FortyEight

In episode number 5 of the podcast "Forty-Eight," we hosted Salah Hijazi. Saleh Hijazi is the Apartheid-Free Policy Coordinator at the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions National Committee (BNC), the leadership of the global nonviolent movement working to end complicity with and towards dismantling Israel’s settler-colonialism, military occupation, and apartheid. Before joining the BNC movement Saleh spent 11 years at Amnesty International, most recently as MENA Deputy Regional Director, and was co-author of the organization’s report “Israel’s Apartheid Against Palestinians: Cruel System of Domination and Crime Against Humanity”.

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We began the conversation by defining the concept itself and discussing how apartheid functions. From there, we moved on to the details of Israeli policy towards the Palestinian people as a whole and how Israeli policy shapes and impacts all Palestinians, including refugees who are prevented from returning to their homes despite UN resolutions.

However, the main focus of this episode was on Palestinian citizens of Israel and how, despite being citizens of the state, the policies, laws, and daily actions of the state also subject them to an apartheid regime that views Jewish citizens as superior to non-Jewish citizens.

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In the fourth episode of the "Forty-Eight" podcast, we hosted researcher Habib Mahoul from the Mada Research Institute to discuss the phenomenon of crime within the Palestinian community in Israel. Over the past two decades, crime in this community has grown significantly, with the number of murders rising substantially. Crime has become the primary issue, second only to the Gaza genocide, that concerns the Palestinian public. In the past two decade more the Palestinian community witnessed more the one thousand homicides more than 240 only last year and the phenomenon has spread to every Arab locality within Israel.

In the first part of the episode, Habib provided an overview of the scale of the issue in comparison to the Jewish community in Israel and globally. We then focused on his research question for his master's thesis, which examined government policies on opening more police stations in Arab towns. What are the roles of these stations? What motivated the policy behind their establishment? And why has crime continued to increase in the Palestinian community despite the opening of these police stations?

Additionally, we addressed whether this is a social phenomenon akin to those experienced by other marginalized groups or a political phenomenon resulting from Israel's relationship with the Palestinian people. And is the welfare of its Palestinian citizens secondary to Israel's security interests?

We concluded the conversation with a forward-looking perspective, considering the severe economic crisis in Israel, the unprecedented distribution of weapons to the Jewish community since the onset of the conflict, and the background of incitement against Palestinians by Israeli ministers and decision-makers.

In Episode Three of the Forty-Eight Podcast, we hosted Noora Al-Amr, a doctoral student investigating the political allyship between Palestinians and Israelis at Friedrich Schiller University in Jena.

We began the conversation by understanding the terms themselves such as partnership, coexistence, allyship, and shared living, to frame and comprehend what is meant when using these terms and whether there are significant differences between each side in what they intend.

We then moved on to Noora's research about the power disparities between the two sides, where on one side the Palestinians are under occupation and a colonial regime, and on the other side the Israelis enjoy both military power and international support. We discussed how, in this reality, a partnership can be built and what those in power need to do to create equal conditions.

And whether, in the absence of critical analysis around the joint projects, they are promoting the preservation of the existing status quo in which Israelis have the upper hand and privilege.

Accordingly, the question was asked, what political and emotional motives drive each of the sides to continue striving for cooperation despite the reality we live in, and at what cost this is required.

We concluded the conversation by addressing the current reality after the events of October 7th and what the political future holds for us in the entire region.

In the second installment of the 48Podcast, host Abed Abou Shhadeh brings in Alaa Obied ,Environmental Expert specialized in water and climate change, to delve into the critical issue of climate change's impact on Palestinians within the Green Line. This episode explores the severe consequences of climate change on these communities, highlighting extreme temperatures, heavy rainfall, and rising sea levels, alongside the challenge of uneven resource distribution that exacerbates Palestinian hardships.

Further, the discussion brings to light the detrimental effects of climate change on health, infrastructure, and biodiversity. The episode discusses the increased risk of wildfires, the threat to marine ecosystems and the fishing industry, and the heightened energy demands resulting from the urban heat island phenomenon. It critically examines the discriminatory land and resource policies in Israel and their implications for urban development in Palestinian regions, emphasizing the importance of adaptive strategies for climate resilience.

The narrative also touches on the challenges urbanization poses to smaller Palestinian towns, deteriorating living conditions, and reducing access to resources and services. It highlights significant socio-economic inequalities within urban planning efforts, including those in cities like Tel Aviv, exacerbated by demographic dynamics. The episode concludes with a sobering outlook on climate change's effects on marginalized communities and a call for forward-thinking and proactive planning.

This episode stresses the value of integrating indigenous knowledge and sustainable practices to navigate environmental changes, addressing the complexities of climate change and resource management in the Middle East, particularly against the backdrop of acute water scarcity. While discussing Israeli water desalination and urban planning strategies, it points out the neglect of marginalized communities, including Palestinians, in these advancements.

Despite the grim realities discussed, the podcast ends on a hopeful note, emphasizing the growing recognition of climate change issues, the respect for science and research, and the imperative to leverage indigenous knowledge of marginalized groups in combating climate change effectively.

Welcome to the inaugural episode of the 'Forty Eight' podcast, where we embark on an insightful journey into the intricate Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Our first episode features an enlightening conversation with Professor Amal Jamal of Tel Aviv University, a renowned scholar in political science. Professor Jamal's expertise, drawn from his extensive publications covering a vast range of topics including media consumption, state structures, and civil society, offers a nuanced perspective on this complex issue.

In this episode, our primary objective is to introduce listeners to the Palestinian citizens of Israel. We explore three critical themes to understand their unique position. Firstly, we delve into their historical context, tracing back to the years following the Palestinian Nakba, examining how they attained citizenship and the intricate balance between their individual rights, which are recognized, and their communal rights, which are often marginalized.

Next, we navigate the complex terrain of identity, investigating the inherent contradictions faced by this community as members of the Palestinian people and as citizens of Israel. This segment also sheds light on the divisive policies of the Israeli state towards different religious groups, which strategically aim to fragment communal unity.

Lastly, we address the community's response and behavior amidst severe conflicts, like the ongoing war in Gaza and the allegations of Israeli war crimes. This discussion aims to provide a deeper understanding of the community's dynamics during times of crisis.

Join us as we unravel these critical issues in 'Forty Eight', offering an in-depth exploration of a topic that is as relevant as it is misunderstood.