Palestine Debrief

In this episode, we’re joined by Najat El-Taji El-Khairy, a Palestinian-Canadian artist who has created a unique art form combining her interests in both embroidery and porcelain painting.  Najat’s art has been exhibited in various venues throughout North America, the Middle East and Europe.  Najat has made it her mission to immortalise, protect and preserve the art of Palestinian embroidery.  As...

In this news round-up episode, Tom and Michael discuss two important recent developments: The smear campaign against progressive Ontario NDP candidate Sarah Jama over her support for Palestinian human rights, and a new initiative from CJPME to demand great accountability of Canadian media in their news coverage of Palestine-Israel.  Links from this podcast: Globe and Mail story on Sarah Jama, quot...

In this news round-up episode, Tom and Michael discuss several important recent developments: Canada expresses concern about the settler pogrom on the Palestinian town of Huwara; Canadian senators meet with a far-right member of the Israeli Knesset; and a Halifax school bans students from wearing the Kufiyah, in an incident of anti-Palestinian racism. Links from this podcast: ·      CJPME: Canada...

In this episode, we’re joined by Wafa Ghnaim, an award-winning Palestinian researcher, educator, author and tatreez expert living in Washington, DC. Her book, titled, Tatreez and Tea: Embroidery and Storytelling in the Diaspora was published in 2018 and documents the stories and meanings behind the Palestinian embroidery motifs that were handed down to Wafa by her mother, Feryal Abbasi Ghnaim, an...

In this episode of "Debrief," we introduce you to the other CJPME podcast: "All Things Palestinian Canadian."  Focused on the lives and experiences of Palestinians in the diaspora, "All Things Palestinian Canadian" (ATPC) has interviewed Palestinian authors, filmmakers, artists, and more.  In this episode, ATPC speaks with Wafa Ghnaim, an award-winning Palestinian res...

Is the Trudeau government ignoring warnings from its diplomats about Israel’s human rights abuses? On this episode, Michael is joined by Alex Cosh of the Maple to discuss his ongoing reporting on what Canadian officials are saying behind the scenes, and how that often conflicts with Canada’s public statements. We talk about Canada’s warm reception to Israel’s far-right government, its reaction to...

Last summer, a number of Canadian university presidents participated in a controversial trip to Israel, for the purpose of building partnerships between Canadian and Israeli universities. The trip, which was organized by a major pro-Israel lobby group, has sparked major concerns over the possible impact on human rights and academic freedom. On this episode, Michael is joined by faculty members Dya...

In this episode, we’re joined by Rana Nazzal, a Palestinian-Canadian artist living between Palestine, Ottawa and Toronto. Among other things, Rana’s powerful art explores Palestinians’ relationship with the land, and the themes of Palestinian memory and loss.  In addition to her art, she is also an activist and campaigner on grassroots issues including not only Palestinian human rights, but also c...

On this episode, Michael is joined by Emma Paling of the Breach to talk about the recent discovery that the Bank of Montreal (BMO) gave a $90m loan to Israel’s largest weapons company Elbit Systems. We discuss Elbit’s human rights record, Canada’s own contracts for military technology from Elbit, and why some investors have decided to divest from the company. Links from this podcast: The Breach: R...

As we launch our first ATPC episode for 2023, we note that we sadly said goodbye to Nur Watad in December, as she made the decision to move on to new career challenges elsewhere. But we are thrilled to have lined up a very articulate and capable new co-host in the meantime, Ms. Rafeef Dajani. Rafeef has been a friend to CJPME for several years, and more importantly, an ardent participant in the gl...

On this episode, Michael is joined by Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967. We talk about Israel’s recent deadly attack on the Jenin refugee camp and why she believes these actions violate international law. We also talk about apartheid, settler-colonialism, and what we can expect to see from the UN’s Commission...

On this episode, Tom and Michael are joined by Ramzy Baroud and Ilan Pappé, co-editors of the book “Our Vision for Liberation: Engaged Palestinian Leaders and Intellectuals Speak Out.” In their new book, they bring together a diverse group of Palestinian voices – from filmmakers to religious figures to politicians and more – to share their own experiences and perspectives on the way forward for Pa...

On November 1st, Israelis completed their fifth election in four years, returning Benjamin Netanyahu to power with the support of extreme, far-right figures who are about to play a major role in the emerging coalition government. Although negotiations to form the government are still underway, it is commonly said that this may be Israel’s most far-right government in history. On this episode, we a...

In this episode, we’re joined by Fida Jiryis, Palestinian author currently living in Ramallah.  Jiryis grew up in Lebanon and Cyprus, the daughter of famed Palestinian thinker and leader, Sabri Jiryis.  As her family fled Israel’s oppression and wars, Jiryis’ life has spanned the full spectrum of the Palestinian people’s forced fragmentation: in Israel, the West Bank and the diaspora. Her writings...

 CJPME’s Michael Bueckert recently returned from a two-week trip to Palestine-Israel.  During his time there, Bueckert met with dozens of Palestinian community leaders and organizations, politicians, youth activists, business leaders, and academics. He also visited current hotspots including Sheikh Jarrah, the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and Jenin, as well as unrecognized Bedouin villages in the Naqab.  Get a...

In this episode, we’re joined by Rimah Jabr, a Palestinian play wright and theatre director based in Toronto who is currently pursuing her PhD in Theatre and Performance Studies at York University.  Rimah’s career arc is far from ordinary: after studying and working in accounting for several years, Rimah finally had her breakout opportunity at age 30, and found herself at Belgium’s Royal Institute...

In this episode, we are joined by Wafa Alzaghal, Palestinian-Canadian President & CEO of The Canadian Arabic Orchestra. Wafa grew up playing the Qanun, also known as the dulcimer, after being inspired by his father’s love for classical Arabic music. Wafa co-founded the Canadian Arabic Orchestra in 2014, and has been busy touring Canada with a repertoire of both Western and Eastern tunes. Join...

In this episode, we are joined by Saba Amro and Annette Lengyel, two Calgary-based activists who have been at the forefront of pressuring Calgary to cancel a contract with Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) – a Spanish/Basque company which is unethically involved in a $2.5 billion CDN contract to expand Jerusalem Light Rail (JLR) network.  Join us as we discuss Calgary’s contract wit...

In this episode, we are joined by Dalia Elcharbini, Palestinian-Canadian contemporary artist and international exhibitor based in Toronto. While Dalia’s artistic style is distinct and unique, she frequently infuses it with symbolism and memories of Palestine.  Listen in as we discuss her art, her inspiration, her Palestinian identity and her efforts to use art to help children impacted by war.   L...

What and who are the main drivers of anti-Muslim hate in Canada? On this episode, Michael and Tom are joined by Jasmin Zine, author of a new report on the Canadian “Islamophobia Industry.” We talk about some of the key organizations, personalities, and discourses responsible for perpetuating anti-Muslim hate in Canada, and how the connections between them form an ecosystem of hate. As part of this...

In this episode, we are joined by Serene Husni, a video editor, mentor, writer and translator. A Diasporic Palestinian and immigrant from Jordan turned Canadian settler, she calls herself “a displaced human existing between multiple cultures, languages, and locales.” She creates most of her own work in her mother tongue, Arabic. Freely available to watch online, her latest film “Brown Bread &...

Last spring, Fernwood Publishing announced a new book, Advocating for Palestine in Canada: one of the first-ever books about Palestinian solidarity work in Canada.  Michael Bueckert, one of Debrief’s regular hosts wrote a chapter in the book looking at how Israel seeks to deflect and dismiss criticisms of its oppressive and apartheid practices.  This subject matter is also the focus of Michael’s P...

Is Canadian media biased towards Israel and against Palestinians? Where does bias come from, and how can we challenge it? On this episode, Michael and Tom are joined by Passage’s Davide Mastracci, author of a chapter on Canadian media and pro-Israel bias in the book Advocating for Palestine in Canada (Fernwood, 2022). We talk about the role of journalists, editors, corporate owners, and lobby grou...

In this episode, we are joined by Saeed Teebi, a writer and lawyer based in Toronto who has recently released a highly celebrated book of short stories entitled, “Her First Palestinian.”  Teebi’s book is a collection of stories about diaspora Palestinians struggling to find their place as immigrants to Canada.  It is also one of five books shortlisted for the $60,000 Atwood Gibson Writers' Tr...

Tom and Michael discuss a recent report authored by Michael and its implications for upcoming votes on Palestinian human rights at the United Nations General Assembly. The report, based on documents obtained through an access to information request, found that Canada’s career foreign affairs officials are highly critical of Canada’s staunchly pro-Israel record, and have been pushing for a change i...