The Miko Peled Podcast

J Street and Liberal Zionism have enabled the Far Right in Israel

Jeremy Ben-Ami, the president of J Street, recently gave a speech. He tried to claim he is in favor of standing up to the far right in Israel. In fact, he made clear what has always been the case: liberal Zionism is the fig leaf under which Zionist crimes and the apartheid regime flourish.

Eli Gerzon asks Miko Peled about the code words and quotations that make Ben-Ami's intentions clear. Also a brief discussion about the history of bagels in Israel.

Miko's article on this topic: https://www.mintpressnews.com/as-far-right-come-to-power-in-israel-j-street-struggles-for-relevance/282987/

Article by Phill Weiss in Mondoweiss about Ben-Ami's speech: https://mondoweiss.net/2022/12/israel-support-is-a-threat-to-the-american-jewish-community-ben-ami-warns/

Video of Jeremy Ben-Ami's speech at J Street event: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=888490412316723

Full documentary "Gaza Fights For Freedom" by Abby Martin - free on YouTube (just click "I understand and wish to proceed in response to the ridiculous attempt at censorship): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnZSaKYmP2s

 

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Remembrance and Resistance: Interview with Director Rachel Beitarie of Zochrot

"We try to imagine what could have been here. How this country could have been, how the society could have been, if it wasn't for the terrible crime of ethnic cleansing."

Zochrot means "remembrance" in Hebrew, taking the grammatical feminine form. As a non-profit organization, Zochrot takes on the Zionist account of history from within Israeli society itself. They tackle the Zionist narrative by shedding light on the catastrophe (Nakba) that took place during Israel's establishment in 1948 when 700,000 Palestinians were forcefully expelled from their homes, never to return.

This interview with the organization's Israeli Director, Rachel Beitarie, explores her own motivation for joining and leading Zochrot, and the importance of presenting uncomfortable truths to Israeli society. This is a discussion between two Israelis about listening to the pain of Palestinians and how Israelis must learn "to take responsibility for your part in the dispossession of others."

This interview with Miko Peled and Rachel Beitarie covers the importance of oral histories, facing that you grew up with a false nationalist narrative, promoting the return of the Palestinian refugees, and sharing a story of hatred and hummus in Beijing.

This is the shortened podcast. The full video interview is available to Premium Patron subscribers on patreon.com/mikopeled

Running as a Second Class Citizen: Haneen Zoabi & Miko Peled

Running for elections as a second class citizen! Though many would ignorantly call her an "Israeli Arab," Haneen Zoabi is a Palestinian patriot. She does not simply represent a political opposition—she is part of a native people excluded by the Israeli system and fighting for equal rights.

Haneen Zoabi's journey into politics began at home. Her first awareness of justice and injustice came from observing, and questioning, the traditional gender roles in her home and in society. As the first Palestinian woman elected to the Knesset she made her mark!

In this episode, Haneen Zoabi and Miko Peled discuss her journey into intersectional politics, her participation in the Mavi Marmara floatilla to Gaza where Israel killed 9 activists, and the results of the recent Israeli elections. Hear from her directly what it means to operate inside an oppressive and racist system that you wish to see peacefully dismantled.

The full video interview is available on patreon.com/mikopeled

Born in a Mud Hut, Now Successful Film Maker: Interview with Mohammad Bakri

A theater student from a Palestinian village without electricity, Mohammad Bakri became a renowned actor and film director. He has stirred controversy in Israel with his movie Jenin, Jenin—a documentary about the Israeli invasion of the refugee camp in Jenin as told entirely from the Palestinian residents themselves.

In 2002, Israeli military prevented journalists and human rights organizations from entering Jenin. Rumors of a massacre began to surface. Mohammad Bakri himself sneaked into the camp to ask the question, "What happened?"

In this interview, Miko Peled talks with Mohammad Bakri about his first introduction to theater and film in his village and being a young Palestinian theater student in the foreign world of Tel Aviv. They discuss his success as an actor with an Israeli audience and his maturing into someone ready to tell his own story.

Become a Patreon Premium subscriber to watch the full video interview!

Bassem Tamimi from Nabi Saleh, Palestine

In our debut episode, Miko Peled speaks with Bassem Tamimi in person from his village of Nabi Salih. Bassem Tamimi is a prominent Palestinian leader from the village of Nabi Saleh and one of the leaders of the popular resistance movement. Many outside of Palestine know him as the father of Ahed Tamimi, who was famously incarcerated by Israel after she slapped an IDF solider. Miko and Bassem sat down after a community meeting to discuss the current state of Palestinian resistance and what a just future must contain for Palestinians. 

About Miko Peled:

Miko Peled aims to shine a light on under-reported Palestinian experiences through conversations with the brave human rights defenders doing the work on the ground. Miko is an Israeli-American author, writer, speaker, and human rights activist living in the United States. He is considered by many to be one of the clearest voices calling for justice in Palestine, supporting the Palestinian call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) and the creation of a single democracy with equal rights in all of historic Palestine. 

www.mikopeled.com