Occupied Thoughts

In this episode of Occupied Thoughts, FMEP Fellow Peter Beinart speaks with analyst Seth Binder about the technicalities of U.S. aid to Israel. They discuss the ways in which U.S. aid to Israel works differently from U.S. aid to other countries, the legal requirements & questions surrounding U.S. aid to Israeli military units that commit human rights abuses, and the question of whether, and in what ways, the debate over conditioning aid to Israel is changing. Peter Beinart is a Non-Resident Fellow at the Foundation for Middle East Peace. He is also a Professor of Journalism and Political Science at the City University of New York, a Contributing opinion writer at the New York Times, an Editor-at-Large at Jewish Currents, and an MSNBC Political Commentator. Seth Binder is Director of Advocacy at the Middle East Democracy Center, a merger between POMED (Project on Middle East Democracy) & The Freedom Initiative. He is an expert in arms sales, authoritarianism, human rights, national security, security assistance and U.S. foreign aid and foreign policy. Original music by Jalal Yaquoub.

This podcast is the audio recording of a webinar featuring Miranda Cleland, Defense for Children International-Palestine, & Hamdi Shaqqura, Palestinian Center for Human Rights, in conversation with 2023 FMEP Fellow Dr. Yara Asi. To see links to the resources mentioned in the webinar, go to the landing page for this webinar: https://fmep.org/resource/dead-disabled-displaced-detained-orphaned-the-toll-of-israels-war-on-palestinian-childre/ Israel’s war in Gaza and the increased violence in the West Bank – now known as the “Quiet War” – have affected Palestinian children in particularly horrific ways. Human rights researchers have documented these specific harms: Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 13,800 children, turned 19,000 into orphans, and made more than 1000 into amputees. More than 1 million children have lost their homes. Dozens of children have already starved to death, and up to 60% of the children in northern Gaza are experiencing acute malnourishment in a famine that is spreading at the fastest rate of starvation on record anywhere in the world, and which may constitute the war crime of deliberate starvation. As UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini put it, “This war is a war on children. It is a war on their childhood and their future.” And in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, Palestinian children continue to face arrest and detention, home demolitions and expulsions. Over the past six months, increased violence at the hands of the IDF and the IDF-backed settlers over the past six months has killed 117 Palestinian children. In this webinar, public health expert Dr. Yara Asi spoke with experts from two premiere Palestinian human rights organizations: Hamdi Shaqqura from the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), a Gaza-based organization which continues to operate and collect data in Gaza even under the most difficult circumstances; and Miranda Cleland from Defense for Children International-Palestine, which focuses on the rights of Palestinian children under Israeli occupation. Bios: Dr. Yara Asi is an assistant professor at the University of Central Florida in the School of Global Health Management and Informatics, and a visiting scholar at the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard University, where she is co-director of the Palestine Program for Health and Human Rights. Her new book with Johns Hopkins University Press, How War Kills: The Overlooked Threats to Our Health, examines war as a public health crisis. Miranda Cleland is an advocacy officer at Defense for Children International - Palestine and lives in Washington, D.C., where she leads the No Way to Treat a Child campaign and advocates for the human rights of Palestinian children. Miranda is a writer, speaker, facilitator, and campaigner with expertise in children's rights, the Israeli military detention system, and Israeli military killings of Palestinian children. She holds a bachelor's with honors from American University in International Studies and Arabic language and has taken additional coursework in international law and the protection of children in armed conflict. Hamdi Shaqqura is a human rights defender who lives and works in Gaza. He holds a master’s degree in political science from Illinois State University in 1990. He has been working at the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) since 1995, and is Deputy PCHR Director for Program Affairs as well as the Director of the Advocacy Program. Original music by Jalal Yaquoub.

In this episode of Occupied Thoughts, political analyst Khalil Sayegh joins FMEP Fellow Peter Beinart to look at the current situation on the ground in Gaza, where Sayegh's family is located, including a discussion of the military and political dynamics of both Israel and Hamas. Looking towards the future, Sayegh discusses the ways the in which Israel has made Gaza unlivable and has no plan to make it livable again, thus creating the conditions for mass depopulation of Gaza and laying the groundwork for continued armed Palestinian resistance. On April 24th, Khalil Sayegh posted that his 18 year old sister in Rafah, Lara Sayegh, was killed in Gaza and his mother is currently in a coma. We offer our deepest condolences to Khalil and continue to be grateful for his voice and analysis. Khalil Sayegh is a political analyst focused on Palestinian politics and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Born and raised in the Gaza Strip, Sayegh is the co-founder of the Agora Initiative, which promotes constitutional democracies in the Middle East. Peter Beinart is a Non-Resident Fellow at the Foundation for Middle East Peace. He is also a Professor of Journalism and Political Science at the City University of New York, a Contributing opinion writer at the New York Times, an Editor-at-Large at Jewish Currents, and an MSNBC Political Commentator. Original music by Jalal Yaquoub.

FMEP is honored to host Josh Paul, Tariq Habash, and Annelle Sheline for their first joint public appearance and conversation over their individual decisions to resign from their jobs in the Biden Administration over the President’s policy on Israel, Palestine, and the ongoing war in Gaza. We discuss the Biden Administration’s policy and decision-making, and the possibilities for changing course, as well as the personal stakes, choices, and costs of public protest against the U.S.’s close embrace of Israel and its brutal war on Gaza. This podcast is a recording of the live webinar FMEP hosted on Friday, April 12, 2024. Original music by Jalal Yaquoub.

In this episode of Occupied Thoughts, 2023 FMEP Fellow Dr. Yara Asi joins FMEP's Dr. Sarah Anne Minkin to discuss Israel's March 2024 attack on Al Shifa hospital, the largest and most important medical center in Gaza, known as the heart of the healthcare system in the Gaza Strip. In addition to looking at the details of Israel's assault on Al Shifa and the area around it, Dr. Asi discusses the destruction of Al Shifa as part of Israel's ongoing effort to destroy the infrastructure needed to sustain any life in Gaza. Original music by Jalal Yaquoub.

In this episode of Occupied Thoughts, FMEP Fellow Rania Batrice speaks with journalist Ryan Grim about the limitations of mainstream media's reporting on Israel's war on Gaza and the opportunities and potential for independent journalism focused on Israel & Palestine more broadly. Addressing the high stakes of U.S. politics, they also speak about repression against advocates for Palestinian life and rights and the upcoming US elections. Rania Batrice is an activist and strategist for progressive change, a public relations specialist, and a political consultant. She is one of two FMEP’s 2024 Palestinian non-resident Fellows. Ryan Grim is The Intercept’s D.C. Bureau Chief and the host of the podcast Deconstructed. He authors the newsletter Politics With Ryan Grim and was previously the Washington bureau chief for HuffPost, where he led a team that was twice a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, and won once. He edited and contributed reporting to groundbreaking investigative project on heroin treatment that not only changed federal and state laws, but also shifted the culture of the recovery industry. The story, by Jason Cherkis, was a Pulitzer finalist and won a Polk Award. Original music by Jalal Yaquoub.

In this episode of Occupied Thoughts, FMEP Fellow Peter Beinart speaks with writer Ahmed Moor about a range of urgent issues, including how the conversation about post-war Gaza doesn’t include Palestinians, the ethics of not voting for Joe Biden, and in what ways the Palestine solidarity movement can change Washington. Original music by Jalal Yaquoub.

In this episode of Occupied Thoughts, FMEP Fellow Peter Beinart is joined with Steven Simon, former Director of the National Security Council in the Obama Administration. The two discuss what the conversation in the White House in regards to U.S. policy towards Israel, as it was in the Obama Administration and possibly now in the Biden Administration. For bios and resources, see: https://fmep.org/resource/biden-israel-what-its-like-to-make-policy-in-the-white-house/

In this episode of Occupied Thoughts, FMEP Fellow Rania Batrice and analyst Krystal Ball look at the controversy surrounding allegations of widespread and systematic sexual assault by Hamas on October 7th. This conversation does not ask “was there or wasn’t there sexual assault on October 7?” Rather, it focuses on the harm caused by biased media reports and the absence of independent and thorough investigations. The podcast discusses how the narratives promulgated by mainstream US media - most notably the 12/28/23 New York Times front-page article entitled "Screams Without Words: How Hamas Weaponized Sexual Violence on October 7th" - have contributed to the dehumanization of the entire Palestinian population of Gaza, and the politicization of what should be a serious demand for professional investigation and accountability for the crimes of October 7th. Krystal Ball is the host of Breaking Points, a former MSNBC contributor and former Democratic nominee for Congress in the First District of Virginia. Rania Batrice is an activist and strategist for progressive change, a public relations specialist, and a political consultant. She is one of FMEP's 2024 Palestinian non-resident Fellows. Relevant Articles: Krystal Ball, 3/5/24, on the UN Report released on 3/4/24: UN Report CAN'T Prove 10/7 Mass Sex Assault Claims Krystal Ball 3/5/24, Local Israelis DEBUNK NYT Sexual Assault Allegation - video clip Krystal Ball 2/29/24 on the New York Times 12/28/23 story, ““'Screams Without Words': How Hamas Weaponized Sexual Violence on Oct. 7.” - video clip CNN 3/1/24: The New York Times stands by its reporting on the Hamas terror attack after questions are raised The Nation 3/1/24: The Nixonian New York Times Stonewalls on a Discredited Article About Hamas and Rape - The newspaper of record botches an important story about sexual violence on October 7. The Wrap 2/29/24: New York Times Opens Leak Investigation Over Israel-Gaza Reporting Jacobin 2/29/24: The New York Times Has an Ugly Anti-Palestinian Bias Vanity Fair 2/29/24: New York Times Launches Leak Investigation Over Report on Its Israel-Gaza Coverage The Intercept 2/28/24: “Between the Hammer and the Anvil” -The Story Behind the New York Times October 7 Exposé Al Jazeera 2/28/24: Food blogger, Israeli film director scripted Hamas rape story for NYT Daily Beast 2/25/24: New York Times ‘Reviewing’ Reporter Who Liked Gaza ‘Slaughterhouse’ Tweet Common Dreams 2/26/24: NYT 'Reviewing' Israeli Reporter Who Liked Gaza 'Slaughterhouse' Post Mondoweiss 2/25/24: Extraordinary charges of bias emerge against NYTimes reporter Anat Schwartz The Intercept 1/28/24: New York Times Puts “Daily” Episode on Ice Amid Internal Firestorm Over Hamas Sexual Violence Article Original music by Jalal Yaquoub.

In this episode of Occupied Thoughts, FMEP’s Sarah Anne Minkin speaks with Nour Joudah, Assistant Professor at UCLA and one of FMEP’s 2024 Palestinian Non-Resident Fellows. Nour speaks of her background, her Palestinian identity, and her research that looks not only at indigenous survival but at indigenous life, knowledge, and duration. She discusses the meaning of this moment in time for Palestinians and Palestine and encourages the listener not to surrender to fatalism but instead to insist that there is another path forward. Nour Joudah is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Asian American Studies at UCLA and a former President’s and Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow in Geography at UC-Berkeley (2022-23). Dr. Joudah completed her PhD in Geography at UCLA (2022), and wrote her dissertation Mapping Decolonized Futures: Indigenous Visions for Hawaii and Palestine on the efforts by Palestinian and native Hawaiian communities to imagine and work toward liberated futures while centering indigenous duration as a non-linear temporality. Her work examines mapping practices and indigenous survival and futures in settler states, highlighting how indigenous countermapping is a both cartographic and decolonial praxis. She also has a MA in Arab Studies from Georgetown University, and wrote her MA thesis on the role and perception of exile politics within the Palestinian liberation struggle, in particular among politically active Palestinian youth living in the United States and occupied Palestine. Sarah Anne Minkin, PhD, is FMEP's Director of Programs & Partnerships. She leads FMEP’s programming, works to deepen FMEP’s relationships with existing and potential grantees, and builds relationships with new partners in the philanthropic community. Sarah Anne earned her doctorate at the University of California-Berkeley and is an affiliated faculty member at UC-Berkeley’s Center for Right-Wing Studies. Original music by Jalal Yaquoub.

In this episode of Occupied Thoughts, FMEP Fellows Rania Batrice & Peter Beinart speak about Arab American politics and why the Biden administration is out of step with Democratic Voters. They look at the political organizing around the Michigan primary this week, the Arab American political awakening, and discuss whether there is anything President Biden can do to win back progressive voters. FMEP is a 501(c)(3) organization and takes no position on elections or partisan matters. We offer this podcast conversation for informational and educational purposes only. Original music by Jalal Yaquoub.

In this episode of Occupied Thoughts, FMEP’s Lara Friedman speaks with Dr. Assal Rad. Dr. Rad is a scholar of Middle East history. She works on research and writing related to U.S. foreign policy issues, the Middle East, and contemporary Iran. Her writing can be seen in Newsweek, The National Interest, The Independent, Foreign Policy and more, and she has appeared as a commentator on BBC World, Al Jazeera, CNN, and NPR. She completed a PhD in History from the University of California, Irvine in 2018 and is the author of The State of Resistance: Politics, Culture, and Identity in Modern Iran (Cambridge University Press, 2022). Follow Assal on X/Twitter: @AssalRad

In this episode of Occupied Thoughts, FMEP’s Sarah Anne Minkin talks to Rania Batrice, political strategist, activist, coalition builder, and one of FMEP’s 2023-2024 Palestinian Non-Resident Fellows. Rania discusses her background, the vision and values guiding her wide-ranging work, and the urgent and high-stakes political opportunities for Palestinians and their allies in this US election year. Rania Batrice is the daughter of Palestinian immigrants, an activist and strategist for progressive change, a public relations specialist, and a political consultant. Rania has worked as a Democratic operative for over twenty years, lending her expertise across political, non-profit, legislative strategy and crisis management both in the United States and around the world. For Bernie Sanders’ 2016 run for president, she served as Iowa Communications Director, the National Director of Surrogates and as Deputy Campaign Manager. In addition to Rania’s expertise in strategy, policy and communications, her portfolio includes over 15 years of experience in conflict resolution, mediation, and organizational development. Her firm, Batrice and Associates, has worked for social justice through a variety of avenues, collaborating with organizations including Human Rights Watch, the Arab American Institute, March for Our Lives, Color of Change, March For Science, Sunrise Movement, and NDN Collective and more. Rania has been a featured speaker for a wide range of events, including addressing climate change at the Social Good Summit, the UN Youth Climate Summit and the UN General Assembly. Rania has received numerous accolades and awards for her work in the progressive movement, including the “Exceptional Woman of Excellence” award presented by the World Economic Forum and the “Woman of Purpose” award presented by the Purpose Project. Sarah Anne Minkin, PhD, is the Director of Programs & Partnerships. She leads FMEP’s programming, works to deepen FMEP’s relationships with existing and potential grantees, and builds relationships with new partners in the philanthropic community. Sarah Anne earned her doctorate at the University of California-Berkeley and is an affiliated faculty member at UC-Berkeley’s Center for Right-Wing Studies. Original music by Jalal Yaquoub.

In this episode of Occupied Thoughts, FMEP Fellow Yara Asi speaks with Alex de Waal of the World Peace Foundation and Tufts University and author of the January 21, 2024 article in the Guardian entitled “Unless Israel changes course, it could be legally culpable for mass starvation.” In this discussion of widespread hunger and impending famine in Gaza, Drs. Asi & de Waal look at Gaza in relation to other cases of starvation and famine across the world, including comparing the human-made circumstances that lead to famine, the possibility and pace of international intervention to save lives, and the many generations required to face the specific trauma of famine. They discuss the possibilities for international intervention, noting that famine, once it begins, has momentum - and therefore will not stop when the bombing ends. Original music by Jalal Yacquob.

In this episode of Occupied Thoughts, FMEP’s Lara Friedman speaks to Middle East policy journalist, analyst, and author Omar Rahman about the regional impacts and implications of Israel's ongoing war on Gaza. Omar is currently a fellow at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, where he focuses on Palestine, Middle East geopolitics, and American foreign policy in the region, and he is also a non-resident fellow at the Baker Institute for Public Policy. Omar is currently working on a book about Palestinian de-fragmentation in the post-Oslo era. Rahman is also a frequent speaker on panels, at conferences, and in the media.

In this episode of Occupied Thoughts, FMEP’s Lara Friedman speaks to international legal expert in business and human rights Tara Van Ho about the latest twist in the ongoing controversy involving the Chicago-based financial services company Morningstar Inc. and its subsidiary Sustainalytics, over how it deals with Israel and the Occupied Palestinian territories. Specifically, the podcast explores Morningstar’s recently released (January 31, 2024) 37-page report, written by a pair of "independent experts," laying out recommendations regarding how Morningstar conducts its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) assessments, such that Israel and companies operating in Israel are absolved of any possible association with ESG risks, real or potential.

In this episode of Occupied Thoughts, FMEP non-resident fellow Peter Beinart interviews Chris Gunness, formerly the Spokesman and Director of Strategic Communications at UNRWA. They discuss the enormous humanitarian crisis in Rafah and Gaza more broadly as well as the history and function of UNRWA - the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East - and the campaign against it. Original music by Jalal Yacquoub.

In this episode of Occupied Thoughts, FMEP President Lara Friedman speaks with Saudi researcher and analyst of Saudi foreign policy Aziz Alghashian about the impact of Israel's now more than 4-month-long war on Gaza on the political calculations and policies of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Aziz is a fellow at Sectarianism, Proxies & De-sectarianisation (SEPAD) and at the Center for Applied Research in Partnership with the Orient (CARPO). He earned his PhD from the University of Essex, where he taught International Relations, Politics and Middle Eastern Studies. And most important for the purposes of today’s podcast, the focus of Aziz’s current research and writing is Saudi policy towards Israel, and Arab-Israeli relations. Original music by Jalal Yaquoub.

In this episode of Occupied Thoughts, FMEP Fellow Dr. Yara Asi speaks with Nathan Thrall, author of the recently-released A Day in the Life of Abed Salama: Anatomy of a Jerusalem Tragedy, about the systems of separation and dehumanization in Jerusalem and the West Bank, Israeli state violence, and what has and hasn't changed in Israel/Palestine over the last four months. Original music by Jalal Yaquoub

FMEP Fellow Peter Beinart speaks with Tariq Habash, a Palestinian American who was a political appointee in the Biden Administration's Department of Education. Habash resigned from his position in early January in opposition to the Biden Administration's approach to Israel's war in Gaza. Original music by Jalal Yaquoub.