With the term ‘terrorism’ so frequently invoked in Western media coverage of Palestine, today’s episode of the Let’s Talk Palestine Podcast seeks to unpack and critically examine this loaded label.
Conor Gearty KC, a professor of human rights law at LSE and a specialist in anti-terrorism legislation, traces the term’s roots to British-colonial Ireland, explores how Israel later adapted and popularized it to justify its oppression of Palestinians, and reflects on how its use exploded globally following 9/11—fueling the U.S.-led ‘War on Terror’ and the illegal invasion of Iraq.