"The job is not to be a Palestinian journalist. The job is to be on a mission to expose injustice and inequality and advocate for a different reality. I'm not on a mission of  becoming more Palestinian."

What does it mean to be a journalist covering the Israeli-Palestinian conflict today? How does one maintain a critical outlook on both Israel's war on Gaza and Hamas' attacks on Israeli civilians on October 7th? How does one navigate the intertwining identities of being a woman, a Palestinian, and a journalist?  

In this live episode of Radio Palestine/Israel, we explore the complex voice of Rajaa Natour, a journalist who has written for prominent news outlets such as Haaretz and NRC. We explore how to approach journalistic work within a polarizing conflict, aiming first to tell the truth, no matter who it inconveniences. We discuss the obstacles to sharing such truths and how Rajaa navigates the publishing of her unique perspective in news outlets. We then discuss how to keep a critical view of Hamas as a Palestinian engaged in achieving equality between Israelis and Palestinians and the difficulties of maintaining this crucial view as a journalist in the public eye. 

So dare to listen to this special live episode and discover the unique voice of journalist Rajaa Natour!

“People call me an activist. I do not like that word. I just live the way that I think I want to live.” - Umayya Abu-Hanna

What does it mean to be a “pro-Palestinian” advocate in the West today? In this episode, we sit down with Umayya Abu-Hanna, an award-winning Palestinian-Finnish journalist, writer, and activist. Born in Haifa and having lived for many years in Helsinki and Amsterdam, Umayya brings her unique perspective shaped by diverse lived experiences.

In this episode of Radio Palestine/Israel, we explore how personal narrative and national heritage intertwine. Join us as we delve into a rich and complex human story behind the Palestinian narrative. We offer a space for introspection with a long-standing advocate for Palestinian rights in Europe. Are you ready to listen?

“When I was 15, I participated in a hunger strike in prison for 16 days. That was my introduction to non-violence, and it was my first time experiencing a potent energy.” –Sulaiman Khatib, 2024.

Breaking the cycle of violence requires profound transformation. For Sulaiman Khatib, this transformation unfolded in an Israeli prison, where he spent a decade after being arrested for resisting oppression. Despite enduring torture, he emerged with a powerful idea: the principle of non-violent resistance. The prison, called “the university” by inmates, became a beacon of learning. They studied Hebrew, explored texts from the Israeli perspective, and learned about successful resistance movements. Upon his release, Sulaiman connected with like-minded individuals from both communities, fostering empathy for the other’s trauma and recognizing the power of non-violence. Together, they established ‘Combatants for Peace’, a pioneering organization transcending borders, language, prejudice, and hate. Find out more about their inspiring workhere.

"I don't always have high hopes about changing the world through photography or journalism, but I wake up in the morning and drive a few hours because I think it's important to be there, to stand with these people, to document it." -Oren Ziv, 2024.

 In this episode, we sit down with Israeli photojournalist Oren Ziv, a pioneer in conflict reporting who has spent nearly two decades capturing the realities of life in Palestine and Israel. As one of the first journalists on the scene of the October 7th attack, Oren brings a firsthand perspective on one of the region’s most harrowing events. A co-founder of Activestills Photography Collective and a writer and photographer for +972 Magazine, Oren has extensively documented resistance, house demolitions and the human cost of the occupation, with a commitment to amplifying voices on all sides of the divide. His work reveals not just the stories behind the headlines, but the deep challenges journalists face in conflict zones, where the risks are constant, and censorship looms large. Join us for an eye-opening conversation about the power of storytelling in the face of adversity, and the role of journalism in holding power to account, showing the world the realities most choose not to see. Find out more about Oren’s impactful photography in the West Bank’s village of Zanuta here

"What kind of resistance leads to more loss of land, death, and destruction?” -Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib

Could you imagine a voice from Gaza asking this provocative question? This week, we welcome Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, a Palestinian-American activist and political analyst daring to propose pragmatic solutions to the Israel/Palestine conflict. In a landscape often defined by entrenched positions, Alkhatib is not afraid to break taboos: he offers a hand to anyone willing to seek peace, while challenging the narrative surrounding activism.

Alkhatib is a Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council, a writer and analyst who grew up in Gaza City. Through his powerful writing and dynamic social media presence he reaches millions, urging them to reexamine their views about resistance, identity, and the possibility of peace.

This episode explores how Alkhatib manages to create an audience that would hear him out, the challenges he faces within the pro-Palestine movement, his thinking about how to be a positive activist for the Palestinian cause, as well as his hopes and dreams for the future.

“I was radicalized in the archives” - Prof. Avi Shlaim.

Have you ever wondered how an Oxford Professor of International Relations, pioneering scholar of Israel/Palestine and member of the Israeli ‘New Historians’, developed his complex political voice? In this episode, we explore the remarkable journey of Avi Shlaim, author of the seminal work The Iron Wall.

We delve into Avi's identity as an Arab-Jew—born to a Jewish family in Iraq and later immigrating to Israel—and his groundbreaking critical analysis of archival documents that challenged long-held narratives about Israel.

This episode unpacks pressing and provocative questions surrounding Israel/Palestine:

• Can one be both Arab and Jewish in today's political climate?

• What does the abrupt exodus of over 100,000 Iraqi Jews in 1951 reveal about centuries of coexistence?

• Is Zionism inherently a European ideology, and what does this mean for non-European Jews?

In this episode, Shlaim offers a thought-provoking viewpoint informed by his lived experience and decades of scholarship. He also shares a hopeful vision of how a past of Arab-Jewish coexistence might illuminate a path forward for the region.

So dare to listen, and discover the voice of one of the most influential scholars of Israel/Palestine!

Logo design by Bertus Dokter

Music: 'Speechless' by EduardBykovets

*Views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the podcast producers.