CJPME Debrief: Recent Episodes
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East
Tom Woodley and Michael Bueckert from CJPME discuss breaking events and issues related to human rights in Palestine and the broader Middle East. Beyond the breaking stories, they’ll also invite guests with special expertise, and do episodes to provide context to the news, whether historical, legal or political. This podcast is a project of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East – CJPME (www.cjpme.org) – and seeks to advance its mission to empower Canadians of all backgrounds to promote justice, development and peace in the Middle East.
Canada is adamant on their support to Israel, despite when it is becoming extensively clear that Israel is driving the whole world to the brink of a third world war.
With the attack that happened last Friday night in a school in Gaza that killed 100 people gathering for morning prayers, it is imperative to understand why Canada refuses to change its stance on Israel.
Here to help us make sense of all this, is Professor of Sociology at Mount Royal University and author of 2 books, and writer of serval political articles on racism, decolonisation, in several news outlets Muhannad Ayyash.
Follow Dr. Mohannad Ayyash on X.
Thank you for listening to the ‘Palestine Debrief’ podcast. This podcast is produced by Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) and hosted by Wissam El Cheikh Hassan.
Click here to support the work of CJPME. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Tiktok.
Click here to leave us your comments, or email us at info@cjpme.org.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions of our guests are their own and do not necessarily represent the positions of CJPME.
Send us a Text Message.
Send us a Text Message.
On July 19th 2024 the ICJ court released its decision regarding Israel’s illegal occupation of the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem. It concluded in its ruling that Israel’s continued presence in the occupied territory is illegal and must end as soon as possible. It included Israel’s prolonged occupation, it’s settlement expansion, continuous annexation of the territory, its apartheid policies, as well as providing full reparations, restitution and compensation including the return of all the land and the evacuation of its settlements. Additionally, the ruling said that all states, including Canada, are under obligation to cooperate with the UN in bringing an end to the occupation, and are not to render any assistance in maintaining the situation created by Israel’s illegal presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Here to give us clarity on the ICJ ruling, its importance and significance, what to expect in how Canada would react, is Canadian legal academic, and associate professor at University of Western Ontario, professor Michael Lynk. He was the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the 1967 occupied Palestinian Territories.
Follow Michael Lynk on X.
Thank you for listening to the ‘Palestine Debrief’ podcast. This podcast is produced by Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) and hosted by Wissam El Cheikh Hassan.
Click here to support the work of CJPME. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Tiktok.
Click here to leave us your comments, or email us at info@cjpme.org.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions of our guests are their own and do not necessarily represent the positions of CJPME.
Send us a Text Message.
Send us a Text Message.
On April 2nd, pro-Palestinian student groups in Montreal started an encampment on the McGill campus, demanding that the university divest its finances from companies complicit in Israel's genocide in Gaza, like weapons companies BAE Systems and Lockheed Martin.
Early this morning, on the 10th of July, it was dismantled. McGill hired a private security firm to shut down the encampment, after the university failed to have it disbanded by the police and following 2 injunctions which were rejected by Quebec courts.
I want to share a conversation that I recorded last week with SPHR McGill, which is one of the key organizations behind the encampment. Although it was recorded prior to the dismantling of the camp, it remains extensively relevant to what has happened today and beyond. We discuss very important elements related to the cause of demonstrating Israel’s atrocities and the complicity of North American universities in genocide, through research and financial means. We also talk about the encampment’s mission and demands, McGill’s investments in weapons manufacturing, and about previous anti-war and anti-aparthied encampments on McGill.
Thank you for listening to the ‘Palestine Debrief’ podcast. This podcast is produced by Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) and hosted by Wissam El Cheikh Hassan.
Click here to support the work of CJPME. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Tiktok.
Click here to leave us your comments, or email us at info@cjpme.org.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions of our guests are their own and do not necessarily represent the positions of CJPME.
Send us a Text Message.
Send us a Text Message.
Our guest for this episode is Dr. Yipeng Ge - follow him on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Within the first 36 hours of Israel’s attack on Gaza after Oct. 7, Indonesian Hospital in Beit Lahia, Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Al Quds Hospital in Gaza City, amongst other, have been attacked. And it didn’t stop there. For the past 8 months Israel has intentionally and aggressively targetting, attacking and bombing hospitals - to an extent that they are not hiding it anymore, and in many cases boasting about it.
Within 2 months after Oct. 7 90% of Gaza’s hospital in the North were damaged or destroyed. As of Feb 13, only 10 hospitals in all of Gaza are partially functioning. 374 health workers killed, 120 ambulances completely destroyed.
Hospitals was the last refuge for the displaced and injured, it was the first thing Israel bombed.
Thank you for listening to the ‘Palestine Debrief’ podcast. This podcast is produced by Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) and hosted by Wissam El Cheikh Hassan.
Click here to support the work of CJPME. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Tiktok.
Click here to leave us your comments, or email us at info@cjpme.org.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions of our guests are their own and do not necessarily represent the positions of CJPME.
Send us a Text Message.
On October 16, 2023, the Canadian government appointed Deborah Lyons, former Ambassador of Canada to Israel (2016-2020), as the new Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism. The Special Envoy Lyon's office is a joint unit of both Canadian Heritage and Global Affairs Canada, bringing her role into the realm of international relations (whereas the Special Representative on Combating Islamophobia is singularly located in Canadian Heritage). Additionally, her mandate comes directly from the Prime Minister, and it involves promoting the controversial and anti-Palestinian International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism (IHRA). It also includes the creation of an IHRA handbook, purportedly to help civil servants, politicians, and police departments to apply it to real-world situations.
Critics have long warned that IHRA conflates legitimate criticism of Israel and Zionism with antisemitism. For that reason it has long been understood as a threat to the full exercise of Canadians' Charter Rights, as it targets political expression including criticism of Israeli policies and activism for Palestinian rights. CJPME argues that IHRA is an instrument intended to suppress Palestinian perspectives, as well as the discussion of topics such as apartheid. IHRA should therefore be understood as a form of state-sponsored anti-Palestinian racism.
Thank you for listening to the ‘Palestine Debrief’ podcast. This podcast is produced by Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) and hosted by Wissam El Cheikh Hassan.
Click here to support the work of CJPME. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Tiktok.
Click here to leave us your comments, or email us at info@cjpme.org.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions of our guests are their own and do not necessarily represent the positions of CJPME.
Resources:
- CJPME report, "Defaming the Pro-Palestine Movement"
- Canada’s Special Envoy must be replaced after spreading misinformation to defame the pro-Palestine movement: CJPME
Send us a Text Message.
A December article in Al Jazeera describes Canada’s foreign policy towards Israel and Palestine as “schizophrenic.” It’s like Canada supports Israel, wants to support Israel, but is also worried about supporting it too much because it will affect their false image of Canada as a “peace loving, refugee welcoming nation.”
We talk about Canada’s policies towards Israel since the beginning of genocide with a person with a long list of credentials that include Activist, Journalist, Lawyer and a person who ran for the Green Party in 2020 Dimitri Lascaris.
Follow Dimitri Lascaris on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook.
References:
Jolie NDP motion Speech Breakdown
Nearly 500,000 Israeli left Israel since Oct. 7
Thank you for listening to the ‘Palestine Debrief’ podcast. This podcast is produced by Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) and hosted by Wissam El Cheikh Hassan.
Click here to support the work of CJPME. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Tiktok.
Click here to leave us your comments, or email us at info@cjpme.org.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions of our guests are their own and do not necessarily represent the positions of CJPME.
Send us a Text Message.
Last month The Breach published an article written by a whistle blower exposing CBC's extensive systemic anti-Palestinian biases in their reporting since October 7. In this episode journalist Zahraa Al Akhrass who was fired from Global in November 2024 after posting pro-Palestinian content on her social media, shares her experiences with similar biases working at Global.
Details about Zahraa's firing can be found on her social medias here and here. She also wrote an article titled "Fighting for Fair Coverage on Palestine" published on Brairpatch.
Thank you for listening to the ‘Palestine Debrief’ podcast. This podcast is produced by Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) and hosted by Wissam El Cheikh Hassan.
Follow Chris Farris Zabaneh on Instagram.
Click here to support the work of CJPME. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Tiktok.
Click here to leave us your comments, or email us at info@cjpme.org.
Send us a Text Message.
On April 17th 2024, the keffiyeh was banned from being worn by staff and guests in the Ontario legislature by speaker Ted Arnott. There had been no formal complaints nor was a motion presented to Ted Arnott for this ban, yet he acted on his own authority to impose the ban. This conversation with Chris Farris Zabaneh talks about the Keffiyeh Ban, how it came into place, the distraction tactic taken of imposing the ban, the supremacist approach of limiting non-white cultural attire and what can be strategically done to reverse the ban.
Thank you for listening to the ‘Palestine Debrief’ podcast. This podcast is produced by Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) and hosted by Wissam El Cheikh Hassan.
Follow Chris Farris Zabaneh on Instagram.
Click here to support the work of CJPME. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Tiktok.
Click here to leave us your comments, or email us at info@cjpme.org.
In December of last year NDP MP Matthew Green took the lead in sponsoring a Private Member’s bill, informally named “the Nakba Bill.” While the text of Green’s bill has not been made public, Green has made clear that his bill will call for Canada to formally acknowledge the Nakba and its tragic consequences for the Palestinian people. We talk private member bills, the Nakba, Parliament's Palestine motion, Canada's culpability, the IOF, the chances of Green's bill passing, and sleeping better at night. It is worth noting that past Nakba bills introduced around the world failed to pass, including those by Rashida Tlaib in the US, and Layla Moran both in the UK, both of whom are Palestians. Matthew Green is not Palestinian.
Thank you for listening to the ‘Palestine Debrief’ podcast. This podcast is produced by Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) and hosted by Wissam El Cheikh Hassan.
Follow NDP MP Matthew Green on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.
Click here to support the work of CJPME. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Tiktok.
Click here to leave us your comments, or email us at info@cjpme.org.
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 Twitter
- Visit Fargo’s website to learn about him and his work
Subscribe to this podcast and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
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 Ahmed’s interest in creative writing and his efforts to amplify Palestinian voices.
Links:
- Purchase Ahmed’s book Come What May here and Vanished here.
- Visit Ahmed’s website here
- Read more about Ahmed’s experience growing up in Gaza
- Learn more about PalArt and the work it does to amplify Palestinian voices
Subscribe to this podcast and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
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 around Palestine-Israel.
Links:
- Follow Dr. Makdisi on Twitter
- Purchase Age of Coexistence: The Ecumenical Frame and the Making of the Modern Arab World
Subscribe to this podcast and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
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 Twitter
- Basel Adra in +972 Magazine: “I was handcuffed and blindfolded for reporting on settler violence”
- Daniel Roth on Twitter
- The Centre for Jewish Nonviolence
- CJPME factsheet on Masafer Yatta (2021)
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
If you can, rate us and write a nice review if you like what you hear. It helps other people find our podcast and learn about the issues. Here are the instructions on how to find, rate, review and share the podcast on eight different platforms: Apple, Spotify, Google, TuneIn, Deezer, Stitcher, Pocket Casts, and iHeartRadio.
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 CJPME to support the work that we do.
If you can, rate us and write a nice review if you like what you hear. It helps other people find our podcast and learn about the issues. Here are the instructions on how to find, rate, review and share the podcast on eight different platforms: Apple, Spotify, Google, TuneIn, Deezer, Stitcher, Pocket Casts, and iHeartRadio.
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 the nature of Palestinian armed resistance.
Links from this podcast:
- Jalal Abukhater on Twitter
- Jalal’s website
- Twitter thread by Jalal on the settler take-over of land in Silwan
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
If you can, rate us and write a nice review if you like what you hear. It helps other people find our podcast and learn about the issues. Here are the instructions on how to find, rate, review and share the podcast on eight different platforms: Apple, Spotify, Google, TuneIn, Deezer, Stitcher, Pocket Casts, and iHeartRadio.
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 Public Diplomacy
- Twitter: @InesAbdelRazek
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
If you can, rate us and write a nice review if you like what you hear. It helps other people find our podcast and learn about the issues. Here are the instructions on how to find, rate, review and share the podcast on eight different platforms: Apple, Spotify, Google, TuneIn, Deezer, Stitcher, Pocket Casts, and iHeartRadio.
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 campaigns against Israeli weapons manufacturers like Elbit Systems.
Links from this podcast:
· Buy Antony's book The Palestine Laboratory: How Israel Exports the Technology of Occupation Around the World
· Antony's website and Twitter
· Palestine Action in the UK #ShutElbitDown
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
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 for refugees. This podcast episode features an excerpt from that webinar.
Links from this podcast:
· Full video recording of the webinar (April 16, 2023)
· Zochrot’s website
· Support Zochrot’s crowdfunding campaign
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
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 atrocities at the Al-Aqsa mosque
- Watch: Bob Rae’s comment on Israeli “de facto annexation” of the occupied West Bank
- The CJPME Foundation’s “Gaza Farm Aid” project to help Palestinian farmers in Gaza
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
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 Journeys
· VP’s Growth of a Movement Timeline
· VP’s Palestine Open Maps
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
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 CJPME
- Letter supporting Sarah Jama from members of Ontario’s Jewish community
- CJPME’s Media Accountability Project
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
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 Israel raises human rights concerns (March 1)
· CJPME: Halifax School Board must apologize for incident of anti-Palestinian racism
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 Storytelling in the Diaspora was published in 2018 and documents the stories and meanings behind the Palestinian embroidery motifs that were handed down to Wafa by her mother, Feryal Abbasi Ghnaim, an award-winning artist herself. Join us as Wafa shares the story of moving from embroidery circles with her mother and aunts, to being the first ever Palestinian embroidery instructor at the Smithsonian Museum.
Links:
Wafa’s Tatreez and Solidarity Website, https://www.tatreezandtea.com/
Buy Wafa’s book, Tatreez and Tea: Embroidery and Storytelling in the Daspora
Article about Wafa Ghnaim in Vogue Magazine
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
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 assassination of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.
Links from this podcast:
- The Maple: Canadian Officials Acknowledged Israel’s Forced Closure of Palestinian Infrastructure Violated Rights
- The Maple: Canada Welcomes Israel’s New Government Despite Internal Warnings of Far-Right Extremism
- The Maple: Diplomats Warned About Israeli Politician Who Provoked Violence. Then Trudeau Welcomed His Government
- The Maple: Canadian Diplomats Flagged Israel’s Poor Record of Investigating Attacks on Journalists After Reporter’s Death
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
Last summer, a number of Canadian university presidents participated in a controversial trip to Israel, for the purpose of building partnerships between Canadian and Israeli universities. The trip, which was organized by a major pro-Israel lobby group, has sparked major concerns over the possible impact on human rights and academic freedom. On this episode, Michael is joined by faculty members Dyala Hamzah and Jillian Rogin to talk about what we know about the delegation, how Israeli universities are complicit in oppression, and how Israel restricts academic freedom for Palestinians.
Links from this podcast:
- The Conversation: University presidents’ trip to Israel undermines academic freedom and democracy
- Joint Letter: Faculty and civil society groups raise human rights concerns after Canadian university presidents tour Israel
- Jewish Faculty Network Joins Calls for Accountability
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
On this episode, Michael is joined by Emma Paling of the Breach to talk about the recent discovery that the Bank of Montreal (BMO) gave a $90m loan to Israel’s largest weapons company Elbit Systems. We discuss Elbit’s human rights record, Canada’s own contracts for military technology from Elbit, and why some investors have decided to divest from the company.
Links from this podcast:
- The Breach: Revealed: BMO bankrolled Israeli weapons maker with a $90M loan
- CJPME backgrounder: Canada’s Elbit Drone Contract
- The Intercept: Secret Israeli Report Reveals Armed Drone Killed Four Boys Playing on Gaza Beach in 2014
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
On this episode, Michael is joined by Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967. We talk about Israel’s recent deadly attack on the Jenin refugee camp and why she believes these actions violate international law. We also talk about apartheid, settler-colonialism, and what we can expect to see from the UN’s Commission of Inquiry and the International Court of Justice, both of which are investigating Israel’s occupation.
Links from this podcast:
· Statement from UN experts condemning Israel’s attack on Jenin
· First report by UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese
· Call for input: Special Rapporteur’s future thematic reports and activities
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
On this episode, Tom and Michael are joined by Ramzy Baroud and Ilan Pappé, co-editors of the book “Our Vision for Liberation: Engaged Palestinian Leaders and Intellectuals Speak Out.” In their new book, they bring together a diverse group of Palestinian voices – from filmmakers to religious figures to politicians and more – to share their own experiences and perspectives on the way forward for Palestine. We discuss the meaning of Palestinian liberation and decolonization, why the May 2021 uprising continues to be a source of optimism, and whether there’s a growing consensus among Palestinians about the need for a one-state solution.
Links from this podcast:
- “Our Vision for Liberation” (Clarity Press 2022), edited by Ramzy Baroud and Ilan Pappé
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
On November 1st, Israelis completed their fifth election in four years, returning Benjamin Netanyahu to power with the support of extreme, far-right figures who are about to play a major role in the emerging coalition government. Although negotiations to form the government are still underway, it is commonly said that this may be Israel’s most far-right government in history. On this episode, we are joined by Natasha Roth-Rowland of +972 Magazine to break down the election, introduce us to the key players, and reflect on the impact that this may have on the lives of Palestinians under apartheid.
Links from this podcast:
- Ben Gvir’s dream ministry brings Kahane’s vision one step closer (Roth-Rowland in +972 Magazine)
- Smotrich is about to become the West Bank’s overlord. Here’s what’s at stake (+927 Magazine)
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
CJPME’s Michael Bueckert recently returned from a two-week trip to Palestine-Israel. During his time there, Bueckert met with dozens of Palestinian community leaders and organizations, politicians, youth activists, business leaders, and academics. He also visited current hotspots including Sheikh Jarrah, the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and Jenin, as well as unrecognized Bedouin villages in the Naqab. Get an update from Palestine as Bueckert shares his observations, and ponders what the future may hold for Palestine, Israel, and Canada.
Podcast Notes:
- Michael’s full trip report
- Michael’s tweet about his treatment by Israel border police on his departure
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
In this episode, we are joined by Saba Amro and Annette Lengyel, two Calgary-based activists who have been at the forefront of pressuring Calgary to cancel a contract with Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) – a Spanish/Basque company which is unethically involved in a $2.5 billion CDN contract to expand Jerusalem Light Rail (JLR) network. Join us as we discuss Calgary’s contract with apartheid, and how Calgary’s Palestinian solidarity groups are trying to bring it to an end.
Podcast Notes:
- CAF out of Calgary campaign Website
- CAF out of Calgary Facebook page
- Instagram account for CAF out of Calgary
- Facebook page of Justice for Palestinians
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
What and who are the main drivers of anti-Muslim hate in Canada? On this episode, Michael and Tom are joined by Jasmin Zine, author of a new report on the Canadian “Islamophobia Industry.” We talk about some of the key organizations, personalities, and discourses responsible for perpetuating anti-Muslim hate in Canada, and how the connections between them form an ecosystem of hate. As part of this discussion, we will look at the role of certain fringe-right, pro-Israel and anti-Palestinian voices in spreading Islamophobic views.
Links from this podcast:
- Report: The Canadian Islamophobia Industry: Mapping Islamophobia’s Ecosystem in the Great White North
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
Last spring, Fernwood Publishing announced a new book, Advocating for Palestine in Canada: one of the first-ever books about Palestinian solidarity work in Canada. Michael Bueckert, one of Debrief’s regular hosts wrote a chapter in the book looking at how Israel seeks to deflect and dismiss criticisms of its oppressive and apartheid practices. This subject matter is also the focus of Michael’s PhD dissertation. Join us as Michael discusses his chapter, and learn how today’s apologists for Israel take an approach eerily similar to that taken by apologists for apartheid South Africa.
Links from this podcast:
- Link to Advocating for Palestine in Canada at Fernwood Publishing
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
Is Canadian media biased towards Israel and against Palestinians? Where does bias come from, and how can we challenge it? On this episode, Michael and Tom are joined by Passage’s Davide Mastracci, author of a chapter on Canadian media and pro-Israel bias in the book Advocating for Palestine in Canada (Fernwood, 2022). We talk about the role of journalists, editors, corporate owners, and lobby groups in pushing media coverage to be favourable to Israel, and how these factors undermine reporting on Israel’s human rights abuses.
Links from this podcast:
- Read Mastracci’s chapter in Advocating for Palestine in Canada
- Read Mastracci’s article in Passage
- Now You Know – Mastracci’s newsletter on pro-Israel lobbying in media
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
Tom and Michael discuss a recent report authored by Michael and its implications for upcoming votes on Palestinian human rights at the United Nations General Assembly. The report, based on documents obtained through an access to information request, found that Canada’s career foreign affairs officials are highly critical of Canada’s staunchly pro-Israel record, and have been pushing for a change in the government’s approach. We break down the report’s findings and what they say about Canada and its reputation on the international stage.
Links from this podcast:
- CJPME Report: Voting Against Its Own Interests
- CJPME’s UN Dashboard
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
On this episode, Michael and Tom are joined by Sheryl Nestel and Rowan Gaudet of Independent Jewish Voices Canada to talk about their new report on the suppression of speech on Palestine on Canadian campuses. We look at how pro-Israel groups have used harassment and intimidation against pro-Palestine academics to create a “chilly” atmosphere for debate. We talk about how students have been affected by these attacks and discuss the role of the controversial IHRA definition of antisemitism in suppressing speech.
Links from this podcast:
- IJV’s report: Unveiling the Chilly Climate: The Suppression of Speech on Palestine in Canada
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
Two months ago, Fernwood Publishing announced a new book, Advocating for Palestine in Canada: one of the first-ever books about Palestinian solidarity work in Canada. Tom Woodley, one of Debrief’s regular hosts wrote a chapter in the book discussing the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that lie before the Palestinian solidarity movement in Canada. With Michael on vacation, our podcast engineer Madeleine Moffatt takes the microphone to interview Tom about his chapter, and to explore the potential opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for the movement.
Links from this podcast:
- Link to Advocating for Palestine in Canada at Fernwood Publishing
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
On this episode, Michael and Tom are joined by Jasmin Zine to talk about her new book on Islamophobia and the 9/11 generation. We discuss how Islamophobia is more than just “fear” or “hate” towards Muslims, and why we should understand it as a “structure of oppression.” We also talk about the surveillance that Muslims students face on campus, the gendered nature of Islamophobia, and evaluate whether Canada is doing enough to address white supremacist and anti-Muslim violence.
Links from this podcast:
- Jasmin Zine’s book: Under Siege: Islamophobia and the 9/11 Generation
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
Earlier this year, McGill students won a major victory when a campus referendum passed by 71% to adopt a Palestine Solidarity Policy. Almost immediately, however, this decision was suppressed by university administrators and the student association. In this episode, Michael is joined by members of Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR McGill) to discuss their recent victory, and how they are dealing with McGill’s attempts to crush student activism.
Links from this podcast:
- SPHR McGill on Instagram
- A blacklist is terrorizing pro-Palestine students at McGill (SPHR McGill)
- List of Canadian student unions that have endorsed BDS (CJPME Resource)
- Students at McGill, UofT, and UBC Pass Pro-Palestine Policies (McGill Daily)
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
In a legal victory this month, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) ruled that “Product of Israel” labels on wine from illegal Israeli settlements are “false” and violate Canadian consumer protection law. On this episode, Michael is joined by David Kattenburg and lawyer Dimitri Lascaris, who have led this multiple-year legal battle against settlement wine. We talk about what the legal decision means, the challenges ahead to get accurate labeling, and the importance of ending trade with illegal settlements altogether.
Links from this podcast:
- Statement from Kattenburg and Lascaris: Canadian agency rules “Product of Israel” labels violate Canadian law
- CJPME press release on latest ruling
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
One year ago, Human Rights Watch published a landmark report on Israeli apartheid. On this episode Michael is joined by Omar Shakir, HRW’s Israel and Palestine director, to reflect on the reactions to that report and the growing international consensus on apartheid. In addition, we talk about his experience of being deported by Israel, documenting Israeli war crimes in Gaza, and the how killing of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh demonstrates Israel’s pattern of violence against journalists.
Links from this podcast:
- HRW Report - A Threshold Crossed: Israeli Authorities and the Crimes of Apartheid and Persecution
- Israel Expels Human Rights Watch Director
- CJPME Resource: Who is talking about Israeli apartheid?
- CJPME Press Release: Israel’s execution of Al Jazeera journalist requires international investigation
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
Among Canadian politicians, NDP MP Niki Ashton has been one of the most consistent voices in support of Palestinian rights. Ashton joins Michael and Tom to talk about why it is important for her to challenge Canada’s complicity in Israeli apartheid. We also discuss what it was like trying to advocate for Palestine under the pro-Israel leadership of Tom Mulcair, assess whether the position of the NDP has improved in recent years, and hear why international solidarity is so necessary.
Links from this podcast:
- Video: Niki Ashton calls on Parliament to condemn Israel’s murder of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh
- CJPME NDP leadership assessment guides
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
In this episode, we are joined by Nur Watad, a Palestinian Canadian living in London Ontario who is also the host of the brand new CJPME podcast “All Things Palestinian Canadian.” Tom and Michael speak to Nur about her vision for ATPC, and why it is important to provide a platform for discussions of Palestinian-Canadian identity, history, and culture. We also hear about Nur’s experiences growing up in Jerusalem on both sides of the Green Line, and discuss why Palestinian culture can’t be separated from politics.
Links from this podcast:
- Podcast: All Things Palestinian Canadian
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
In 2021, CJPME co-published the first national survey on anti-Arab racism in Canada, in collaboration with the Arab-Canadian Lawyers Association (ACLA) and the Canadian Arab Federation. In this episode, Dania Majid, president of the ACLA joins us to talk about the survey and what it says about the insidious problem of racism against Arab-Canadians. Together we discuss both high-level data and personal examples of how this racism undermines the lives and prospects of Canada's Arab community.
Links from this podcast:
- CJPME's Survey Report: Marginalized and Misunderstood: Survey on Attitudes on Arabs and Anti-Arab Racism in Canada
- Arab Canadian Lawyers Association
- Canadian Arab Federation
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
It has been nearly three months since Amnesty International published their landmark report on Israel’s apartheid against the Palestinians. In this episode, Michael and Tom are joined by Saleh Hijazi, who leads Amnesty’s office in Jerusalem. We talk about why Amnesty came to the conclusion of apartheid, the threats they’ve faced from the Israeli government, and what ‘apartheid’ has to do with Israel’s current attacks at the Al-Aqsa mosque.
Links from this podcast:
- Amnesty International report: Israel’s Apartheid Against Palestinians
- CJPME Resource: Who is talking about Israeli apartheid?
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
Prof. William Lafi Youmans from George Washington University joins the discussion today as we talk about the image of Israel and the Palestinians in media and public opinion, and how this is changing. Together we talk through the ways in which the public discourse on Palestine-Israel is changing, and the forces pushing it one way or another. We also address the ways in which grassroots groups can help to shape the media discourse, and why the public debate is often resistant to change.
Links from this podcast:
- Prof. Youman's book, An Unlikely Audience: Al Jazeera's Struggle in America
- Prof. Youman's article, "How the Central Intelligence Agency recruited Arab Detroit"
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
Tom and Michael discuss CJPME’s new report on Canada’s arms exports to Israel, and the alarming possibility that Canadian-made weapons may be contributing to violent and illegal Israeli practices. We break down what we know (and what we don’t know) about Canada’s arms exports to Israel, talk about recent trends from a historical perspective, and explain why an embargo on military trade is so necessary.
Links from this podcast:
•CJPME Report: Arming Apartheid: Canada’s Arms Exports to Israel
•Email Campaign: Stop Arming Apartheid
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
Canadian lawyer Michael Lynk served as the UN's "Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights in the [occupied] Palestinian territories" from 2016 to 2022.. During his mandate Lynk faced intense criticism from pro-Israel voices, and Israel banned him from even visiting occupied Palestine. Nonetheless, he distinguished himself remarkably over his six-year term, and just issued a final report concluding that Israel is practicing apartheid. As his tenure comes to an end, Tom and Michael chat with Lynk about his most recent report, and his experiences overall as UN Special Rapporteur.
Links from this podcast:
- Lynk's final report to the UN Human Rights Council: Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, March 21, 2022
- UN Office of the High Commission for Human Rights' profile on Michael Lynk
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
Since its construction on a First Nations historical site, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg has been mired in controversy. Throughout its brief history, interest groups have clamoured for influence over the content of the museum's galleries, and the colonial dispossession of Palestinians from their land is just one of many human rights atrocities which has been ignored by the museum's content developers. Will a museum scandal in 2020 precipitate change, or will the museum continue to be dominated by a perspective reflecting white privilege and special interests? Journalist Candice Bodnaruk – who has followed the story for years – joins us for the conversation.
Links from this podcast:
- CJPME Factsheet: The Canadian Museum for Human Rights and the Nakba (March 2021)
- Where’s Palestine? The Nakba is Missing From the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (March-April, 2021) Washington Report on Middle East Affairs
- Rebuilding the Foundation: External review into systemic racism and oppression, report of the external reviewer on the CMHR
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
Independent Jewish Voices Canada (IJV) has been campaigning for Palestinian rights and against Israeli apartheid since 2008. In March, they ramped up these efforts with a focused new campaign called “Together Against Apartheid,” which hopes to build on the momentum of Amnesty’s recent apartheid report. Tom and Michael are joined by IJV’s Corey Balsam and Louise Smith to discuss the campaign, and how Canadians can get involved.
Links from this podcast:
- IJV’s Together Against Apartheid campaign
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
For Palestinian children under occupation, last year was the most violent since 2014. From bullets, to tear-gas, to arbitrary arrests, and early morning raids, there are many features of Israel’s brutal military occupation which make Palestine unsafe for children. Defense for Children International – Palestine (DCIP) is an NGO which has been documenting Israeli abuses and advocating for the rights of children since 1991, and which was recently outlawed by the Israeli government. On this episode, Tom and Michael are joined by DCIP’s Brad Parker and Shaina Low to learn more about Israel’s war on children and their advocates.
Links from this podcast:
- DCIP – Year in Review: Israeli forces target Palestinian children with impunity in 2021
- 'Canada, Stand Up for Children’s Rights' campaign
- CJPME Backgrounder - Israel’s Criminalization of Palestinian NGOs
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
Anyone who has spent time arguing about Israel and Palestine on the internet knows that there is a lot of misinformation out there, which aims to obscure the reality of Israeli apartheid and settler-colonialism. In this episode, Tom and Michael are joined by Rawan and Fathi, the creators of the fantastic resource website “Decolonize Palestine,” to talk about fighting the social media war, what decolonization means for Palestine, and to debunk some of our favourite pro-Israel myths. You can follow Rawan on Twitter at @RiverToSea48, and Fathi at @AManInTheSun.
Links from this podcast:
- Website: “Decolonize Palestine”
- Support “Decolonize Palestine” on Patreon
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
In this episode, Tom and Michael discuss some of the recent outrageous claims, assertions, campaigns and complaints of pro-Israel lobby group B'nai Brith Canada. We start with a ridiculous announcement suggesting that the Canadian government is falling over itself to fund “antisemitic NGOs” at home and abroad. Next, we turn to a story where they are literally trying to police the Facebook likes of Montreal city councillors. Following that, we take some time to look at their report which supposedly debunks the whole raison d’être of the UN’s Commission of Inquiry. And finally, we touch on a story where they claim that the UofT Graduate Student Union has suffered a humiliating defeat for holding firm in support of BDS.
Links from this podcast:
- Harvard Law Review: Wielding Antidiscrimination Law to Suppress the Movement for Palestinian Rights
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
In the first few hours of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, many media commentators expressed disbelief that war could emerge again in Europe. War, these commentators seemed to suggest, was something that only happened in "impoverished and remote populations" in places "like Iraq" or "areas in North Africa." But the media's bias against the Middle East – especially Palestine – goes far beyond the naïve blunders of on-air commentators. In this episode, Tom and Michael compare the media's coverage of Ukraine to that of Palestine and uncover all manner of ironies and double standards.
Links from this podcast:
- Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi in Ukraine?
- Gaza City or Kyiv?
- CBC article on the politics of naming ‘Kyiv’
- Statement from Arab and Middle Eastern Journalists Association
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
There was a major BDS victory in February when the University of Toronto Students’ Association, one of the largest student unions in the country, passed a motion in support of divesting from companies that are complicit in the Israeli occupation. Tom and Michael are joined by Moe Alqasem of the Palestinian Youth Movement to discuss the vote and what it says about the state of the solidarity movement on campus today.
Links from this podcast:
- Students win historic BDS victory at U of T (Spring Magazine)
- CJPME resource: List of Canadian organizations that have endorsed BDS
- Find Moe Alqasem on Twitter
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
Canada’s reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last week has been prompt, forceful, and wide-ranging. But there are obvious similarities between Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and Israel’s aggression against the Palestinians, raising questions about the consistency of Canada’s foreign policy. In this episode, Tom and Michael examine Canada’s response to Russia’s invasion and explore the double-standard evident in how it responds to Israel’s violence, occupation, and annexation against Palestinians.
Links from this podcast:
- Jarring double-standard in Canada's response to Putin's invasion of Ukraine
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
In 2019, the NDP removed Rana Zaman as a federal election candidate over her tweets defending Palestinians during the 2018 Gaza March of Return. Although Rana took responsibility for the comments she made, and although she was approved to run for the Greens in 2021, she continues to face attempts to ostracize her from the public conversation. Rana joins the conversation today to talk about her experiences as a community activist and political candidate.
Links from this podcast:
- “Can we talk about Israel and the Palestinians? No?” (Halifax Examiner, 2019)
- "Rally supports Halifax activist stripped of human rights award” (CBC News, 2019)
- "Canada’s Islamophobia: Deep. Deadly. Growing” (The Tyee, July, 2021)
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
Even before Amnesty published its report on Israeli Apartheid, Canada’s pro-Israel groups were dismissing it as antisemitic. But what are they saying now? Yesterday, CJPME ‘infiltrated’ CIJA’s “Has Amnesty International Lost its Way?” webinar to hear whether Amnesty’s report had caused any serious reflection among Israel’s supporters. Unfortunately, the session was an echo chamber of denial and dismissal. In this episode, Tom and Michael respond to the ludicrous claims and misinformation presented in this recent anti-Amnesty webinar.
Links from this podcast:
- CJPME campaign: email politicians to act!
- Report by Amnesty International
- Who is talking about Israeli Apartheid? (CJPME resource)
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
Many Canadians contemplate running for political office one day. But what if supporting Palestinian human rights automatically disqualifies you from running for a political party? Newmarket education advocate Shameela Shakeel thought she’d be a great fit as a nominee for the Liberal Party in Ontario’s May election. But despite her long-time community activism for public education and her deep roots in the riding, in the eyes of the Ontario Liberal Party, her support for Palestinian human rights seems to have been a disqualifying issue. Shameela joins the conversation today to talk about her experiences.
Links from this podcast:
- 'This is why people who look like me and think like me don't run'
- Liberals oust Newmarket education advocate from provincial nomination race
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
Earlier this week, Amnesty International published a landmark study concluding that Israel maintains an apartheid regime of oppression and domination over the Palestinian people as a whole. To dive further into this report, Michael and Tom are joined by Nihad Ben Salah of Amnistie internationale canada francophone, who shares with us insight into the motivations behind this report, and what it will mean for Amnesty’s work going forward.
Links from this podcast:
- CJPME campaign: email politicians to act!
- Report by Amnesty International
- Who is talking about Israeli Apartheid? (CJPME resource)
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
In a well-research new report published today, Amnesty International has concluded that Israel maintains an “apartheid” regime of oppression and domination over the Palestinian people as a whole. Tom and Michael discuss their initial reactions to the report, and consider how Canada might respond.
Links from this podcast:
- CJPME campaign: email politicians to act!
- Report by Amnesty International
- Who is talking about Israeli Apartheid? (CJPME resource)
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
The past year has seen a series of incidents which highlight the Toronto District School Board’s compulsion to muzzle Palestinian perspectives. In this episode, Tom, Michael and long-time TDSB equity veteran Tim McCaskell explore several shocking instances of anti-Palestinian racism – from the 1980s to present day. What is the TDSB’s decades-long history of silencing Palestinian voices, what is behind it, and how can it be countered?
Links from this podcast:
- Article by Desmond Cole on Anti-Palestinian Racism in the TDSB
- CJPME’s Letter to the TDSB on Anti-Palestinian Racism
- Statement from high school students on their walk-out against anti-Palestinian racism
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
Muslim Awareness Week (MAW) is a yearly week of solidarity and exchange where people are invited to learn about the achievements, contributions, aspirations and concerns of Quebecers of Muslim faith. This year’s MAW marks the five-year anniversary of the tragic shooting on January 29, 2017 in a Quebec City mosque which left six Muslim-Canadians dead, and the first commemoration since the federal government reserved January 29 as a national day of remembrance and action against Islamophobia. Today, long-time Quebec anti-Islamophobia activist Ehab Lotayef joins the conversation as we discuss what has and hasn’t changed in the last five years, and the ongoing need for MAW.
Links from this podcast:
- Website for Muslim Awareness Week
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
Desmond Tutu dedicated much of his life to the abolition of Apartheid in South Africa, but he was also a consistent campaigner against injustice everywhere, including in Palestine. Following his passing in December, Western leaders celebrated Tutu’s life, but largely ignored this aspect of his legacy. Rev. Robert Assaly of Canadian Friends of Sabeel joins the conversation today as we talk about Desmond Tutu’s lifetime of solidarity with the Palestinians, and his willingness to talk openly about the glaring parallels between Apartheid in South Africa and Israel’s oppression of the Palestinians.
Links from this podcast:
- Desmond Tutu’s 2014 Column in Ha’aretz, This Is My Plea to the People of Israel
- Tributes to Desmond Tutu from Palestinian Leaders
- Links for Sabeel and Canadian Friends of Sabeel
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
While Palestinians, solidarity activists, and academics have been accurately describing Israel as an “Apartheid” state for many years, the number of prominent organizations and public figures willing to use this terminology increased dramatically in 2021. Will this trend continue in 2022? And what is Apartheid, anyway?
Links from this podcast:
- Who is talking about Israeli Apartheid? (CJPME resource)
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
2021 was a busy year for people involved in Palestine solidarity work in Canada and around the world. Tom and Michael discuss their picks for the worst and best moments of the past year, from Israel’s war on Gaza, to Canadian politicians calling for sanctions on Israel, and the growing popularity of the “Apartheid” word.
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
One year ago, Canada announced that it was purchasing a drone from Israeli weapons company Elbit Systems. Since then, more than 12,000 Canadians have spoken out against the contract, but the government has not responded to their concerns. In this episode, Tom and Michael discuss the campaign to Stop the Elbit Drone purchase. Why does Canada want this drone, and how does this purchase contribute to Israel’s oppression of Palestinians?
Links from this podcast:
- Stop Elbit Drone campaign
- Myths and Facts about Canada’s Israeli drone contract
- AFSC research on Elbit
- Who Profits research on Elbit
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
Why is it so hard to talk about Palestine in federal politics? In this episode, Tom and Michael are joined by former NDP Deputy-Leader Libby Davies, who was a trailblazer in speaking out for Palestinian rights during her 18 years as a member of Parliament. We first ask Davies how, based in Vancouver, she initially developed a concern for Palestinian human rights. We’ll then learn from Davies about what it was like raising the issue of Palestine on Parliament Hill, especially during the Harper era, and how the political landscape has changed over time.
Links from this podcast:
- “Outside In: A Political Memoir” by Libby Davies
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
As this year’s round of voting at the United Nations comes to a close, Michael and Tom critique Canada’s voting on resolutions related to Palestinian human rights. They also discuss recent bizarre comments by Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly regarding Canada’s UN voting, funding for Palestine refugees, and Israel’s attacks on human rights defenders in Palestine. Why is Canada so dedicated to protecting Israel from criticism?
Links from this podcast:
- CJPME’s UN Dashboard
- CJPME’s Letter to Minister Joly
- Statement by Palestinian Canadian Organizations
- Graphic comparing UN votes by Harper and Trudeau
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
In a major win for academic freedom on Palestine last month, the Canadian Association of University Teachers voted unanimously to oppose the IHRA definition of antisemitism and to defend the right to criticize Israel. In this episode, Tom and Michael are joined by Mark Ayyash to learn about how this important vote unfolded. We’ll also talk about why IHRA is increasingly understood as a threat to anti-racist and decolonial scholarship.
Links from this podcast:
- CJPME Applauds CAUT for Opposing IHRA, Supporting Academic Freedom on Palestine
- NoIHRA campaign resources from IJV
- Full text of CAUT Motion opposing IHRA
- University of Toronto Working Group Report
- CJN article about the Jewish Faculty Network
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
In this episode, we recap the alarming series of events that occurred after TDSB educator Javier Davila shared anti-oppression resources about Palestinians with other educators in the Toronto school system. The saga began in May of this year, when the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians sparked mass demonstrations in Canada, and ended this week with TDSB trustees voting to reject a report on anti-Palestinian discrimination. Davila sought to help Toronto educators address the contentious issues within their diverse classrooms, but not everyone welcomed an open and transparent discussion.
Links from this podcast:
- Javier Davila’s Explanation of the work of a Student Equity Program Advisor in the TDSB
- Report of the Integrity Commissioner following an independent investigation into social media comments by Trustee Alexandra Lulka
- Legal fundraiser for Javier Davila
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
In this bonus episode, Michael and Tom provide an update to our previous episode on the Green Party and Annamie Paul. Who is interim party leader Amita Kuttner, and where do they stand on Palestinian human rights? And what did we learn from a recent public interview of Annamie Paul’s former senior advisor Noah Zatzman? Some listeners may remember: Zatzman sparked a Green Party controversy in June when he publicly threatened to defeat Green MPs who spoke up for Palestinian human rights.
Links from this podcast:
- CJPME and IJV’s Green Party Leadership Assessment (2020)
- Interview with Noah Zatzman on the Progress Report with Duncan Kinney (Nov 26)
Subscribe to this podcast, and donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
For years, Canada’s political parties have talked about their support for a “two state solution” in Palestine-Israel, but without doing anything to address the urgent realities on the ground. In the meantime, many people believe that Israel’s actions have effectively killed any possibility of a Palestinian state. Is the two state solution dead, and if so, how should Canada respond? In this episode, Tom and Michael discuss what an alternative policy could look like, and how Canada can advance justice and equality for all.
Links from this podcast:
- Links from this podcast:
- Beyond the Two-State Solution
- The Canadian Government’s official policy on Palestine-Israel: “Canadian policy on key issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict”
Subscribe to CJPME on YouTube for a video versions of most podcasts, or donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
Our recent Webinar on BDS and the Labour Movement in Canada gave an eye-opening perspective on how labour activists are helping to create greater awareness within the labour movement on Palestinian human rights. After a brief intro, we cut to the Webinar to hear Michael and his two guests, Katherine Nastovski and Hassan Husseini talk about efforts to pass BDS resolutions in different labour organizations. BDS stands for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions strategies to pressure Israel to respect the human rights of Palestinians. There have been successes and challenges, but Michael and his guests are optimistic that with the proper strategy, labour can help lead Canada to a broader adoption of BDS.
Links from this podcast:
- The International BDS Movement
- List of Canadian organizations, including labour unions, which have endorsed BDS
- Labour for Palestine
Subscribe to CJPME on YouTube for a video version of this webinar, or donate to CJPME to support the work that we do
Tom and Michael talk about the six Palestinian human rights organizations that were criminalized by Israel in October. Many in the international community have criticized the Israeli government for falsely designating these groups as “terrorists,” but Canada’s response has been quiet. What makes these six organizations so threatening to Israel’s leadership? How might Israel’s “terror” designation impact human rights work in Palestine, and what is the best way for other countries – including Canada – to respond?
Links from this podcast:
- Email campaign: Canada must support human rights defenders in Palestine
- Joint letter from the Inter-Parliamentary Task Force
Subscribe to CJPME on YouTube for a video version of this podcast, or donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
Tom and Michael talk about the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) controversial definition of antisemitism. Many critics say that IHRA unfairly conflates criticism of Israel with antisemitism. How broadly has the IHRA definition been adopted in Canada, and what are some of the legitimate concerns about its adoption? What are the implications of IHRA for the Palestinian solidarity movement in Canada, and how are people pushing back?
Links from this episode:
1) IJV’s “No IHRA” resources and campaign
2) CJPME’s article in Canadian Dimension on how IHRA is intended to silence speech
Subscribe to CJPME on YouTube for a video version of this podcast, or donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
Tom and Michael talk about how the Green Party of Canada has handled the question of Palestinian human rights, and how this issue impacted the tenure of former Green Party leader Annamie Paul. For the past few years the Green Party has wrestled with the question of Palestine, with a series of contradictory statements and positions on the issue. Internal turmoil over the issue boiled over this past summer, and may have contributed to Paul’s premature departure as leader. How has this issue caused so much tension within the party, and could things have been handled differently?
Subscribe to CJPME on YouTube for a video version of this podcast, or donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
Tom and Michael talk about Canada’s voting on the 16 annual UN General Assembly resolutions that relate to Palestinian human rights. In recent years, Canada has sided with Israel and a small minority of countries by voting against most of these resolutions. What exactly are these resolutions, and what is Canada likely to do this year? What does this say about Canada’s commitment to human rights?
Links from this episode:
CJPME’s UN Dashboard
Subscribe to CJPME on YouTube for a video version of this podcast, or donate to CJPME to support the work that we do.
Tom Woodley and Michael Bueckert introduce the CJPME Debrief podcast, and talk about their plans for upcoming episodes.