Dr. Haidar Eid on Gaza and Egypt

This week Voice of Palestine talks with Dr. Haidar Eid from Gaza City, a Palestinian author, educator and activist. He will update us on the conditions in Gaza, the impact of the crisis in Egypt and also discuss the charade of the “peace negotiations” between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

Our final music is by the Eskenderella troupe and was part of a tribute concert to the late Sheik Imam, the famous Egyptian singer who first presented the song. The piece also features Ahmad Fouad Njem, the poet who composed the original lyrics for this song, Eternal Egypt. We dedicate this song to the people of Egypt and Palestine.

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Marty Roth on Vancouver Transit Ad Campaign

This week we talk with Marty Roth, a Vancouver activist and member of Independent Jewish Voices IJV. Marty updates us on the work of the local Palestine Awareness Coalition, that is raising money to implement a transit ad campaign entitled “Disappearing Palestine”, and also tells us about the objectives and activities of IJV.

(Added Note from interviewee: Donors who want a tax receipt for their donation should contribute through Necef Sabeel as follows: Online through CanadaHelps (please select Necef with the fund designation: “Palestinian Ad Campaign”) or by cheque payable to Necef Sabeel Canada and mailed to: Necef Sabeel Canada, P.O. Box 3067, Station La Pierre, Lasalle, QC H8N 3H2.)

Our final music is by Lebanese signer Marcel Khalife, entitled Walking Tall, and we dedicate it to the resilience of the Palestinian people, who continue to walk tall and resist, despite the many obstacles facing them, including the theft and confiscation of Palestine’s land.

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Dr. Mate on the Writers Statement Protesting the Forced Expulsion of Palestinians

This week Voice of Palestine talks with Dr. Gabor Mate from Vancouver, an author and long time supporter of Palestinian rights. Gabor will update us about the statement by Canadian writers, to which he was also a signatory, that called on Canadian and Israeli leaders to halt the unjust evictions and resettlement of Palestinians, especially the Bedouin sector under the Prawer Plan.
The final music is by Lebanese signer Julia Boutros, the Sunset of the Truth, and we dedicate it to the steadfast Palestinian people who will not be moved nor silenced.

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Kevin Neish: Update on Gaza
This week Voice of Palestine talks with Kevin Neish, a Victoria-based human rights activist who is currently in Gaza. Kevin, a Mavi Marmara survivor and longtime supporter of Palestinian rights, updates us on the situation for the Gazan population as well as the work he and other volunteers are doing, including with the International Solidarity Movement.

The final music is by Jewish American folksinger David Rovics, entitled All Aboard the Mavi Marmara, and we dedicate it to all those international volunteers who have sacrificed so much in their support for the human rights of the Palestinians.

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Hammam Farah on York University’s Repression against pro-Palestinian Activism
This week Voice of Palestine talks with Hammam Farah about the administrative repression by York University against the club, Students against Israeli Apartheid, and against Hammam personally. He is an active SAIA leader and a York University alum, who has been barred from campus. All of this followed the successful campaign for divestment at the York Federation of Students.

Our final music is two versions of Ya Meit Masa, Oppression will never be Forgotten, a traditional Palestinian folklore song. The first selection is composed by Palestinian singer Mustafa al Kurd and became very famous during the first intifada, and the second is by Vancouver’s Solidarity Notes Choir and is based on Mustafa al Kurd’s interpretation. We dedicate both songs to the steadfastness of the Palestinian people who will not forget, nor forgive, the brutal oppression of the Israeli state and its Zionist backers, including those here in Canada.

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Keynote Speech at the Shatat Conference, Vancouver
This week, Voice of Palestine features the keynote speech by Hanna Kawas at the opening plenary of the Palestinian Shatat Conference, held in Vancouver from May 3-5, 2013. Hanna talked about the long history of Canadian complicity in Palestinian dispossession and ethnic cleansing as well as the current federal government’s policy of unconditional support for Israel. He also discussed the bankrupt and collaborationist nature of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah and the need for democratic and non-sectarian changes within the Palestinian movement.
Visit the conference website for videos of the full opening session and other important plenaries that took place.

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Check the Shatat Conference video:

Update on Persecution of French BDS campaigners
This week we talk with Imen, an activist with the BDS France campaign, who will update us about the persecution of French campaigners for Palestinian rights who participated in BDS protests and actions.
Our final piece of music is by Palestinian singer Walid Abdul Salam, entitled The Wanderer, and we dedicate it to all those courageous activists who clearly see and are challenging the complicity of their own governments in Palestinian dispossession.

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Ali Mallah on pro-Israel Bias in Canadian Policy
This week cohost Hanna Kawas talks with Ali Mallah from Toronto, a longtime anti-war activist and supporter of Palestinian rights. Ali, who is also a past vice-president of the Canadian Arab Federation CAF, will discuss the pro-Israel bias in Canadian policy and the targeting by the federal government of groups that support justice for the Palestinians, including CAF.

Our final piece of music is by Palestinian singer Rim Banna entitled A Time to Cry – Lament over Jerusalem. We dedicate this song to the people of Jerusalem and Palestine, who have been abandoned by the Arab regimes and repeatedly betrayed by Western governments, especially our own Canadian government.

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Palestinian Singer Reem Kelani in Vancouver

This week, Voice of Palestine presents a cultural special featuring Palestinian singer Reem Kelani live in Vancouver. Reem was part of an April 19th, 2013 event organized by local solidarity groups honouring Palestinian Prisoners Day and performed with Vancouver-based Oudist Gordon Grdina and other special guests. The theme of the evening was cultural resistance and we are presenting here a live recording of the first half of Reem’s incredible and memorable performance.

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Dr. Zayid on 1967 Israeli Aggression, Canada Park and the JNF
This week we interview Dr. Ismail Zayid from Halifax, a veteran Palestinian Canadian intellectual and activist. Dr. Zayid talks with us about the 1967 Israeli occupation, as well as the Jewish National Fund and its infamous “Canada Park” built on the ruins of his hometown Beit Nuba.
Our final piece of music for the show is by Jewish American singer David Rovics, entitled Occupation, and we dedicate it to the Palestinians of Beit Nuba, Imwas and Yalu, and to all the Palestinian people as they struggle against the continuing ethnic cleansing of their homeland.
*Two corrections from Dr. Zayid*
1-Dr. Zayid regrets that he misspoke and referred to the Halifax Herald as an Israeli newspaper.
2-The statement from Menachem Begin about the 1967 war was made in August, 1982, not 1968.

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