The so-called Palestinian Flag in 1939 within WW II

Is Israel a Colonial State?

Is Israel a Racist State? Lets review this allegation!

Are you pro-Israel or pro-Hamas?

Are you for Israelis or for Palestinians?

Does Hamas have any Military Basis in Gaza? A Fair Question!

Does the Muslim World help Palestinians?

Israel and the Colonial Question: Myths, History, and Reality🔑 Hashtags / Keywords

#IsraelHistory; #ZionismExplained; #NotColonial; #JewishIndigeneity; #MiddleEastHistory; #AntiSemitism; #WhiteSupremacyDebunked; #InternationalLaw; #LegalSystemIsrael; #PodcastAcademia; #Orientalistics; #JewishReturn; #ColonialismDebate; #CrusadesAndConquests; #OttomanEmpire; #MuslimConquests; #ChristianConquests; #IsraelPodcast; #AcademicPodcast; #MiddleEastPolitics

💬 Summary

In this episode, we take a deep dive into one of the most hotly debated questions of our time: Is Israel a colonial state? Step by step, we examine the evidence — the Jewish people’s indigenous connection to the land, the nature of Zionism, Israel’s legal and political structures, and its diverse society. Along the way, we tackle the recurring accusations of colonialism, criminality, and white supremacy, and we place Israel’s story in the much broader context of Christian and Muslim empires that truly practised conquest and colonisation across the Middle East and Europe. The episode argues that Israel’s trajectory is unique — not a project of empire, but the revival of an indigenous people returning to their ancestral homeland.

From Persia to Israel: A Conversation with a Pro-Palestinian

گفتگو با یک طرفدار فلسطین، بخشی از این نامه نگاری به فارسی است

Summary

This episode of Orientalistics dives into a fiery exchange between two worlds: one voice speaking from lived experience as an Iranian-born Jew standing with Israel, and another, a Persian leftist intellectual deeply committed to the Palestinian cause. Sparked by a provocative video from a well-known Israeli critic, our debate unfolds across Persian and English, exposing the raw clash between ideology and reality, conviction and experience. No filters, no easy answers — just the unvarnished tension of a conflict that refuses to fade.

Keywords

#Israel; #Palestine; #Iran; #MiddleEast; #Democracy; #Occupation; #FreedomOfSpeech; #GideonLevy; #PersianIntellectual; #ProPalestinian; #ProIsrael; #Debate; #Podcast; #Orientalistics; #Dialogue; #PoliticalPhilosophy; #Justice; #Conflict; #Identity

IS ISRAEL A COLONIAL ENTITY?

1. Is Israel truly a colonial state?

Many argue that Zionism is just another form of colonialism. But does Israel’s history actually fit the definition of colonialism?

2. Are the Jewish people indigenous to the land of Israel, or not?

The answer to this question lies at the heart of the debate over legitimacy.

3. Does Zionism amount to settler colonialism?

Or is it something fundamentally different — a movement of national liberation?

This claim appears often in activist circles. But does it survive contact with Israel’s demographics and history?

Judea, Samaria, West Bank: A Land of Many Names

In this episode of Orientalistics, we journey through the deep history of the land once called Judea and Samaria—today widely known as the West Bank. From Neanderthals and Canaanites to Israelites, Babylonians, Romans, Ottomans, and modern powers, this land has been a crossroads of civilizations. We explore how names like “Judea and Samaria” arose from ancient kingdoms, how the Romans renamed it “Syria Palaestina,” and how in the 20th century the geopolitical term “West Bank” emerged under Jordanian rule. We also discuss Israel’s reintroduction of the biblical names after 1967 and how each term reflects political, cultural, and historical identities. The episode highlights not just the shifting borders and rulers, but the layers of human life and meaning that give this land its unique resonance

Keywords

#JudeaAndSamaria; #WestBank; #HistoryOfPalestine; #BiblicalHistory; #Canaanites; #Israelites; #AncientNearEast; #BabylonianExile; #AssyrianEmpire; #RomanEmpire; #SyriaPalaestina; #OttomanEmpire; #BritishMandate; #JordanAnnexation; #SixDayWar; #OsloAccords; #MiddleEastHistory; #OrientalisticsPodcast; #IdentityAndNaming; #Archaeology

Summary In this episode, we explore the complex political realities in Israel, touching on its democratic framework, historical background, and the tensions that shape its society. The discussion dives into the challenges, contradictions, and hopes for the nation’s political future, offering both historical context and thought-provoking analysis. Listeners are encouraged to share their perspectives, experiences, and questions to keep the conversation going.

Keywords#MiddleEastPolitics; #Israel; #Democracy; #PodcastDiscussion; #PoliticalAnalysis; #MiddleEastHistory; #Geopolitics; #CurrentAffairs; #PodcastEpisode; #IsraelDemocracy; #PoliticalDebate; #PodcastCommunity; #MiddleEastConflict; #GlobalPolitics; #Israel; #MuslimsInIsrael ; #ArabsinIsrel

Before the Borderlines: A Brief History of Israel and Palestine

Summary:

In this episode, we take a step back from the headlines to offer a clear, accessible, and historically grounded overview of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Before engaging with contemporary debates—especially the complex claims surrounding Israel’s right to exist and the rhetoric of regimes like that of Iran—we explore the deep historical context that underpins the region's present-day tensions. This episode serves as a preamble to a more focused exploration of Zionism and modern geopolitical dynamics in a future instalment. Whether you're new to the topic or seeking abalanced perspective amid today’s polarised media, this is a story-driven introduction meant to inform, not inflame.

Keywords#IsraelPalestineConflict; #ZionismExplained; #MiddleEastHistory; #IsraelHistory; #PalestineNarrative; #ArabIsraeliConflict; #TwoStateSolution;#HistoricalContext; #PodcastOnHistory; #JewishHomeland; #BritishMandate; #UNPartitionPlan; #GazaWestBank; #MiddleEastPolitics; #IranIsraelTensions; #HamasHezbollah; #October7; #IranStrikes2025; #EducationalPodcast; #BalancedNarrative

The Mullas and The Missiles (in Persian) ملایان و موشک ها

در این پادکست من به آسیب شناسی حلمه ی اسرائیل به زیرساخت های جمهوری اسلامی پرداختم!

مِهر کنید و پیام ها و نقدهای خودتان را با من به اشتراک بگذارید یا در بخش تفسیر (کامنت) و یا به ایمیل من:

orientalistics@gmail.com

بفرستید

هشتگ‌ها:

#ایران؛#اسرائیل؛#جنگ؛#جنگ_ایران_اسرائیل؛#رژیم_جمهوری_اسلامی؛#سپاه_پاسداران؛#موساد؛#خاورمیانه؛#درگیری_نظامی؛#حمله_هوایی؛#دفاع_موشکی؛#جنگ_ترکیبی؛#امنیت_منطقه‌ای؛#خلیج_فارس؛#تهران؛#تل_آویو؛#تحلیل_سیاسی؛#درگیری_ایران_اسرائیل؛#تنش_نظامی؛#رویارویی_ایران_اسرائیل؛

The Mullahs, the Missiles, and the People: On the Israeli Airstrike Against the Islamic Republic of Iran

In this urgent and unfiltered episode, Farshid Delshad stepsoutside his usual domains of language, religion, and culture to address the escalating confrontation between the State of Israel and the Islamic Republicof Iran. Speaking not only as a scholar of Middle Eastern studies but also as an Iranian of Jewish heritage with lived experience in both countries,Farshid reflects on the moral dilemmas, historical realities, and geopoliticalimplications of the recent Israeli airstrike.

🔹 Whatdoes this moment mean for the long-oppressed people of Iran?🔹 Can a population disarmed and disenfranchised truly topple afortified theocracy alone?🔹 Is foreign intervention a betrayal of sovereignty—or a last window of hope?

Tracing decades of Iranian resistance movements and peeling back layers of political rhetoric, this episode asks hard questions and offersa brutally honest response to critics, allies, and bystanders alike. A necessary listen—for those who think they understand the Middle East, and for those who know they don’t.

#Iran #Israel #MiddleEast #Protest #Geopolitics #Revolution#IranianVoices #Orientalistics #FarshidDelshad

Von Wahrheit & Fiktion. Truth, Fiction, and the Politics of Memory (in German)

In this episode, we explore the complex tension between historical truth and fictional narrative, drawing inspiration from Yuval Noah Harari's reflections. We discuss how writing about real historical events—such as the Roman Empire—requires rigorous research, linguistic skills, and archaeological insight, whereas fictional storytelling allows for simplified, appealing narratives without factual accountability. This distinction is not only academic but deeply political: in modern societies, fictionalized versions of history often resonate more than uncomfortable truths. What does this say about our collective relationship to truth, history, and political memory? Join us as we reflect on the implications for contemporary public discourse and historiography.

Keywords

#TruthVsFiction; #YuvalHarari; #HistoricalNarrative; #RomanEmpire; #Historiography; #PoliticalDiscourse; #AncientHistory; #RealityCheck; #PublicTruth; #HistoricalMethod; #MediaAndFiction; #CriticalThinking

The Legacy of Zoroastrianism for Judaism, Christianity and Islam: Part IV: Synopsis

🎧 Keywords

#Zoroastrianism; #Judaism;#Christianity; #Islam; #PersianEmpire; #SecondTempleJudaism; #Resurrection;#Afterlife; #CyrusTheGreat; #ApocalypticThought; #Mithraism; #Avesta; #Haoma;#Soma; #AncientReligions; #Theology; #ReligiousInfluence; #Dualism; #MessianicHope;#OrientalisticsPodcast

📝 Summary

In this episode of Orientalistics, we explore thefar-reaching legacy of Zoroastrianism and its subtle but significant influence on Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. From Cyrus the Great's celebrated status in the Hebrew Bible to the shared theological motifs—resurrection, finaljudgement, dualism, and messianism—we trace how ancient Persian religious thought permeated Second Temple Judaism and, later, Christian doctrine. Listener questions guided us deeper into the mysteries of the Avesta,the identity of the sacred haoma/soma plant, and the linguistic clues that confirm the antiquity of Zoroastrian ideas. We also unpack the evolution ofhell from a purgative realm to a place of eternal punishment, and consider alternate historical trajectories had Zoroastrianism gained wider imperial support. It’s an episode that opens new doors into how intertwined thesereligious worlds truly were. Drop your thoughts, reflections, and questions below—we’d love to keep the conversation going!

The Legacy of Zoroastrianism for Judaism, Christianity and Islam Part III: Zoroastrian Cosmology

Keywords

#Zoroastrianism; #Zarathustra; #AhuraMazda; #AngraMainyu; #GoodVsEvil; #AncientReligions;#IndoIranian; #DevaVsDaeva; #VedicHinduism; #ReligiousHistory; #Apocalypse; #Resurrection; #SecondTempleJudaism; #OriginsOfSatan; #HeavenAndHell; #Sheol; #AncientPhilosophy; #PersianEmpire; #ReligiousEvolution

Summary

💬 In this episode, we journeyed into the origins of Zoroastrianism and the life of Zarathustra, exploring his revolutionary vision of cosmic dualism between truth and falsehood. We looked at how linguistic shifts like deva and daeva shaped theology, and how Zoroastrian ideas may have echoed through Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. From the battle between Ahura Mazda and Angra Mainyu to the concept of resurrection and final judgment—we uncovered the deep roots of religious thought that still influence us today.

Zoroaster and Abrahamic Religions Part II: From Zoroaster to Moses

Summary

In this episode, we explore how sacred histories are not always straightforward records of the past, but deeply layered narratives shaped by memory, theology, and retrospective meaning. From the retroactive storytellingstructures in Abrahamic texts to the haunting poetic legacy of the Gāthās in Zoroastrianism, we reflect on the challenges of tracing historical truth amidst mythic resonance. Why do prophets appear fully formed in scripture? How do traditions remember and reshape their origins? And what makes Zoroaster such a singular figure in the history of religious thought? Join me as we peel back the layers of sacred memory and step into the luminous, elusive world ofsalvation narratives.

Keywords#Zoroaster; #PhilosophyOfReligion; #CulturalMemory; #SacredTexts; #Gathas; #Zoroastrianism; #HistoryOfReligion; #SalvationHistory; #ReligiousNarratives; #PropheticTradition; #EthicalMonotheism; #MythAndMemory; #ReligiousOrigins; #OralTradition; #SpentaAndAngra; #Zarathustra;#AncientWisdom

🎙️ EpisodeTitle: An Iranian-German Under the Russian Fire with Ario Dehghani

SummaryIn this powerful episode, we sit down with Ario Dehghani—an Iranian-German lawyer and member of the Bahá'í faith—who left Germany to build a new life inUkraine. When the war erupted, Ario made a fateful decision: to stay, to serve, and to protect those around him.

From his upbringing in Germany as the child of a Persian-German interfaith family to the moment he met his Ukrainian wife, Ario’s story is a rare window into what it means to live between worlds—and to hold fast to faith, love, and humanity in the heart of crisis.

This a deeply personal conversation on migration, resilience, and the quiet heroism of ordinary people in extraordinary times.

🔑 Topics Covered:• Growing up Bahá'í in post-revolutionary diaspora• From Vienna law school to Kyiv's warzones• Faith, family, and the meaning of home• Living through invasion—and choosing to stay• Cultural identity in times of collapse and hope

🔑 Keywords

#OrientalisticsPodcast #ArioDehghani #UkraineWar #FaithUnderFire #IranianDiaspora #Resilience #Baha'iFaith; #CulturalIdentity; #MigrationStories; #LoveInWar; #ArioDehghani; #OrientalisticsPodcast; #UkraineWar; #Baha'iFaith; #CulturalIdentity; #IranianDiaspora; #GermanyToUkraine; #UkrainianConflict; #HumanRights; #MigrationStories; #WarTestimonies; #IranianHeritage; #RussiaUkraineWar; #SpiritualJourney; #PersonalNarratives; #ModernHistory; #Russia; #Ukraine; #Iran; #War