Arab Talk with Jess & Jamal

Afleveringen

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  The Battle for Michigan-Money, Politics, and Influence 19.07.2026 49min

  One of the biggest stories in the 2026 Michigan Democratic Senate primary isn't just the candidates—it's the money. AIPAC's affiliated Super PAC, United Democracy Project, has poured more than $10 million into the race backing Representative Haley Stevens, part of a broader wave of outside spending that has topped $40 million. The spending has far outpaced support for her opponent, Abdul El-Sayed, and has reignited debate over the influence of Super PACs and pro-Israel advocacy groups in Democratic primaries, especially when candidates are critical of Israeli government policy.
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  The Essence of Childhood Has Been Destroyed 07.07.2026 52min

  A new UN Commission of Inquiry report examines the impact of Israel's war on Palestinian children since 7 October 2023. Titled The Essence of Childhood Has Been Destroyed, the report says more than 20,000 Palestinian children have been killed and at least 44,000 injured. The Commission says its investigation builds on its September 2025 findings, which concluded that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza, and finds that the targeting and killing of children forms part of that broader campaign. It also documents the destruction of schools, hospitals, water systems, food distribution networks, and maternal healthcare, along with allegations of violence, arbitrary detention, and abuse of Palestinian children in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. Joining us today on this episode of Arab Talk is Chris Sidoti, human rights lawyer and Commissioner on the UN Human Rights Council's Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel.
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  The Gaza Reckoning- UN Allegations and America's Political Divide 28.06.2026 54min

  A new UN commission report accuses Israeli authorities of deliberately targeting Palestinian children in Gaza, alleging actions that may constitute genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. Meanwhile, recent Democratic primaries, especially in New York City, have renewed debate over AIPAC's political influence and whether criticism of Israeli government policies is reshaping the Democratic Party's stance on Israel and Palestine. To discuss the report's legal significance and the political implications of these elections, we're joined by human rights lawyer and political activist Stanley Cohen.
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  From Words into Action 14.06.2026 58min

  This episode examines the Jewish Anti-Zionist Congress, taking place in Dublin from June 26–28. Building on last year’s inaugural gathering in Vienna, the Congress brings together Jewish activists and allies committed to equality, justice, and Palestinian rights. Under the theme “From Words into Action,” participants will focus on turning shared principles into practical strategies for change. Our guest is Ronnie Barkan, Israeli Jewish activist, educator, co-founder of Boycott from Within, and one of the Congress’s founders and organizers. He joins us to discuss the goals of this year’s event and the future of Jewish anti-Zionist organizing.
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  Pentagon Elevates Israel Counterintelligence Threat as Congress Pushes US-Israel Military Ties 07.06.2026 53min

  Jess & Jamal examine a development that raises difficult questions about intelligence, alliances, and the future of U.S. foreign policy. The Pentagon has reportedly elevated its counterintelligence threat assessment regarding Israel, citing concerns about espionage and intelligence security. At the same time, lawmakers in Congress are advancing proposals aimed at deepening military integration between the United States and Israel. How can Washington reconcile growing counterintelligence concerns with efforts to strengthen strategic cooperation, and who will end up paying for them?
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  Beaten at Sea: Inside Israel’s Seizure of the Global Sumud Flotilla 31.05.2026 52min

  The Global Sumud Flotilla, an international aid mission to Gaza, was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters, with activists detained and ships redirected to Israeli ports. Human rights groups allege detainees faced abuse, including beatings, humiliation, denial of medical care, and sexual violence. During the latest interception, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir filmed himself taunting zip-tied detainees at the Port of Ashdod, prompting international condemnation. Joining us today on Arab Talk is environmental activist Violet Coco, one of eleven Australians aboard the flotilla. She says detainees suffered serious injuries and were denied essential medications while in custody.
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  After San Diego: Confronting Anti-Muslim Hate in America 25.05.2026 57min

  A recent shooting attack targeting a mosque complex in San Diego, where two gunmen killed three people, has renewed concerns about the rising climate of Islamophobia in the United States. Many advocates say anti-Muslim hate has been fueled by the normalization of inflammatory rhetoric from political leaders and other high-profile public figures. In this episode, we speak with Jenin Younes, National Legal Director and Interim President of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, about the broader climate of Islamophobia in America, the disparities in how hate crimes are investigated and prosecuted, and the legal and political measures needed to protect the civil rights and safety of Muslim Americans.
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  Doctors Detained: Inside Gaza’s Medical Crisis 04.05.2026 57min

  Gaza’s healthcare system is nearing collapse. Hospitals are damaged, supplies are blocked, and many doctors have been killed or detained. Now, Physicians for Human Rights Israel has petitioned Israel’s High Court, demanding the release of 14 Palestinian doctors held without charge. These detainees include senior surgeons and hospital leaders—some taken while on duty. Among them is Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, whose detention was recently extended indefinitely. Today, we’re joined by Naji Abbas from PHRI to discuss what this means for Gaza’s already fragile medical system.
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  Missing in Gaza: Stories Behind the Numbers 27.04.2026 52min

  The reported death toll in Gaza, now approaching 73,000, continues to rise. Even during the ceasefire, people are still being killed or dying from starvation and lack of medical care. Thousands more remain missing, detained, or buried under rubble, with families still searching for answers amid limited transparency and restricted access to forensic resources. On today’s episode of Arab Talk, we’re joined by Mahmoud Mushtaha, Palestinian journalist and researcher from Gaza, now based in the UK. In a recent Wired investigation, he explores one family’s search for a missing loved one, offering a personal lens on a much wider crisis.
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  Lebanon Ceasefire: Pause or Precarious Deal? 19.04.2026 53min

  After initially refusing, the U.S. agreed to include Lebanon in ceasefire talks with Iran, backing a separate 10-day Israel–Lebanon truce that took effect April 17 at midnight. The deal follows Israel’s renewed invasion of southern Lebanon in March amid its broader conflict with Iran. Under the agreement, Israel retains control of occupied southern areas and reserves the right to respond to threats; Hezbollah says it will comply if Israel does. Some view the deal as a necessary pause, while others see it as a risky concession. To unpack these developments, we’re joined on Arab Talk by Dr. Rania Masri, board member of the Environmental Justice Network and former Associate Director at the American University of Beirut’s Asfari Institute.
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  Targeted Justice? Discrimination in Israel’s New Death Penalty Law 12.04.2026 53min

  On March 31, the Knesset passed a controversial law mandating the death penalty for Palestinians, including both West Bank residents and Israeli citizens, while excluding Jewish settlers. The law makes execution the default sentence, to be carried out within 90 days with no option for appeal or pardon. Hanging is the designated method, and some lawmakers signaled support by wearing noose-shaped pins. To discuss its implications and the legal context, we’re joined by Sawsan Zaher, a Palestinian human rights lawyer and former Deputy General Director and Senior Lawyer at Adalah, where she worked for 16 years on constitutional cases involving Palestinian rights.
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  Iran: From Strikes to Regional War 05.04.2026 47min

  What began in late February as coordinated U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military facilities has rapidly expanded into a far more dangerous confrontation. In response, Iran has launched waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israeli cities, key strategic sites, and U.S. military bases across the region—fueling growing concern over a prolonged and widening conflict. To help unpack these developments, we’re joined on Arab Talk by Dr. Eskandar Sadeghi-Boroujerdi, a researcher and lecturer in international politics at the University of St Andrews, and author of Revolution and its "Discontents: Political Thought and Reform in Iran."
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  Israel Denies Christians Access to the Holy Sepulchre 29.03.2026 52min

  Journalist Daoud Kuttab examines how Israel has used global attention on Iran to intensify settler violence and expand the seizure of Palestinian land in the West Bank. He also describes how attacks and harassment by the Israeli government and settlers against Palestinian Christians have increased, targeting their towns and villages as well as churches, schools, and other religious institutions. Kuttab is a former Ferris Professor of Journalism at Princeton University and the publisher of Milhilard.org, a platform dedicated to the Christian community in Jordan and Palestine. He currently serves as Senior Communications Officer for the World Evangelical Alliance. He is the author of several books, most recently State of Palestine NOW.
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  US, Israel and Iran War: Censorship, Settler Pogroms and Global Fallout 22.03.2026 57min

  Oren Ziv examines Israel’s wartime military censorship amid its conflict with Iran, shedding light on how information is controlled during periods of escalation. He also highlights a surge in violent settler attacks on Palestinian communities in the West Bank, particularly targeting herding communities in the Northern Jordan Valley under the cover of war. Oren is a photojournalist and a reporter for Local Call and +972 Magazine and a co-founder of Active Stills photography collective. Jess and Jamal explore the recent strikes on Iranian and Israeli nuclear facilities and the potential environmental consequences of such actions. They also consider whether rising oil prices and a weakening global economy could influence the trajectory—or possible end—of the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.
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  US–Israel War With Iran Intensifies 08.03.2026 52min

  Jess and Jamal discuss the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran as it enters its second week. U.S. and Israeli forces continue striking Iranian military and energy infrastructure, including targets near Tehran, while Iran has launched retaliatory missile and drone attacks against Israel and U.S.-linked sites in the region. Leaders on all sides say operations will continue, raising fears that the conflict could expand across the Middle East.
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  US & Israel Seek to Topple Iran’s Regime 01.03.2026 54min

  Jess and Jamal discuss the latest developments and global repercussions following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran. Nathan Kalman-Lamb, Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of New Brunswick, joins the show to discuss a complaint filed with the International Criminal Court against the heads of FIFA and UEFA. The case centers on allegations that the organizations permit Israeli football clubs based in settlements widely considered illegal under international law, built on land taken from Palestinians.
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  Living Hell: Torture and Abuse of Palestinian Prisoners 22.02.2026 51min

  Close to 11,000 Palestinians are currently held in Israeli prisons and detention centers, the majority without formal charges or convictions. During this recent period, nearly 100 Palestinians have died in custody, with extensive evidence indicating that many of these deaths resulted from torture and medical neglect. Based on its findings, Physicians for Human Rights has stated that these patterns point to what it describes as a deliberate Israeli policy contributing to the deaths of Palestinians in detention. Yair Dvir, spokesperson for B’Tselem, discusses the organization’s recent report, "Living Hell," which documents allegations of torture and abuse experienced by Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
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  Israel's Demographic Engineering 16.02.2026 52min

  In his opinion piece published in Al Jazeera, titled “Here’s Why Israel Is Allowing Record Murder Rates in Its Palestinian Towns,” Dr. Neve Gordon argues that the crime epidemic within Palestinian communities inside Israel is not merely a failure of governance, but part of a broader political strategy. He contends that the state has effectively allowed violence to escalate while simultaneously weaponizing accusations of anti-Semitism to intensify Jewish fear. Gordon characterizes this dynamic as a form of “demographic engineering.” Dr. Neve Gordon is a Professor of International Law at Queen Mary University of London. He is the author of "Israel’s Occupation" and co-author of "The Human Right to Dominate."
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  Israel Continues to Bomb Gaza Despite the Launching of a 'Board of Peace' 31.01.2026 56min

  In the aftermath of the war on Gaza, a proposed “Board of Peace” emerged on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September 2025. The body was envisioned as a temporary entity with a two-year mandate to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction and economic recovery. Louis Charbonneau, UN director at Human Rights Watch, discusses the proposed Board of Peace and examines the impact of the United States’ withdrawal from 31 United Nations entities, most of which focus on humanitarian aid, human rights, and climate change.
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  Did Iran Dodge the Bullet? 18.01.2026 56min

  President Donald Trump stated that he was holding off on striking Iran out of respect for what he claimed was Iran’s agreement to cancel 800 executions of protesters. Separately, but around the same time, officials from several Arab countries—Egypt, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar—as well as Israel reportedly urged Trump not to strike Iran, citing fears of Iranian retaliation. Joining us to discuss the rapidly unfolding events in Iran is Dr. Eskandar Sadeghi-Boroujerdi, a researcher and lecturer in Middle East international politics at the School of International Relations at the University of St Andrews. He is the author of "Revolution and Its Discontents: Political Thought and Reform in Iran."