Arab Talk With Jess & Jamal

Guests Palestinian-American activist Suhair Nafal and her lawyer Haytham Faraj discuss their win over a defamation suit brought against Nafal by Rebecca Rumshiskaya, an Israeli soldier. Faraj calls the victory “important for preserving the Arab American and Palestinian communities’ First Amendment rights to free speech, including political speech.” Jess and Jamal discuss the upcoming Palestinian legislative elections scheduled for May 22. They also look back at how the pandemic has upended our lives, one year later.

Attorney Yafa Jarrar talks about the Israeli military court sentencing of her mother, Palestinian politician Khalida Jarrar, to two years in prison. Jess and Jamal discuss opposition to the International Criminal Court's decision to proceed in investigating Israel for war crimes. The US claims Israel has been targeted unfairly. Phil Pasquini reports from Washington, DC about QAnon and the myth of Donald Trump's re-inauguration.

Jess and Jamal discuss the recent shifts on discourse about Israel in the United States, with recent comments by politicians and challenges in US media. Also, former students at AMED at San Francisco State University, Dr. Loubna Qutami and Saliem Shehadeh, describe the systematic attacks on the program by hate groups and the lack of support by the university’s administration.

Jess & Jamal discuss global warming and the cold weather that triggered a wave of blackouts across Texas, leaving millions of residents shivering in the dark. Our guest this week is Sani Meo, publisher of "This Week in Palestine" (http://thisweekinpalestine.com). Sani Meo talks about the different themes the magazine has been featuring for the past twenty years, and the challenges he is facing to keep publishing a quality magazine under Israeli occupation and additional restrictions due to COVID-19.

Legal expert Diana Buttu discusses the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) ruling that it has jurisdiction over the territories occupied by Israel in 1967, opening the way for an inquiry into allegations of Israeli war crimes in the region. Jess and Jamal discuss President Biden’s approach to human rights in the Middle East, specifically Saudi Arabia and Palestine. They also discuss Donald Trump’s impeachment trial.

Jewish Israeli activist Ronnie Barkan says that Israel is demonstrating “Medical Apartheid,” and not vaccine leadership, by not providing COVID-19 vaccines to approximately five million Palestinians who live under Israeli rule. Jess and Jamal discuss the saga of Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green who faces a House vote to strip her from committee assignments, over her history of trafficking in racism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and baseless conspiracy theories.

Jess and Jamal discuss a recently discovered video showing Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a QAnon-supporting Republican, trying to force Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib to retake their congressional oaths on the Bible. They also discuss “A Regime of Jewish Supremacy from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea: This Is Apartheid,” a position paper released by B’Tselem, a leading Israeli human-rights organization https://www.btselem.org/publications/fulltext/202101_this_is_apartheid

Jess and Jamal discuss the challenges that President Joe Biden faces repairing the damage caused to US allies overseas, while domestically confronting COVID-19, soaring unemployment and undoing many of Trump’s executive orders. Phil Pasquini reports from Washington, DC about the heightened security that will remain in the US capital for weeks to come, even after Joe Biden’s inauguration.

Jess and Jamal discuss the rising threat of white supremacy in the US. They analyze the events that led to the storming of the US Capitol and the second impeachment of Donald Trump. Israeli Filmmaker Ram Loevy talks about his recent film, "The Dead of Jaffa." The film is about a Palestinian Israeli couple who are torn between their emerging parental responsibility and a very real fear of police retribution. The film is streamed for free on LinkTV.org.

Arab Talk reporter Phil Pasquini provides an update from Washington, DC about the storming of the US Capitol and the looting and vandalism that ensued. Jess & Jamal discuss the security failure and the damage caused to the U.S. global standing by Trump's presidency.

Human rights attorney Huwaida Arraf discusses President-elect Joe Biden’s nominations to fill government positions in his administration, and their impact on the progressive movement in the Democratic Party. She also talks about Biden’s policies in the Middle East and his position towards the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Jess & Jamal discuss the impact left on the Middle East after the death of Mohamed Bouazizi, who set himself on fire ten years ago, sparking the Tunisian Revolution that became the catalyst for the Arab Spring.

Jess & Jamal discuss the recent purchase of Beitar Jerusalem, known as the “most racist soccer team in the world,” by Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Nahyan, a first cousin of the de facto Emirati ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed. They also discuss Israel’s systematic targeting of Palestinian children.

Jess & Jamal discuss whether Iran will strike back at Israel or the US over the assassination of its top nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, and if Trump will risk a 'full-fledged war' with Iran by bombing its nuclear facilities. They also discuss the alarming rise of COVID-19 deaths in the US, as the American public awaits emergency authorization for the vaccine with a target date of December 10.

While most congressional Republicans have been silent about acknowledging Biden’s presidential victory, Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said America will “have an orderly transfer from this administration to the next one” on time. Will this be the case? Jamal interviews reporter Phil Pasquini about the drama unfolding in Washington, DC.

Arab Talk correspondent Phil Pasquini provides updates on the US presidential race from Washington, DC, and discusses how a potentially contested election might batter America’s global image. Jess and Jamal give their perspectives on the antiquated electoral system and Trump’s premature victory claim.

Arab Talk reporter Phil Pasquini provides an update about the ongoing preparations for the US Elections in Washington, DC, with some business owners boarding up their storefronts in anticipation of potential riots. Jess and Jamal reveal their predictions for the presidential elections. They also discuss the latest wave of COVID-19 sweeping Europe and the United States.

Our guest Chafika Attalai, International Project Manager at CCIF (Collectif Contre L’Islamophobie en France), discusses Emmanuel Macron’s recent attacks on Muslims in France and a new Islamophobic bill aimed at banning Muslim religious practices. Jess and Jamal discuss the increased attacks by Israeli colonial settlers on Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest.

Arab Talk guest analyst Ronnie Barkan says that the Israeli left is in denial, as thousands of Israelis protested across the country, flouting a new law meant to curb anti-Netanyahu demonstrations during a coronavirus lockdown. Jess and Jamal provide the latest update on the upcoming presidential elections. And an interview with Mikey Muhanna, Executive Director of Afikra.com.

Canadian-Armenian Journalist Raffi Elliott discusses the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict which erupted over the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh. More than 100 people, including civilians, have died in separate clashes and bombings. Jess and Jamal provide their take on the chaotic debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. They question the effectiveness of the two additional debates scheduled in October.

A Webinar Censored: an interview with Dr. Rabab Abdulhadi. Jillian C. York, Director for International Freedom of Expression discusses corporate censorship.