Connections

On Wednesday, 1 September, Jadaliyya co-editor Mouin Rabbani spoke with digital rights campaigner Marwa Fatafta and  about recent revelations concerning the NSO/Pegasus digital espionage program and its broader implications. This episode of Connections examines the human and political and dimensions of digital espionage, and the agendas of those promoting it.

Guest 

Marwa Fatafta leads Access Now’s work on digital rights in the Middle East and North Africa region. She has written extensively on technology, human rights, and internet freedoms in Palestine and the wider MENA region. She is also a Policy Analyst at Al-Shabaka: The Palestinian Policy Network. Previously, Fatafta was the MENA Regional Advisor at the Transparency International Secretariat in Berlin, and served as the Communications Manager at the British Consulate-General in Jerusalem.

https://www.jadaliyya.com/Details/43295/Connections-Episode-14-Digital-Espionage-A-Global-Pandemic-Video
https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=974152580031037&ref=watch_permalink
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gitpbS_mvB4

On Monday, 23 August Jadaliyya co-editor Mouin Rabbani speaks with Syrian scholar, political refugee, and Jadaliyya Syria Page co-editor Basileus Zeno about the US asylum system. This episode of Connections examines how this system operates and the extent to which it remains unchanged since the departure of the Trump administration. 

Guest 

Basileus Zeno is Karl Loewenstein Fellow and Visiting Lecturer in Political Science at Amherst College in Massachusetts. His areas of specialization are comparative politics and contemporary political theory with a regional focus on the Middle East. An archaeologist by training, he left Syria in 2012 and that same year applied for political asylum in the United States. Zeno recently recounted his experience with the US asylum system in an opinion piece in the Washington Post.

Host

Mouin Rabbani has published and commented widely on Palestinian affairs, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the contemporary Middle East. He was previously Senior Analyst Middle East and Special Advisor on Israel-Palestine with the International Crisis Group, and head of political affairs with the Office of the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria. He is Co-Editor of Jadaliyya Ezine.

https://www.jadaliyya.com/Details/43256/Connections-Episode-13-Asylum-in-the-USA-Video
https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=803090123693410&ref=watch_permalink
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZF58RYd6HA

Join us on Wednesday, 18 August for a conversation with former United Nations Under-Secretary-General Benon Sevan, who served as UN envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan from 1988-1992, and Jadaliyya co-editor Mouin Rabbani about current developments in Afghanistan. This episode of Connections will examine the US/NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan and collapse of the government in Kabul, and how it compares with the Soviet withdrawal in 1989 and its aftermath.

Guest

Benon V. Sevan joined the United Nations Secretariat in 1965. Over the next four decades he held numerous positions at UN headquarters and around the world, and carried out a variety of special political missions. In 1985 Sevan was dispatched by the UN Secretary-General to inquire into the situation of prisoners of war in the conflict between Iran and Iraq. In 1988 he was appointed Director and Senior Political Adviser to the Representative of the Secretary-General on the Settlement of the Situation Relating to Afghanistan, and was posted in Afghanistan and Pakistan, for monitoring the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan. In 1989 he was appointed as the Secretary-General’s Personal Representative in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and after 1990 concurrently served as the Secretary-General’s Representative on the implementation of the Geneva Accords on Afghanistan. In 1992, he was appointed Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for issues related to missing persons in the Middle East. From 1997-2004 Sevan served as Executive Director, with the rank of Under-Secretary-General, of the UN Iraq Program, with responsibility for overall management, coordination, and supervision of the implementation of all United Nations humanitarian activities in Iraq.

Host

Mouin Rabbani has published and commented widely on Palestinian affairs, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the contemporary Middle East. He was previously Senior Analyst Middle East and Special Advisor on Israel-Palestine with the International Crisis Group, and head of political affairs with the Office of the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria. He is Co-Editor of Jadaliyya Ezine.

https://www.jadaliyya.com/Details/43220/Connections-Episode-12-Focus-Afghanistan-with-Benon-Sevan
https://fb.watch/dfu1fuaoXV/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYwsrM5M5LY

On Monday, 9 August Jadaliyya co-editor Mouin Rabbani  spoke with leading economist Jeffrey Sachs about the challenges facing the globe during this pivotal decade. As the world remains mired in the COVID-19 pandemic, the existential dangers of climate change are becoming increasingly clear. This episode of Connections examines the economic dimensions of climate change, the persistence of widespread poverty and inequality, and their inter-relationship.

Guest

Jeffrey D. Sachs is a University Professor and Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, where he directed the Earth Institute from 2002 until 2016. He is also President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and a commissioner of the UN Broadband Commission for Development. He has been advisor to three United Nations Secretaries-General. He spent over twenty years as a professor at Harvard University, He has authored numerous bestseller books. His most recent book is The Ages of Globalization: Geography, Technology, and Institutions (2020). He is currently hosting the podcast “Book Club with Jeffrey Sachs”. Sachs was twice named as one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential world leaders and was ranked by The Economist among the top three most influential living economists. 

Host

Mouin Rabbani has published and commented widely on Palestinian affairs, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the contemporary Middle East. He was previously Senior Analyst Middle East and Special Advisor on Israel-Palestine with the International Crisis Group, and head of political affairs with the Office of the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria. He is Co-Editor of Jadaliyya Ezine.

https://www.jadaliyya.com/Details/43198/Connections-Episode-11-A-Planet-in-the-Balance-with-Jeffrey-D-Sachs-Video
https://www.facebook.com/Jadaliyya/videos/893760918156924
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHkdMP7TQj0

On Wednesday, 4 August, Jadaliyya co-editor Mouin Rabbani  spoke with Tunisian researcher and journalist Houda Mzioudet about current developments in Tunisia. President Kais Saied’s 25 July dismissal of prime minister Hichem Mechichi and suspension of parliament have plunged the country into crisis. This episode of Connections examines the background, responses, and potential implications of the ongoing power struggle. 

Guest

Houda Mzioudet is a researcher and journalist who between 2011 and 2018 covered the uprisings and their aftermath in Tunisia and Libya for international outlets including Al Jazeera English, CBC, and BBC. She is a co-founder of ADAM, the first black Tunisian association, and of the Voice of Tunisian Black Women collective. She has published widely on both Tunisia and Libya.

Host

Mouin Rabbani has published and commented widely on Palestinian affairs, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the contemporary Middle East. He was previously Senior Analyst Middle East and Special Advisor on Israel-Palestine with the International Crisis Group, and head of political affairs with the Office of the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria. He is Co-Editor of Jadaliyya Ezine.

https://www.jadaliyya.com/Details/43197/Connections-Episode-10-Crisis-in-Tunisia-with-Houda-Mzioudet-Video
https://fb.watch/7aQ6qDvBp0/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUHJkOGx1-4

In this episode of Connections Podcast, Nadya Sbaiti speaks to Connections host and by Jadaliyya co-editor Mouin Rabbani about the crisis in Lebanon. The World Bank recently concluded that Lebanon’s economic and financial meltdown ranks among the worst seen anywhere in the world since 1850. This episode of Connections examines the multiple dimensions, impact, and consequences of Lebanon’s crisis. 

Guest

Nadya Sbaiti is Assistant Professor of Middle Eastern Studies at the Center for Arab and Middle Eastern Studies (CAMES) at the American University of Beirut (AUB).  She earned both her MA in Arab Studies and her PhD in History from Georgetown University. She specializes in the social and cultural histories of the modern Middle East, with research interests ranging from education, gender, and nationalism to tourism and colonialism. She is a co-founder and a co-editor of Jadaliyya.

Host

Mouin Rabbani has published and commented widely on Palestinian affairs, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the contemporary Middle East. He was previously Senior Analyst Middle East and Special Advisor on Israel-Palestine with the International Crisis Group, and head of political affairs with the Office of the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria. He is Co-Editor of Jadaliyya Ezine.

https://www.jadaliyya.com/Details/43119/Connections-Podcast-Episode-9-Lebanon-in-Crisis-with-Nadya-Sbaiti-Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KUFJ_wPkWc
https://fb.watch/6P3mSxbNPi/

Join us on Wednesday, 7 July for a conversation with Anders Persson and Diana Buttu hosted by Jadaliyya co-editor Mouin Rabbani about the role of Europe in the Arab-Israeli conflict. This episode of Connections Podcast will examine the development of European Union policy in this regard, its motives, objectives, and impact. 

Connections offers timely and informative interviews on current events and broader policy questions, as well as themes relevant to knowledge production. It combines journalism, analysis, and scholarship. 

Guests

Anders Persson is a specialist on the role of the European Union in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He has written three books on this topic, of which the latest is EU Diplomacy and the Israeli-Arab Conflict, 1967–2019 (Edinburgh University Press, 2020). His analysis of EU Middle East policy is regularly featured in Swedish and international media.  

Diana Buttu is a Haifa-based lawyer and analyst. She was previously a legal advisor to the PLO’s Negotiations Affairs Department. She is a frequent media commentator and has authored numerous articles and opinion pieces on Israeli policy towards the Palestinian people.  

Host

Mouin Rabbani has published and commented widely on Palestinian affairs, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the contemporary Middle East. He was previously Senior Analyst Middle East and Special Advisor on Israel-Palestine with the International Crisis Group, and head of political affairs with the Office of the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria. He is Co-Editor of Jadaliyya Ezine.

https://www.jadaliyya.com/Details/43081
https://fb.watch/6COtsC1UOO/
https://youtu.be/5_zO1iqBomk

On Sunday, 27 June Jadaliyya co-editor Mouin Rabbani spoke with Hanan Ashrawi in order to assess the current position and future options for the Palestinians as they confront both challenge and opportunity.  This episode of Connections Podcast will also discuss the policies of the new Israeli government and role of the Biden administration in Palestine.

Connections offers timely and informative interviews on current events and broader policy questions, as well as themes relevant to knowledge production. It combines journalism, analysis, and scholarship.  

Guest

Dr Hanan Ashrawi became a household name as the official spokesperson of the Palestinian delegation to the 1991 Madrid Middle East Peace Conference. In 1996 she was elected to the Palestinian Legislative Council representing Jerusalem, and that same year was appointed the Palestinian Authority’s Minister of Higher Education. Re-elected to parliament in 2006, she in 2009 became the first woman to serve on the PLO Executive Committee, from which she resigned in 2020. Ashrawi was in 1994 a founder of the Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights and served as its first Commissioner General. In 1998 she helped establish the National Coalition for Accountability and Integrity, and is currently Executive Director of MIFTAH, the Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy.

Host

Mouin Rabbani has published and commented widely on Palestinian affairs, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the contemporary Middle East. He was previously Senior Analyst Middle East and Special Advisor on Israel-Palestine with the International Crisis Group, and head of political affairs with the Office of the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria. He is Co-Editor of Jadaliyya Ezine.

https://www.jadaliyya.com/Details/43040/Connections-Podcast-Episode-7-Palestine-at-the-Crossroads-with-Hanan-Ashrawi-Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkYexS2e3Qg
https://www.facebook.com/Jadaliyya/videos/239216078012515/

On Thursday, 17 June Jadaliyya co-editor Mouin Rabbani interviewed Lara Friedman about the role of the US Congress in formulating Washington's policy towards Israel and the Palestinians. Existing and proposed legislation and its impact on US policy options is examined. This episode of Connections Podcast also discusses the significance of growing Congressional criticism of US support for Israel and its policies towards the Palestinians.

Connections offers timely and informative interviews on current events and broader policy questions, as well as themes relevant to knowledge production. It combines journalism, analysis, and scholarship.  

Guest

Lara Friedman is President of the Foundation for Middle East Peace in Washington, DC. She is a leading authority on US foreign policy in the Middle East, with particular expertise on the Arab-Israeli conflict, Israeli settlements, Jerusalem, and the role of the US Congress. She is published widely in the US and international press and is regularly consulted by members of Congress and their staff, diplomats, and journalists. Previously with the US State Department, she was a Foreign Service Officer in Jerusalem, Washington, Tunis, and Beirut.

Host

Mouin Rabbani has published and commented widely on Palestinian affairs, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the contemporary Middle East. He was previously Senior Analyst Middle East and Special Advisor on Israel-Palestine with the International Crisis Group, and head of political affairs with the Office of the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria. He is Co-Editor of Jadaliyya Ezine.

https://www.jadaliyya.com/Details/43021/Connections-Podcast-Episode-6-The-US-Congress,-Israel,-and-the-Palestinians-Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHMpSPOsWfo
https://www.facebook.com/Jadaliyya/videos/1430368713993931/

On Monday, 7 June Jadaliyya co-editor Mouin Rabbani spoke with Lori Allen about investigations and commissions of inquiry into the situation in Palestine. This episode of Connections Podcast examines the history of such exercises and asks what might be different about current attempts to hold Israel to account. 

Connections offers timely and informative interviews on current events and broader policy questions, as well as themes relevant to knowledge production. It combines journalism, analysis, and scholarship. Connections will focus primarily but not exclusively on the Middle East. 

Guest

Lori Allen is Reader in Anthropology at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. Her work has focused on Palestinian society, politics, and history. She is the author of A History of False Hope: Investigative Commissions in Palestine (2020) and The Rise and Fall of Human Rights: Cynicism and Politics in Occupied Palestine (2013), both published by Stanford University Press. Her articles have been published in academic and news journals, including American Ethnologist, Contemporary Studies in Society and History, MERIP, Al-Jazeera, and Sada. Lori Allen's most recent contributions include “The ICC in Palestine: Reasons to Withhold Hope”, and “This Time May Be Different: on the UN commission of inquiry investigating violations in the occupied Palestinian territory”.

Host

Mouin Rabbani has published and commented widely on Palestinian affairs, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the contemporary Middle East. He was previously Senior Analyst Middle East and Special Advisor on Israel-Palestine with the International Crisis Group, and head of political affairs with the Office of the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria. He is Co-Editor of Jadaliyya Ezine. 

https://www.jadaliyya.com/Details/43031/Connections-Podcast-Episode-5-Investigating-Israel-with-Lori-Allen-Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSr6UjXWGuE