In this latest episode of Beyond Israelism, Simone Zimmerman sits down with Yuli Novak, Executive Director of B’Tselem and one of the most uncompromising dissident voices within Israel. It’s a deeply honest and impactful conversation about political rupture, moral clarity, and the cost of telling the truth from inside a society that has become, in Yuli’s words, “completely genocidal.” Yuli reflects on her journey from an upbringing shaped by patriotism and belief in Israeli democracy to a painful reckoning with what she now calls an apartheid regime — and with the conditions that enabled mass complicity with genocide.

Yuli revisits her years leading Breaking the Silence — a group of former Israeli soldiers that documented abuses under occupation — which became the target of an all-out smear campaign involving government officials, mainstream media, legal harassment, and infiltration by right-wing groups. That experience, chronicled in her memoir Who Do You Think You Are?, marked a turning point: the moment she realized she had become a dissident against the regime. Today, as head of B’Tselem, Yuli explains why the organization chose to name Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide in its report ‘Our Genocide’.

If you enjoyed this conversation, here are some additional resources:

Pre-order Yuli Novak’s memoir, ‘Who Do You Think You Are’.

Read B’Tselem’s report about the genocide in Gaza, '‘Our Genocide’.

Read B’Tselem’s report about Israel’s network of torture prisons, ‘Welcome to Hell’.

Read B’Tselem’s report about Operation Protective Edge, ‘Whitewash protocol’.

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In this interview filmed right before the tenuous ceasefire was announced in Gaza, Simone sits down with a man whose name has become synonymous with the pro-Palestinian movement around the world: Mahmoud Khalil, the Columbia University graduate who was targeted by the Trump administration earlier this year. After months in ICE detention and even missing the birth of his first child, he emerged with his commitment to justice even stronger than before.

“I don’t identify as an activist…Being Palestinian, by definition, you have to be an advocate for your rights,” he tells Simone. “The fact that you’re Palestinian, you have to prove that you’re not a threat, you have to prove that you’re not an extremist, you have to prove that you’re just a human.”

Simone also traces her own connection to the Columbia organizers in their conversation, beginning with her invitation to speak at a screening of Israelism amid months of efforts to silence student voices. And Mahmoud shares new stories about his harrowing experience in ICE detention, the people he met there, the poignant letters he wrote to his family, and how the dreams of many marginalized communities are the same.

“In my case, immigration laws were weaponized to suppress dissent… and how to feed the white supremacy agenda in this country,” he says. “It’s not about one person, it’s about creating this new environment of division, of hate, in this country so you can divide and conquer.”

Simone and Mahmoud also speak about Mahmoud’s solidarity with anti-Zionist Jewish students at Columbia, the political journeys he saw them undertake, and how they worked together to demand divestment and speak out against a genocide.

It’s a powerful, grounding episode, and one that offers both an inside view of a pivotal student movement and a reminder of the human beings who continue to bear the weight of speaking out.

Free subscribers get a 6-minute preview of the video above while Zeteo’s paid subscribers can watch it in full. As always, you can also listen wherever you get your podcasts.

If you enjoy this conversation, here are some additional resources:

Read Mahmoud’s letters from detention

More about the Columbia encampment

Beyond Israelism with Simone Zimmerman is a provocative new video podcast series from Tikkun Olam Productions, the team behind the viral and award-winning 2023 film Israelism. In this series, Simone will host bold and inspiring conversations that face, head on, the growing global reckoning with Zionism, the debates over Jewish identity, and the urgent struggle for Palestinian freedom. The episodes will unpack the myths of Zionism; dive deep into the meaning of Palestinian liberation, and through raw and fearless discussions examine the Jewish relationship with Israel.

In a fiery acceptance speech after winning an Emmy for her role on HBO’s hit show Hacks, actress and comedian Hannah Einbinder ended with a statement that has since gone viral on social media…and t-shirts: “Go Birds, F*ck ICE, and Free Palestine.” In her first major interview since that moment, Hannah joins Simone as the first guest of Zeteo’s exclusive new show.

Hannah Einbeinder has become one of the most visible, outspoken anti-Zionist Jews in Hollywood over the last year. In this episode, she opens up about how she decided to become more outspoken — about how October 7 prompted a journey of reckoning with her Zionism, how friends supported her on that journey, how she has decided to use the responsibility of her visibility as the genocide in Gaza has worsened. “My Zionism was connected to a sense of denial, but it also…demanded that I keep a distance between myself and the very tangible, real world pain of Palestinians,” says Hannah.

Beyond Israelism with Simone Zimmerman is a provocative new video podcast series from Tikkun Olam Productions, the team behind the viral and award-winning 2023 film Israelism. In this series, Simone will host bold and inspiring conversations that face, head on, the growing global reckoning with Zionism, the debates over Jewish identity, and the urgent struggle for Palestinian freedom. The episodes will unpack the myths of Zionism; dive deep into the meaning of Palestinian liberation, and through raw and fearless discussions examine the Jewish relationship with Israel.

Hannah and Simone discuss the pain of letting go of old stories and myths, unpack how to navigate disagreement and even rupture with loved ones, and their shared visions for a different kind of Jewish life. Don’t miss Hannah’s reading list for unlearning Zionism as well as films she recommends!

“There was a time where I would have heard the words that I said that night and been like, who is this? You know, I would have been so upset with my current self,” Hannah tells Simone. Check out the full episode for an empowering, emotional, and much-needed conversation.

If you enjoyed this conversation, here are some additional resources:

Donate to Pal Humanity — a cause close to Hannah’s heart:

https://palhumanity.com/

Arielle Angel’s article ‘We Need New Jewish Institutions’ mentioned in the episode.

Simone Zimmerman’s piece on ‘Rhetoric Without Reckoning’

Jews for Food Aid for People in Gaza: campaign website

Donate to the Gaza soup kitchen.

We’ve got exciting news.

Zeteo is proud to announce the launch of a new and provocative video podcast series from the team behind the viral and award-winning 2023 film Israelism. Hosted by Jewish-American activist Simone Zimmerman, whose personal story is chronicled in that film, ‘Beyond Israelism’ is a show you won’t want to miss.

Simone will host bold and inspiring conversations that face, head on, the growing global reckoning with Zionism, the debates over Jewish identity, and the urgent struggle for Palestinian freedom. The episodes will unpack the myths of Zionism; dive deep into the meaning of Palestinian liberation, and through raw and fearless discussions examine the Jewish relationship with Israel.

Where else in our media can you find something like this?

‘Beyond Israelism’ will be releasing on Thursday October 9 – so stay tuned!

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