Alison Weir: The Influence of the Israel Lobby on US Policy

This week Voice of Palestine Cohost Hanna Kawas has an in-depth conversation with Alison Weir, a journalist and founder of the group If Americans Knew and the president of The Council for the National Interest. We talk with her about the groups’ work and objectives, the floundering U.S. “peace process” as well as her new book, “Against our Better Judgement“.

Here is an audio file of this show:

Mazin Qumsiyeh on “Palestine Today and in the Future”
This week, Voice of Palestine presents a live recording of the full speech by Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh at an April 7th public meeting in Vancouver, Canada. Mazin is a Palestinian author, activist and educator who currently lives in Beit Sahour, Palestine and teaches at both Bir Zeit and Bethlehem Universities. His Vancouver talk was entitled “Palestine Today and in the Future” and covered both a wide-ranging analysis of the current situation in Palestine and his own personal experiences.

Here is an audio file of this show:

Tyler Levitan on “Expose the JNF” Campaign

This week Voice of Palestine interviews Tyler Levitan, campaign coordinator for Independent Jewish Voices, Canada. We talk with him about IJV’s ‘Expose the Jewish National Fund JNF’ campaign, their new postcard initiative, and their support for the BDS movement. We also discuss the upcoming Jewish National Fund Galas across Canada, and the campaigns to protest them, including the petition calling on Nikki Yanofsky to cancel her performances at several JNF galas.

(Vancouver Picket against the JNF– April 6, 2014, 5 pm, Four Seasons Hotel,W. Georgia and Howe St.)

Here is an audio file of this show:

The Egyptian Military Junta and What’s Next for Egypt and Gaza
This week we are interviewing Ehab Lotayef, an Egyptian Canadian poet and activist. We talk with him about the shocking developments in Egypt especially the recent 529 death sentences handed down by the Egyptian military junta, as well as their recent moves against the Gaza Strip and their abusive treatment of international supporters of the Gazan population. He also updates us on the progress of the Gazas Ark, and explains the objectives of “Egyptians worldwide for democracy and Justice“, of which he is a member.
Our final music is by the late legendary Egyptian singer, Sheik Imam, entitled Egypt Rise Up. We dedicate this song to the progressive forces in Egypt and across the Arab world, for whom Sheik Imam remains a beacon of inspiration.

Here is an audio file of this show:

Iymen Chehade on Defending Academic Freedom
This week Voice of Palestine interviews Iymen Chehade, an instructor at Columbia College in Chicago. We talk with him about his course at Columbia College, why it was cancelled, and the role of the Zionist lobby in suppressing the Palestinian narrative. We also discuss the recent resolution passed by the American Studies Association supporting the call for BDS and the reaction to it.
(Please sign the online petition in support of Iymen and academic freedom at Columbia College.)
Our final music is by acclaimed progressive Lebanese singer Julia Boutros, The Sunset of the Truth, and we dedicate it to all those struggling to keep the truth of the Palestinian narrative alive despite the efforts by Western governments and media to suppress it.

Here is an audio file of this show:

Samah Idriss on BDS and Normalization
This week Voice of Palestine has a live interview with Lebanese boycott and anti-normalization organizer, Samah Idriss. Samah is also the editor of AlAdab and is visiting Canada to be part of Israeli Apartheid Week activities. We talked with Samah about his work in Lebanon and his trip to Canada.

Our final music is by Canadian singing group, The Three Little Birds, entitled Israel Apartheid. We dedicate it to all those around the world who are participating in and marking the 10th Israeli Apartheid Week.

Here is an audio file of this show:

Lia Tarachansky & her film “On the Side of the Road”
This week Voice of Palestine interviews Israeli-Russian director Lia Tarachansky about her documentary On the Side of the Road, which opened the groundbreaking First International Film Festival on Nakba and Return at Cinematheque Tel Aviv and will be showing next week at the Franco-German Cultural Center in Ramallah. The info on the documentary’s official trailer says – “This is the story of those who fought to erase Palestine and created an Israeli landscape of denial”. Lia is also a correspondent with The Real News Network and we talk with her about her film work, her journalistic activities as well as the personal and political journey that brought her to where she is today.

Our final music is by Jewish-American folk singer David Rovics, The Key, and we dedicate it to the Palestinian diaspora as they carry on the struggle for human and national rights.

Here is an audio file of this show:

Israeli Apartheid Week 2014
This week Voice of Palestine interviews Chand, a member of the Israeli Apartheid Week-Toronto Organizing Committee, and also part of Students against Israeli Apartheid, U of T. She talks with us about the history of Israeli Apartheid Week IAW, which began in Toronto, as well as detailing some of the activities planned for this year. (Watch the IAW 2014 trailer!)
Our final music is a unique South African-Palestinian collaboration between the South African band, The Mavrix and the Palestinian Oud player, Mohammed Omar, called “The New Black.” The March 2012 release of this song and video was marked with a Skype link-up between the Soweto Palestine Solidarity Alliance and activists in Palestine to launch that year’s Israeli Apartheid Week in Gaza.

Here is an audio file of this show:

Josh Ruebner on his book “Shattered Hopes”
This week Voice of Palestine cohost Hanna Kawas has a wide-ranging conversation with Josh Ruebner, an American author, political analyst, and activist. We talk with him about U.S. policy and his new book, Shattered Hopes: Obama’s Failure to Broker Israeli-Palestinian Peace. Josh is also the National Advocacy Director of US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation and discusses the Campaign’s work and objectives.

Here is an audio file of this show:

Diana Alzeer: Live Report from Ein Hijleh Village “Salt of the Earth” Campaign
This week Voice of Palestine interviews Diana Alzeer, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Popular Struggle Coordination Committee. She brings us a live report from the Melh Al-ard (Salt of the Earth) campaign to revive Ein Hijleh Village in the Jordan Valley, as well as discussing the popular resistance in Palestine in general.

Our final piece of music is by Jewish American singer David Rovics, the Children of Jerusalem. We dedicate it to the courageous activists in Ein Hijleh village, whose recent statement concluded with “Daughters and sons of Palestine, be the salt of this earth and stay steadfast on it”.

Here is an audio file of this show: