In this episode, Tom is joined by Fargo Tbakhi, a queer Palestinian American writer and performance artist based in Washington D.C. and winner of 2018 Ghassan Kanafani Resistance Arts Prize. His writings have been published in various literary publications including The Berkeley Review. He is also the recipient of several fellowships. Fargo’s writings and performances challenge notions of erasure and colonization and propose a reality of a free and unoccupied Palestine. Links: Follow Fargo on...

In this episode, Rafeef, Tayla, and Tom are joined by Ahmed Masoud, Gaza-born Palestinian writer, director, and academic based in the United Kingdom. Ahmed is the author of Come What May and Vanished  which address issues in Gazan society, as well as in broader trends in Palestinian history. Ahmed has also directed a number of plays and is the co-founder of PalArt, a collective initiative aimed at promoting Palestinian voices and content in the arts and media. Listen in as we learn about...

In this episode, Rafeef, Tayla, and Tom are joined Dr. Ussama Makdisi, Palestinian-American scholar and academic, currently a Professor of History and Chancellor’s Chair at the University of California Berkeley. Dr Makdisi is the author of several books and publications on sectarianism, Ottoman and Arab history, US-Arab relations, and US missionary work in the Middle East. Listen in as we discuss Dr. Makdisi’s achievements and contributions to Middle-Eastern history, Arab identity and issues...

In this episode, Michael is joined by Palestinian journalist and activist Basel Adra, and Daniel Roth of the Centre for Jewish Nonviolence, to discuss Israel’s plans to expel more than 1,000 Palestinians from their homes in Masafer Yatta. We hear about what is happening on the ground, and discuss the role of journalism and international solidarity in challenging dispossession and apartheid.  Links from this podcast: Basel Adra on TwitterBasel Adra in +972 Magazine: “I was handcuffed and...

In this episode, Michael is joined by Ben Jamal, Director of Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) in the UK. They discuss the anti-boycott bill currently being pushed by the British conservative government, how it poses a threat to freedom of speech and expression, and how civil society is fighting back to defend the ‘right to boycott.’  Links from this podcast: Follow the Palestine Solidarity Campaign on Twitter The PSC’s Right to Boycott campaign Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to...

In this episode, Rafeef, Tayla, and Tom are joined by Chris Gazaleh, Palestinian-American muralist, activist, and community organizer. Using different mediums like ink, paint, and digital illustrations, Chris uses powerful symbols and imagery to advocate for Palestinian human rights and social justice. Listen in to learn about Chris’s art, his inspiration, and his efforts to use art to advocate for Palestinian justice and liberation. Links: To learn more about Chris and his work, visit his...

In this episode, Tayla and Tom are joined by Heifa Odeh, Palestinian-American chef, recipe developer and food blogger. Founder of the blog Fufu’s Kitchen and author of the recent cookbook, Dine in Palestine, Heifa seeks to celebrate and preserve traditional Palestinian dishes and recipes. Listen in to learn about Heifa’s expression and celebration of her Palestinian identity and culture through food.   Links: Check out Heifa’s blog and explore all the different Palestinian and Middle Eastern...

In this episode, Rafeef, Tayla and Tom are joined by Mirna Bamieh, Palestinian chef, artist and founder of the Palestine Hosting Society - a cultural and social project that seeks to reclaim and revitalize Palestinian food practices and dishes. Listen in to learn about Mirna’s commitment to celebrating the Palestinian identity, culture, and heritage through food.  Links: Check out the Palestine Hosting Society founded by Mirna here and visit her website to explore her other art projects and...

In this episode, Rafeef, Tayla and Tom are joined by Farah Nabulsi, Palestinian-British filmmaker and human rights advocate. She has written and produced four short films including Today They Took My Son and Nightmare of Gaza. Her most recent short The Present has won over 50 International awards for its powerful portrayal of the daily struggles faced by Palestinians living under Israeli occupation. Listen in as we discuss The Present, her inspiration, and her efforts to use film to share the...

In this episode, Michael is joined by Jalal Abukhater, a Palestinian writer and activist based in Jerusalem, to discuss settler-colonial violence and dispossession in occupied Palestine. We discuss Israel’s attacks on the Palestinian presence in Jerusalem, Israel’s repeated military invasions in the West Bank (including this week’s deadly attack on Jenin), and Palestinian armed resistance.  Links from this podcast: Jalal Abukhater on TwitterJalal’s websiteTwitter thread by Jalal on the...

In this episode, Michael is joined by Inès Abdel Razek, Executive Director of the Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy (PIPD), an independent Palestinian organization focused on international mobilization and digital campaigning for Justice, Freedom and Equality. We discuss the work of PIPD and Palestine Virtual Reality, trends in Palestinian solidarity since May 2021, and what Palestinians think of Israel’s far-right government.     Links from this podcast: The Palestine Institute for...

In this episode, Rafeef, Tayla and Tom are joined by Darin Sallam, Palestinian-Jordanian writer, director and filmmaker. Her most recent film, Farha, follows a young-girl’s traumatic experience during the Nakba. Despite obstacles in producing the film, Farha has been extremely well-received, especially among Palestinians for its realistic depiction of the devastating events of the Nakba. Listen in as we discuss Farha, her inspiration, and her efforts to use film to share important Palestinian...

In this episode, Michael and Reem are joined by Antony Loewenstein to discuss his latest book, The Palestine Laboratory: How Israel Exports the Technology of Occupation Around the World. We discuss how Israel’s arms industry uses the occupied Palestinian territories as a testing ground for weaponry and surveillance technology that it then exports around the world. We also discuss the censorship of Palestinians and their allies by social media companies and the growing impact of direct action...

In this episode, Rafeef and Tayla are joined by Maysoun Odeh, Palestinian entrepreneur and co-founder and director of “NISAA”, the first Arabic radio station in the Middle East that is run by women for women. Launched in 2010, NISAA’s mission is to transform the perception of “women’s role in society by highlighting their social engagement, successes, and creativity.” Maysoun has worked to help inform and inspire Palestinian to assert their rights and empower themselves. Links: Check out the...

In this episode, Tom, Rafeef and Tayla are joined by Vivien Sansour, the Palestinian-American founder of the Palestine Heirloom Library – a cultural and social project that works with farmers and advocates to recover and conserve threatened crop varieties. Through her art and storytelling, Vivien advocates for greater social engagement with Palestinian agriculture, heritage, and culture. Currently working on an autobiographical book documenting her work on seeds in Palestine and around the...

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Nakba (“catastrophe” in Arabic), when more than 700,000 Palestinians were forcibly expelled from their homes and country during the creation of Israel. To mark this occasion, CJPME and the Ottawa Forum on Israel Palestine recently hosted a webinar with Umar al-Ghubari and Rachel Beitarie, co-directors of Zochrot, a Jaffa-based organization which is dedicated to exposing the truth about the Nakba in Israeli society and promoting the right of return...

In this news round-up episode, Reem joins Tom and Michael to discuss last week’s attack on Palestinian worshippers in the Al-Aqsa compound, and how Canada responded.  They’ll also talk about an interesting comment by Canada’s ambassador to the UN, and a recent humanitarian initiative for Gaza’s struggling farmers.   Links from this podcast: Read CJPME’s press release: Canada must condemn, sanction brutal Israeli attack on Al-Aqsa worshippers CJPME email campaign: Tell Trudeau: end Israeli...

In this episode, Rafeef and Tom are joined by Nasser Jaber, the Palestinian-American co-founder of the Migrant Kitchen - a social enterprise in NYC which showcases the stories and cuisines of immigrant chefs. Nasser arrived in New York from Ramallah in 2001 hoping to make it big on Wall Street; but ended up being one of the city’s most influential restauranteurs. His journey as an advocate for marginalised communities, refugees, and immigrants is just beginning. Links:  Check out The Migrant...

What is data storytelling? How do we shift the dominant narrative on Palestine? On this episode, we are joined by Aline Batarseh, Executive Director of Visualizing Palestine. We discuss the work of Visualizing Palestine, its successes, its challenges, its new strategic plan, international solidarity, and the importance of shifting the narrative toward justice.  Links from this podcast: ·      Visualizing Palestine’s main website ·      Visualizing Palestine 101 ·      VP’s Palestinian...

In this episode, we’re joined by Najat El-Taji El-Khairy, a Palestinian-Canadian artist who has created a unique art form combining her interests in both embroidery and porcelain painting.  Najat’s art has been exhibited in various venues throughout North America, the Middle East and Europe.  Najat has made it her mission to immortalise, protect and preserve the art of Palestinian embroidery.  As she describes it, she’s, ‘Painting her way home, one stitch at a time.’  Links:  Find Najat’s...

In this news round-up episode, Tom and Michael discuss two important recent developments: The smear campaign against progressive Ontario NDP candidate Sarah Jama over her support for Palestinian human rights, and a new initiative from CJPME to demand great accountability of Canadian media in their news coverage of Palestine-Israel.  Links from this podcast: Globe and Mail story on Sarah Jama, quoting Michael Toronto Star story on Sarah Jama, quoting CJPMELetter supporting Sarah Jama from...

In this news round-up episode, Tom and Michael discuss several important recent developments: Canada expresses concern about the settler pogrom on the Palestinian town of Huwara; Canadian senators meet with a far-right member of the Israeli Knesset; and a Halifax school bans students from wearing the Kufiyah, in an incident of anti-Palestinian racism. Links from this podcast: ·      CJPME: Canada must hold Israel responsible for settler terror (Feb 27) ·      CJPME: Senate delegation to...

In this episode of "Debrief," we introduce you to the other CJPME podcast: "All Things Palestinian Canadian."  Focused on the lives and experiences of Palestinians in the diaspora, "All Things Palestinian Canadian" (ATPC) has interviewed Palestinian authors, filmmakers, artists, and more.  In this episode, ATPC speaks with Wafa Ghnaim, an award-winning Palestinian researcher, educator, author and expert in Tatreez living in Washington, DC. Her book, titled, Tatreez and Tea: Embroidery and...

Is the Trudeau government ignoring warnings from its diplomats about Israel’s human rights abuses? On this episode, Michael is joined by Alex Cosh of the Maple to discuss his ongoing reporting on what Canadian officials are saying behind the scenes, and how that often conflicts with Canada’s public statements. We talk about Canada’s warm reception to Israel’s far-right government, its reaction to Israel’s 2022 attack on Gaza, and how it stopped pushing for accountability over Israel’s...