study on the effects of tear gas on reproductive cycles and also shoutout Foodbenders, the Toronto restaurant made target of several baseless lawsuits brought by the Israel lobby (including the terrorist JDL) seeking to crush its displays of Palestinian solidarity. Lara proposes an unusual solution to ending Israeli settler-colonialism and apartheid in Palestine.

Miko Peled, The General’s Son, Judaization of Jerusalem, Zionism is Not Judaism, Anti-Zionism, Right of Return, Liberal Zionism

HR 2590, Betty McCollum, US aid to Israel, Zionism is not Judaism, political prisoners, BDS win

Lara and Michael provide an update on US policy re: Palestinian rights. While the Biden administration recently announced the lifting of sanctions (finally) on the International Criminal Court and its chief prosecutor and the renewal of funding to UNRWA, Lara offers a word of caution: the US may have lifted sanctions on the ICC, but its position opposing the ICC investigation has not changed. As to UNRWA, Lara calls on us never to lose sight of the big picture that UNRWA should not even exist because Palestinians should not be refugees to begin with because they should be allowed to return to their homes in Palestine. In light of the recent viral video of Majd Barbar, a Palestinian father and husband from East Jerusalem who was released from Israeli military prison following a 20 year sentence for his role in resisting Israeli colonization, the rest of the episode focuses on political prisoners. Lara and Michael shout out congresswoman Betty McCollum, who, in 2019 co-sponsored a bill to prohibit American tax dollars from being used by the Israeli military to detain, interrogate, abuse or torture Palestinian children. Lara highlights the twisted reality that Israel jails Palestinian men, women, and children for engaging in what would otherwise be protected freedoms in democratic societies, like the freedom of speech, freedom of association, and the right to protest. Michael quotes Rick Ross.

campus activism, anti-BDS laws, US constitutional law, IHRA, anti-semitism, anti-zionism, John Hagge, Palestine Legal

Israeli elections, voter suppression, “fauxonly” Democracy in the Middle East, Biden IS Trump on Palestine

Comedy, Cultural Appropriation, Ethnic cleansing, Ethnic replacement, Akka, Palestinian food

Black-Palestinian Solidarity, Israeli Medical Apartheid, Hasbara, Informational Warfare, Crocodile Sympathy, Hedy Epstein, Gaza Freedom March, Birthright

Lara’s Family, Palestinian refugees, Stateless, Campus Activism, Nakba, Land Theft, Michael’s family, Zionism is not Judaism, Anti-Zionism