#19 - US Elections: Voting for Genocide ft. Nerdeen Kiswani

With the term ‘terrorism’ so frequently invoked in Western media coverage of Palestine, today’s episode of the Let’s Talk Palestine Podcast seeks to unpack and critically examine this loaded label.Dr. Conor Gearty, a professor of human rights law at LSE and a specialist in anti-terrorism legislation, traces the term’s roots to British-colonial Ireland, explores how Israel later adapted and popularized it to justify its oppression of Palestinians, and reflects on how its use exploded globally following 9/11—fueling the U.S.-led ‘War on Terror’ and the illegal invasion of Iraq.

On June 13th, the Israeli Occupation Forces launched Operation Rising Lion, a massive military escalation targeting over 100 sites in Iran. Justified under the familiar yet questionable guise of “self-defense,” Israel claimed that failing to strike Iran would endanger the very existence of the Zionist entity.In this emergency episode of the Let’s Talk Palestine Podcast, we unpack the critical context behind the latest Israeli act of aggression. We trace the collapsing nuclear negotiations between Washington and Tehran, Israel’s long-standing obsession with regime change in Iran, and the broader geopolitical motives driving this moment.As the episode unfolds, we begin to analyse who stands to benefit, the regional consequences, and what this could mean for the future of both Iran and Israel. Crucially, we tie it all back to the ongoing genocide in Gaza—because as long as Israel insists on the domination and submission of its neighbors, the entire region remains at risk.

In early April, the proscribed Palestinian resistance movement Hamas instructed UK-based lawyers to submit an application to the UK government seeking the removal of its political wing from the UK's list of designated terrorist organisations. One of the lawyers involved in the case, Franck Magennis, joins us in this episode of the Let's Talk Palestine Podcast to break down the legal complexities for listeners unfamiliar with the workings of the legal system.From the practical implications of the proscription on the ground in Gaza, to the legal arguments underpinning the application and the broader aims of the case, Mr Magennis also sheds light on the colonial-era legislation that enabled such designations in the first place. This episode is essential listening for anyone seeking to understand how legal systems intersect with foreign policy, resistance movements, and the legacies of empire.

From repeated Israeli ceasefire violations, to Trump's 'Gaza Riviera' plan, the future of Gaza and the rest of Palestine appears to hang in the balance. In this episode, we take a step back to go through multiple factors individually, piecing them together to paint a full picture of what the future holds for Palestinians. Palestinian analyst Rami Khouri joins us to give his insights for this episode of the Let's Talk Palestine Podcast.

2024 will be remembered as one of the darkest years in human history for the genocide in Gaza. As the new year arrives, and reports of a ceasefire agreement being all but agreed, it is time to reflect on the past year to be able to understand and possibly predict what the near future in 2025 will bring for Palestine. After popular demand, we welcome back Dr. Ramzy Baroud for this episode of the Let's Talk Palestine Podcast.

In this monthly recap, we take you through the two key moments of November '24. Firstly, we take a look at the details of the ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel, specifically looking to see whether it will hold, and if so, who does that make the winner of this war? Secondly, we briefly touch on the ICC's decision to issue arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant. What does this mean for them? Will all countries abide by the Rome Statute? Listen to find out more.

In September, Israel violently escalated its offensive against Lebanon, allegedly aiming to destroy the anti-Zionist resistance group and political party, Hezbollah, for its support for Palestine and anti-genocide intervention. This is not the first time Israel aimed to destroy Lebanon’s only defense against Israeli hegemony, nor even the second.In this episode, we explore the factors that shaped Hezbollah’s formation, its extensive social, economic, and political role within Lebanese society, and its regional posture and relations. To answer these questions, we sat down with Dr. Joseph Daher, author of “Hezbollah: Political Economy of the Party of God”, who shared expert insights into the complex political, social, and economic dimensions of Hezbollah’s influence.This episode will be valuable to all listeners, whether you’re a Lebanon expert or this year was the first time you heard of Hezbollah.*Disclaimer: Let’s Talk Palestine is strictly non-partisan and does not endorse any political party or figure in any country as a matter of policy.Dr Daher's Books:Hezbollah: The Political Economy of Lebanon's Party of God (2016)Syria after the Uprisings (2019)Palestine and Marxism (2024)

1 year on from the October 7th operation, we bring back our recap episodes. In just 10 minutes, we'll look back at the month of October 2024, discussing three key events taking place in Palestine; the General's Plan for northern Gaza, the martyring of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, and the Israeli-Iranian escalation. Instagram: @letstalkpalestine Youtube: @LetsTalkPalestineYT Tiktok: let'stokpalestine

With the US elections right around the corner, we take a look at the key implications the result will have on Palestine. From the idea of voting for 'the lesser evil', to the impact on the ongoing genocide in Gaza, as well as the effect on organising for all marginalised communities across the US, we give you a comprehensive background on things to keep in mind if / when voting. Nerdeen Kiswani, an outspoken activist and founder of Within our Lifetime, provides answers to these topics. Instagram: @letstalkpalestineYoutube: @LetsTalkPalestineYTTiktok: let'stokpalestine

To close up our series, we bring forth the key principles that define what is actually needed for liberation, not simply 'peace'. We begin the episode by looking at the key historical details that have brought us to where we are today, before delving into the idea of anti-Zionism, as well as the roles that different components within the movement (such as peaceful and armed resistance) have in our shared path forward. In this episode, we have the honour of welcoming Dr Ramzy Baroud, editor of the Palestine Chronicle, who has written extensively on the topic of liberation as opposed to peace, and gives his insights. Instagram: @letstalkpalestineYoutube: @LetsTalkPalestineYTTiktok: let'stokpalestine