WHTT Podcasts

Rich Siegel is a very talented pianist and singer who journeyed from being an ardent Zionist, who even lived in Israel. Rich delved into the Zionist beliefs he held so dear and found that the "facts" he had learned were wanting. After a thorough investigation into the Israel/Palestine conflict, he became an activist for peace and justice for Palestians. In this remarkable, 12 minute video, Rich performs his haunting composition, "In Palestine," talks about his journey out of Zionism, and, how he came to write the song. Rich performs in the New York City area. To find out where Rich is playing, check out his website.

America has a war based economy and sanctions are a vital part of the strategy to condition people to accept and embrace wars that invariably get started afterwards. In this podcast, Chuck Carlson discusses, with members of We Hold These Truths, what sanctions are and how they are used to propagandize both sides. A fascinating example of sanctions used by the US against Japan bfore World War II, is looked into in this podcast. Also discussed, is the war willingness of millions of evangelical Christians.  Referenced in the podcast, is Chuck Carlson's article, "'Sanctions' Is 'Doublespeak' for War." (20 minutes)

Both the United States and its proxy, Israel, have war based economies. It's no secret that the US gives Israel $10,000,000 every day to support its military, and, to bolster the US' own Military/Industrial Complex (MIC). We Hold These Truths' Chuck Crlson discusses recent military actions by Israel in Syria that could lead to a disastrous expansion of the wars in the Middle East. In this 21 minute program, Chuck Carlson also explains the connection between the MIC and the Federal Reserve System, and, coins a new acronym, FED-MIC. (For background, see Chuck's article, "US Proxy Israel Is Declaring Unlimited War on Iran, and Maybe Russia.")  

In the US, the Israeli side of the Israel/Palestine conflict is the predomnant narrative presented by our main stream media and government. After all, the US government gives Israel over $10 million every day. Besides, we Americans have been educated that the Palestinians are terrorists and that they launch rockets against Israel and don't want peace. We Hold These Truths' Arizona Outreach Director, Tom Compton, spent a month in Palestine and Israel, based in Bethlehem, to find out more about what's really happening there. The Holy Land Trust, offered a unique, on the ground experience called Iktashef (Arabic for "discover"), that presented voices from both sides of the conflict. In this 22 minute podcast, Tom Compton, gives an overview and highlights of his adventure and explains the upcoming series "Voices In Palestine Crying Out For Peace and Justice" from We Hold These Truths. (Picture: Tom Compton and Ophelie, an intern from France at Holy Land Trust)

Two groups of Jewish activists from Jewish Voice for Peace and IfNotNow, in addition to members of We Hold These Truths, challenged a program, "“Christian Zionists-Why Evangelicals Support Israel,” presented by David Brog and sponsored by the Israel Action Committee at the Congregation Emanu-El synagogue in San Francisco. David Brog has been associated with Christians United For Israel, whose leader, John Hagee has publicly prayed for war against Iraq and called for pre-emptive strikes on Iran. In this podcast, Chuck Carlson interviews vigil leader, Craig Hanson and members of WHTT about the importance of this milestone vigil. (24 minutes) [References: IfNotNow: "Urge Temple Emanu-El to Cancel Their Event, 'Christian Zionists-Why Evangelcals Support Israel'," J.-The Jewish News of N. CA: "Opposing CUFI Isn't extreme, it's part of envisoning a future future," J.-The Jewish News of N. CA: "Christian Zionist group has 'noble' motives, leader tells S.F. crowd."]

Mohammad Abdul Qavi was an activist for peace and justice for Palestinians. We met Qavi at the El Beit Guest House in Beit Sahour, the city next to Bethlehem, Palestine, where a group of us on the month long, Iktashef experience, sponsored by the Holy Land Trust, were staying. Qavi, who was from London, had chosen the El Beit Guest House as his retirement home and had been living there for over 6 years. This interview with this remarkable and compassionate man, who practiced only non-violent resistance, was conducted on August 14, 2017, less than two weeks before his passing on August 27, 2017. Qavi, a true friend to Palestinians will be sorely missed (26 minutes)

Craig Hanson, We Hold These Truths' California Outreach Director discusses an upcoming vigil at Congregation Emanu-El in San Franciso on September 7, 2017. Congregation Emanu-El is hosting a talk by David Brog: "Christian Zionists-Why Evangelicals Support Israel," sponsored by the Israel Action Committee. David Brog is the author of Standing with Israel: Why Christians Support the Jewish State (2006), In Defense of Faith: the Judeo-Christian Idea and the Struggle for Humanity (2010), and Reclaiming Israel's History: Roots, Rights, and the Struggle for Peace (2017). David Brog is executive director of the Maccabee Task Force, which combats anti-Semitism and the anti-Israel BDS movement on college campuses. Previously he served as Executive Director of Christians United for Israel (CUFI). The Forward newspaper listed Brog as one of the 50 most influential Jews in America. He is a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School. Our message to attendees to the event will include: Coose Life Not War, Dump Trump's Wars, Jewish Brothers: Stop the Trillion Dollar Wars Race in the Middle East. (5 minutes)

On a month-long trip to Palestine and Israel, I was very fortunate to meet Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh, a Palestinian, who came back to Bethlehem from a career in the US at Yale and Duke Universities, teaching and researching in the field of genetics. He now teaches and does research at Bethlehem and Bir Zeit Universities in Palestine. He is the director of the Palestine Museum of Natural History and the Institute for Biodiversity Research. This 6-minute video about Dr. Qumsiyeh by Existence Is Resistance pays honor to a truly remarkable individual.

Craig Hanson, We Hold These Truths' California Outreach Director, reports on the recent 2017 Christians United For Israel (CUFI) annual conference held in Washington, DC. Craig reveals in his analysis what should be obvious: AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) and CUFI should fall under the US government's Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). "FARA is a disclosure statute that requires persons acting as agents of foreign principals in a political or quasi-political capacity to make periodic public disclosure of their relationship with the foreign principal, as well as activities, receipts and disbursements in support of those activities.  Disclosure of the required information facilitates evaluation by the government and the American people of the statements and activities of such persons in light of their function as foreign agents." In attendance at the CUFI conference were Vice President Mike Pence and Israeli Prime MInister, Benjamin Netanyahu (via live video conferencing). (22 minurtes )

Craig Hanson, We Hold These Truths' California Outreach Director, reports on the recent 2017 Christians United For Israel (CUFI) annual conference held in Washington, DC. Craig reveals in his analysis what should be obvious: AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) and CUFI should fall under the US government's Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). "FARA is a disclosure statute that requires persons acting as agents of foreign principals in a political or quasi-political capacity to make periodic public disclosure of their relationship with the foreign principal, as well as activities, receipts and disbursements in support of those activities.  Disclosure of the required information facilitates evaluation by the government and the American people of the statements and activities of such persons in light of their function as foreign agents." In attendance at the CUFI conference were Vice President Mike Pence and Israeli Prime MInister, Benjamin Netanyahu (via live video conferencing). (22 minurtes )