We go back to 1931, when Palestinian journalist Issa El-Issa visited Paris's Colonial Exhibition and discovered Palestinian pavilions had been co-opted by British and Zionist organizers. This experience led the journalist to organize an Arab Exhibition in Palestine in 1933. Historian Nadi Abusaada discusses Resurgent Nahda, a book he recently researched and edited, and takes us through the exhibition of the same name at Dar El-Nimer in Beirut. The discussion covers the key contributors, artworks, and crafts displayed at the exhibition in Mandate Jerusalem, along with its organization and its role in promoting Arab unity. It also highlights the tragic fate of the Palace Hotel in Jerusalem, which hosted the exhibition and was later repurposed by British and Israeli authorities.

We talk to Lena El-Malak, author of "Stolen Nation: The Right to Reparation of Palestinian Refugees." The discussion explores the unique challenges faced by Palestinian refugees in securing their right of return and receive reparations, contrasting it with other global examples of refugee repatriation and compensation. El-Malak provides an in-depth analysis of various periods in Palestinian land ownership, the role of international law, and the impact of agreements like Resolution 194 and the Oslo Accords. The conversation also covers broader issues of justice and accountability in the Palestinian context.

Activist, producer, writer and editor Frank Barat shares his journey into activism, focusing on Palestine, and the significant moments that shaped his advocacy. From his upbringing in a working-class family to his eye-opening trip to Palestine in 2007, Barat paints a picture of the struggles and beauty he witnessed. He discusses the Russell Tribunal on Palestine and its impact, the Freedom Flotilla initiatives, and the importance of global solidarity movements. He touches on the moral high ground held by the movement and the intricate dynamics of apartheid in Israel, and offers a candid look at the challenges and hopes for the future of Palestine and Palestinian solidarity.

In this episode of This is Not a Watermelon podcast, we're joined by Oscar-Nominated and award-winning Palestinian filmmaker, Scandar Copti. We dive into his childhood in Jaffa and growing up in a neighborhood with a rich and tumultuous history like Ajami, to his rise as an acclaimed filmmaker. Scandar shares personal anecdotes about the challenges he faced – including at the Oscars – his unique filmmaking process, and the philosophical underpinnings of his films "Ajami" and "Happy Holidays." Join us for a captivating conversation about filmmaking, identity, and resistance.

In this episode of This Is Not a Watermelon podcast, we talk to UN special rapporteur Michael Fakhri, and comic journalist and film writer Omar Khouri, about their report "Palestine and the Right to Food." They explain how starvation is always intentional – with a focus on Israel's policies towards Palestine – illustrating the broader global implications. The episode delves into the legal definitions of famine and starvation, the use of starvation as a weapon, and how the international food system is fundamentally flawed. The discussion covers the collaboration between Michael and Omar, the impact of making such reports accessible through comics, and the bureaucratic challenges they faced within the UN system. They emphasize that the issues in Palestine are part of a larger global crisis affecting food security and human rights worldwide.

Better known to many through her Instagram account @leb.historian which has gained a large audience especially since Lebanon's 17 October Revolution, Chloe Kattar joins us on This Is Not a Watermelon for a special podcast episode to contextualize the current Israeli war on Lebanon. We focus on Israeli propaganda and discuss Zionist expansionist agenda and the ways in which these imperial narratives are disseminated. Kattar gives us a quick history of Israel's aggressions on Lebanon which started decades before October 7. She dismantles vague terms weaponized by the the Israeli occupation such as "Hezbollah Infrastructure", clarifies the ambiguities of the "Dahiyeh Doctrine", and explains the impact of drones and psychological warfare on a civilian population.

In this special episode of This Is Not a Watermelon podcast, we speak to Professor Mona Harb, co-founder of the Beirut Urban Lab at the American University of Beirut, to help us delve into the intricate socio-political dynamics and historical narratives of Beirut's southern suburbs, known as "Dahiyeh" that's been under severe Israeli bombardment since September. Professor Harb offers an in-depth exploration of Dahiyeh, a part of the Lebanese capital often associated with Shi'ism, poverty, and Hezbollah, highlighting the socio-economic diversity in the area and the effects of Lebanon's civil war and subsequent urban planning policies on this large geography which encompasses several municipalities. The episode further explores the interconnected economy and population movements, and the impact of media misrepresentation on Lebanon. Stressing on just how large and diverse of an area "Dahiyeh" is, Harb explores the impacts of Israeli attacks on urban heritage, the media's false portrayal of Hezbollah, and the strength of Beirut's communities amidst the ongoing challenges. With personal insights and professional expertise, she sheds light on the multifaceted narrative of this urban space in Beirut, bringing attention to the fact that the attack on Dahiyeh (and the south of Lebanon) is an attack on the entire Lebanese population and infrastructure. Harb highlights the resilience and solidarity among Beirut's communities and the significance of knowledge production in fostering inclusive urban environments. This episode was recorded on October 15th at 5pm Beirut time. 00:00 Introduction 00:45 Personal Reflections on Safety in Beirut 02:53 Understanding the Southern Suburbs of Beirut 04:31 Historical Context and Evolution of Dahieh 09:19 Sectarian Geographies, Municipalities and Urban Dynamics 15:11 Current Damage and Reconstruction Challenges 19:42 Interconnectedness of Lebanon's Regions 22:54 Lies in Media Portrayal 28:07 The Dahieh Doctrine and Urbacide Explained 30:43 Impact on Education and Daily Life 34:34 Challenges Faced by Students and Youth During The Current Israeli War on Lebanon 39:38 Solidarity and Hope Amidst Crisis 44:59 Recommendations for Further Reading Mona Harb is Professor of Urban Studies and Politics at the American University of Beirut where she is also co-founder and research lead at the Beirut Urban Lab. Her research investigates governance and territoriality in contexts of contested sovereignty; urban activism and oppositional politics; and how people make collective life in fragmented cities. She is the author of "Le Hezbollah à Beirut: de la banlieue à la ville, co-author of Leisurely Islam: Negotiating Geography and Morality in Shi’i South Beirut (with Lara Deeb)", co-editor of "Local Governments and Public Goods: Assessing Decentralization in the Arab World (with Sami Atallah)", and co-editor of "Refugees as City-Makers (with Mona Fawaz et al.)". She serves on the editorial boards of MELG, IJMES, EPC, and CSSAME, and was previously on the boards of IJURR and the ACSS. At AUB, she served as Coordinator of the Graduate programs in Urban Planning, Policy and Design, Associate Dean of her faculty, and as Chairperson of the department of Architecture and Design. Connect with Mona 👉 https://x.com/mona_harb_ Beirut Urban Lab is a collaborative and interdisciplinary research space. It produces scholarship on urbanization by documenting and analyzing ongoing transformation processes in Lebanon and its region's natural and built environments. It intervenes as an interlocutor and contributor to academic debates about historical and contemporary urbanization from its position in the Global South. Discover Beirut Urban Lab 👉 https://beiruturbanlab.com/ Explore the Middle East Research and Information Project 👉 https://merip.org/

Palestinian doctor, scholar and research fellow Ghada Karmi offers powerful, truthful and hard-hitting words on Palestine's past, present and future. She sheds light on a common experience amongst Palestinian diaspora: that of blocked memories, suppressed as a result of trauma. She shares wise words of advice on dealing with friends and family who – especially in the wake of October 7th – have stayed apathetic and silent, or refused to take a moral stance.

In this episode of This Is Not a Watermelon, we talk about positioning Palestinian music within a global music scene, cassettes as precious as diamonds, music and resistance, and reiterations of traditional folk music. Global scholar of Palestinian music, activist, and musician Louis Brehony joins us with a roster of musical interludes that take us on a tour of the Palestinian music that should appear on all those "Top 10" rankings we read online.

In this episode of This Is Not a Watermelon, Sonja Mejcher-Atassi joins us in our studio in Beirut to talk about her book "An Impossible Friendship: Group Portrait, Jerusalem Before and After 1948," which details the relationship between a group of friends who came together at a momentous time in the modern history of Palestine. The group, who Sonja calls her "famous five", features an extraordinary meeting of minds: Walid Khalidi, Jabra Ibrahim Jabra, Rasha Salam, Sally Kassab and Wolfgang Hildescheimer. The five straddle religious and cultural barriers to forge an unlikely friendship that becomes almost politically impossible after 1948. Learning about their friendship, we get snippets of life in Jerusalem during the British Mandate and other key moments in the country's history. We speak about how the bombing of the King David Hotel arguably marked a significant turning point for Palestine, and why it's important to read Palestinian and Israeli histories together considering how entangled they are.

The power and apparent failings of international law in Palestine are questions on everyone's minds right now. In this episode of This is Not a Watermelon, professor Victor Kattan walks us through the scope and remit of international law, the legalities of occupation and invasion, and the state of international law today. Tracking back through the 20th century, Victor reflects on whether the makers of the Balfour Declaration and Mandates for Palestine would call their "great experiment" a success. He touches on the "Jewish question" in Europe, apartheid as a form of genocide, and the likelihood of a functioning Palestinian State. Finally, he looks at South Africa's case against Israel and to the question of whether justice in Palestine is ever possible (and if so, in what form and for whom?)

Dr Salman Abu Sitta lived through the Nakba. In this episode of This Is Not A Watermelon, we hear about his lived experience, writing his memoir "Mapping My Return: A Palestinian Memoir," and the Palestinian Land Society – an organization he founded that is dedicated to the documentation of Palestine's land and people. Dr Abu Sitta gives us an overview of the history of the Zionist occupation of Palestine, explaining the role that the British and the Haganah played, ultimately betraying the Palestinians. This is a unique opportunity to learn about the events of 1948 from a first-hand perspective.

Refqa Abu-Remaileh joins us on This Is Not A Watermelon podcast to discuss the fascinating and crucial work she does through her digital project "Country of Words: A Transnational Atlas for Palestinian Literature". We dive into the very nature of Palestinian literature, discussing how it is without a centralized nation state and the challenges this presents in understanding it, as well as the key role of magazines in its production. Refqa explains the concept of a "diaspora-homeland continuum" and what it means to historicize Palestinian literature. Finally, she shares the names of figures of Palestinian literary production that are often forgotten.

On this episode of This is Not a Watermelon podcast, we sit down with Yazid Anani to discuss Palestinian art, curation, and the role of artists and their work in redefining Palestine and the lexicon used to describe the Zionist project and Israeli occupation.

This episode of This is Not a Watermelon is a re-run of a conversation recorded on June 7, 2021 with three of Visualizing Palestine’s team members: Ramzi Jaber, Ahmad Barclay and Jessica Anderson. We are re-running this episode at a time when Visualizing Palestine’s work is more vital than ever.

In this episode of afikra's This Is Not A Watermelon, pioneer Palestinian filmmaker and director Mai Masri shares her cinematic journey, her inspirations, and the stories behind her most impactful works. Masri reflects on her early trilogy Children of Fire, Children of Shatila, and Frontier of Dreams and Fears, sharing the realities and experiences of filming under siege and occupation. She talks about the power of finding poetry in the human condition and capturing harsh realities faced by Palestinians every day, as well as why she chooses to focus on small, personal stories to speak to a broader narrative. Finally, we learn about how Masri fostered a sense of belonging through the camera as a Palestinian who had grown up in the diaspora.

This is a rerun of a conversation that we initially published on February 8th, 2023 with iconic Palestinian painter, sculptor, author and cartoonist Sliman Mansour. This conversation is still very relevant today. If you find it useful, please share it or let us know your thoughts in the comments section. And make sure to subscribe to the THIS IS NOT A WATERMELON podcast for more interesting content on Palestine.

Malek Rasamny — documentary filmmaker, co-founder of "The Native and the Refugee" and one of the original afikra presenters — on his critical work juxtaposing the societies, struggles and lived experience of settler colonialism by looking at Native Reservations and Palestinian refugee camps through a spatial lens.

We're excited to announce that our special episodes on Palestine are turning into their own podcast. The atrocities that continue to take place in Palestine are a reminder that, more than ever, we need to dedicate our platforms to stand for justice and truth.

We discussed Rashid Khalidi's work as an editor of the Journal of Palestine Studies, as the President of the Middle East Studies Association, and as an advisor to the Palestinian delegation to the Madrid and Washington Arab-Israeli peace negotiations.