PODCAST · news
Arab Talk with Jess & Jamal
by News You Can Use with Jamal Dajani & Jess Ghannam
Arab Talk with Jess and Jamal brings news and analysis of the Arab World and Middle East, as well as issues affecting the Arab American community. Arab Talk broadcasts live every Thursday from 2-3 PM/PT on KPOO, 89.5FM San Francisco. Follow us on Twitter @ArabTalk Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/arab-talk-with-jess-jamal/id1244474570?mt=2
Episodes
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From Yemen to Your Gas Tank
What happens when a regional conflict threatens one of the world’s most important energy corridors? Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi movement have been at the center of a long-running conflict with consequences that reach far beyond the Middle East. From attacks on shipping and energy…
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From the West Bank to the Galilee: The Expansion of Settler Outposts
In his recent UN speech, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed settler violence in the West Bank as the work of roughly 150 “juvenile delinquents,” arguing that reports of widespread violence have been exaggerated. Human Rights Watch and other organizations, however, have documented...
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Latin America and Israel’s Diplomatic Shift
Latin America is undergoing a significant diplomatic shift. While several governments have taken legal or diplomatic steps challenging Israel’s conduct in Gaza and emphasizing Palestinian rights, a growing number of right-wing governments are deepening political, security, military, and trade…
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The West Bank, Settlement Trade and International Law
The UK is moving to ban goods from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, citing international law and the International Court of Justice’s 2024 advisory opinion. France and Canada have announced similar measures, as settler violence and settlement expansion intensify. The debate has also...
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David Miller and the Fight for Academic Freedom
Professor of Sociology David Miller has prevailed in a longstanding legal battle with the University of Bristol, which dismissed him in 2021 over comments critical of Zionism and its relationship to antisemitism. After Miller won a landmark appeal in 2024, the University challenged the decision....
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Raz Segal: Challenging Genocide Denial
The war in Gaza has sparked an intense and deeply contested debate over whether Israel’s conduct meets the legal definition of genocide. Genocide scholars, human rights organizations, and legal experts have advanced arguments supporting that characterization, while Israel and its supporters...
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Can Israel Buy Back Its Image?
Israel is dramatically expanding spending on hasbara—its international public-diplomacy and communications effort. The 2026 budget allocates roughly $730 million to public diplomacy, more than four times the approximately $150 million allocated the year before. The increase comes as Israel faces...
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Michigan Matters: Is the Democratic Primary the Party's Litmus Test?
Michigan Matters: Is the Democratic Primary the Party's Litmus Test? by News You Can Use with Jamal Dajani & Jess Ghannam
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The New U.S.–Israel Defense Partnership: What’s at Stake?
As U.S. military support for Israel faces growing scrutiny, Congress is considering legislation that could dramatically deepen defense cooperation between the two countries. Supporters say it's a necessary step to strengthen innovation and security. Critics argue it would create an unprecedented...
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The Battle for Michigan-Money, Politics, and Influence
One of the biggest stories in the 2026 Michigan Democratic Senate primary isn't just the candidates—it's the money. AIPAC's affiliated Super PAC, United Democracy Project, has poured more than $10 million into the race backing Representative Haley Stevens, part of a broader wave of outside…
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The Essence of Childhood Has Been Destroyed
A new UN Commission of Inquiry report examines the impact of Israel's war on Palestinian children since 7 October 2023. Titled The Essence of Childhood Has Been Destroyed, the report says more than 20,000 Palestinian children have been killed and at least 44,000 injured. The Commission says its...
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The Gaza Reckoning- UN Allegations and America's Political Divide
A new UN commission report accuses Israeli authorities of deliberately targeting Palestinian children in Gaza, alleging actions that may constitute genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. Meanwhile, recent Democratic primaries, especially in New York City, have renewed debate over...
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From Words into Action
This episode examines the Jewish Anti-Zionist Congress, taking place in Dublin from June 26–28. Building on last year’s inaugural gathering in Vienna, the Congress brings together Jewish activists and allies committed to equality, justice, and Palestinian rights. Under the theme “From Words into...
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Pentagon Elevates Israel Counterintelligence Threat as Congress Pushes US-Israel Military Ties
Jess & Jamal examine a development that raises difficult questions about intelligence, alliances, and the future of U.S. foreign policy. The Pentagon has reportedly elevated its counterintelligence threat assessment regarding Israel, citing concerns about espionage and intelligence security. At…
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Beaten at Sea: Inside Israel’s Seizure of the Global Sumud Flotilla
The Global Sumud Flotilla, an international aid mission to Gaza, was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters, with activists detained and ships redirected to Israeli ports. Human rights groups allege detainees faced abuse, including beatings, humiliation, denial of medical care, and...
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After San Diego: Confronting Anti-Muslim Hate in America
A recent shooting attack targeting a mosque complex in San Diego, where two gunmen killed three people, has renewed concerns about the rising climate of Islamophobia in the United States. Many advocates say anti-Muslim hate has been fueled by the normalization of inflammatory rhetoric from...
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Doctors Detained: Inside Gaza’s Medical Crisis
Gaza’s healthcare system is nearing collapse. Hospitals are damaged, supplies are blocked, and many doctors have been killed or detained. Now, Physicians for Human Rights Israel has petitioned Israel’s High Court, demanding the release of 14 Palestinian doctors held without charge. These…
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Missing in Gaza: Stories Behind the Numbers
The reported death toll in Gaza, now approaching 73,000, continues to rise. Even during the ceasefire, people are still being killed or dying from starvation and lack of medical care. Thousands more remain missing, detained, or buried under rubble, with families still searching for answers amid...
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Lebanon Ceasefire: Pause or Precarious Deal?
After initially refusing, the U.S. agreed to include Lebanon in ceasefire talks with Iran, backing a separate 10-day Israel–Lebanon truce that took effect April 17 at midnight. The deal follows Israel’s renewed invasion of southern Lebanon in March amid its broader conflict with Iran. Under the...
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Targeted Justice? Discrimination in Israel’s New Death Penalty Law
On March 31, the Knesset passed a controversial law mandating the death penalty for Palestinians, including both West Bank residents and Israeli citizens, while excluding Jewish settlers. The law makes execution the default sentence, to be carried out within 90 days with no option for appeal or...
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Iran: From Strikes to Regional War
What began in late February as coordinated U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military facilities has rapidly expanded into a far more dangerous confrontation. In response, Iran has launched waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israeli cities, key strategic sites, and U.S....
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Israel Denies Christians Access to the Holy Sepulchre
Journalist Daoud Kuttab examines how Israel has used global attention on Iran to intensify settler violence and expand the seizure of Palestinian land in the West Bank. He also describes how attacks and harassment by the Israeli government and settlers against Palestinian Christians have…
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US, Israel and Iran War: Censorship, Settler Pogroms and Global Fallout
Oren Ziv examines Israel’s wartime military censorship amid its conflict with Iran, shedding light on how information is controlled during periods of escalation. He also highlights a surge in violent settler attacks on Palestinian communities in the West Bank, particularly targeting herding...
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US–Israel War With Iran Intensifies
Jess and Jamal discuss the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran as it enters its second week. U.S. and Israeli forces continue striking Iranian military and energy infrastructure, including targets near Tehran, while Iran has launched retaliatory missile and drone attacks against…
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US & Israel Seek to Topple Iran’s Regime
Jess and Jamal discuss the latest developments and global repercussions following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran. Nathan Kalman-Lamb, Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of New Brunswick, joins the show to discuss a complaint filed with the International Criminal Court against…
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Living Hell: Torture and Abuse of Palestinian Prisoners
Close to 11,000 Palestinians are currently held in Israeli prisons and detention centers, the majority without formal charges or convictions. During this recent period, nearly 100 Palestinians have died in custody, with extensive evidence indicating that many of these deaths resulted from torture...
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Israel's Demographic Engineering
In his opinion piece published in Al Jazeera, titled “Here’s Why Israel Is Allowing Record Murder Rates in Its Palestinian Towns,” Dr. Neve Gordon argues that the crime epidemic within Palestinian communities inside Israel is not merely a failure of governance, but part of a broader political...
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Israel Continues to Bomb Gaza Despite the Launching of a 'Board of Peace'
In the aftermath of the war on Gaza, a proposed “Board of Peace” emerged on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September 2025. The body was envisioned as a temporary entity with a two-year mandate to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction and economic recovery. Louis Charbonneau, UN director at...
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Did Iran Dodge the Bullet?
President Donald Trump stated that he was holding off on striking Iran out of respect for what he claimed was Iran’s agreement to cancel 800 executions of protesters. Separately, but around the same time, officials from several Arab countries—Egypt, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar—as well as Israel...
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Israel and the UAE Sowing Chaos in the Middle East and Africa
Dr. Andrew Hammond discusses the UAE’s notable involvement in multiple conflicts around the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, in partnership with Israel. The two small countries seek to maximize their regional power by controlling key positions along the Red Sea’s maritime corridor, while also…
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Israel Bans NGOs in Gaza as Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
On January 1, 2026, Israel banned 37 international humanitarian aid organizations from operating in Gaza. Among those affected were Doctors Without Borders, Save the Children, Oxfam, Caritas, ActionAid, the International Rescue Committee, and World Vision. Bushra Khalidi, Oxfam’s policy lead in…
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2025: Turmoil in the Middle East
Jess and Jamal look back at 2025 and the turmoil in the Middle East. While global attention remained fixed on Gaza, Israel accelerated land seizures in the West Bank. The year saw a record number of new settlement approvals, alongside a sharp rise in settler violence.
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Is the International Criminal Court's Future in Peril?
Dr. Ezequiel Jimenez discusses his article published in Opinio Juris, “The 24th Session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute: Time to Act.” In the article, he explains that, given the ICC’s current state of polycrisis, it is imperative for member states of the Rome Statute to…
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Israel’s Ethnic Cleansing Plan for the West Bank
Supported by Israeli security forces and enabled by government policies, settler violence has become a central component of the Israeli state’s strategy to forcibly displace Palestinian communities in the occupied territory. This approach aims to establish full Israeli control over the area and...
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Systematic Use of Sexual Violence by Israeli Forces and Settlers Against Palestinians
A March 2025 report by the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry found that sexual violence by Israeli forces and settlers was extensive enough to be considered systematic. Dr. Samah Jabr, co-author of the paper "Torture as a Tool of Domination: The Logic Behind the Use of Torture...
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Gaza Reconstruction Faces Massive Challenges
After two years of relentless Israeli air and ground assaults on Gaza, much of the territory lies in ruins. Many of Gaza’s two million residents have been displaced and are struggling to secure basic necessities. Jaco Cilliers, the current Special Representative for the United Nations Development...
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Israeli Settlers Deprive Palestinians of their Olive Harvest
Jess and Jamal discuss the recent surge in Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, which have reached unprecedented levels. This escalation is marked by increased frequency, severity, and coordination—often occurring with the support or presence of Israeli security...
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Human Rights Group Seeks Prosecution of British Citizens Fighting for Israel
The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) has applied for a summons in the magistrate’s court in the United Kingdom in an initiative to prosecute a British citizen who they allege fought in the Israeli military against Palestine and Palestinians. It states that the individual…
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Will Israel Allow NGOs to Operate in Gaza?
Professor Liat Kozma explains that Israel has been systematically working to delegitimize and restrict international NGOs and human rights organizations operating with Palestinians in the occupied territories. One of the largest of these organizations, UNRWA, which has provided services in Gaza…
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Trump Trusts Blair with Gaza - Do Others?
President Trump has named former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to the newly formed Board of Peace, which will oversee the reconstruction and governance of Gaza. Blair has reportedly been involved for months in developing proposals for Gaza’s postwar future. However, his controversial...
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Recognizing Palestine’s Sovereignty Does Not Exclude Ending Israel’s Impunity
Acknowledging Palestinian sovereignty is increasingly seen as a necessary—but not sufficient—step toward a just resolution of the conflict, particularly among those who also call for an end to what they view as Israeli impunity. Human rights attorney and activist Stanley Cohen argues that…
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Netanyahu Fails to Prevent Palestine Recognition, Vows to Retaliate
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long opposed Palestinian independence, and he recently reaffirmed that there will be no Palestinian state as long as he remains in office. He also vowed to take retaliatory measures as a second wave of recognitions is expected at a U.N. summit in New...
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Why the Recognition of Palestine Matters
The 80th United Nations General Assembly’s High-Level Week begins on September 22, bringing together heads of state to deliver speeches and set the policy agenda for the year ahead. The prospect of several major Western powers—such as the United Kingdom, France, Australia, and Canada—formally...
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Why the 'Gaza Riviera' is Doomed to Fail
Can a Gaza reconstruction that excludes Palestinian heritage, silences their participation, and denies their suffering truly succeed? Journalist and analyst Sean Mathews argues the 'Gaza Riviera' is doomed to fail.
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Scholars Accuse Germany of Complicity in Gaza Genocide
In addition to the United States, several key European governments continue to provide intelligence and arms to the Israeli military—support that enables the ongoing genocide in Gaza and obstructs the path toward a political solution. Germany is among these governments, and its complicity is...
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Israel Keeps Killing Palestinian Journalists With Impunity
Ian Williams, President of the Foreign Press Association, discusses the targeting of Palestinian journalists in Gaza. Williams, who is also an author, writer, and broadcaster, highlighted the silence of western journalists and the growing toll on Palestinian media workers in the besieged…
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Israeli Rights Groups Conclude Israel Is Committing Genocide
The number of international human rights organizations, genocide scholars, public officials, and UN representatives making this assertion continues to grow. Now, two well-respected Israeli human rights groups have released reports concluding that Israel is committing genocide. One is B’Tselem…
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Mounting Evidence of Famine and Widespread Starvation in Gaza
Alex de Waal, Executive Director of the World Peace Foundation at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, discusses the growing evidence of famine and widespread starvation in Gaza. Famine is officially confirmed when three core thresholds are breached: a drastic decline in…
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Israel Weaponizes Starvation in Gaza
Jess and Jamal discuss the worsening starvation crisis in Gaza, where over 100,000 children under the age of two—including 40,000 infants—are at imminent risk of mass death due to the total absence of infant formula and nutritional supplements. Earlier, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency...
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Outrage in UK over Palestine Action Ban
Former Professor of Political Sociology at the University of Bristol, David Miller, discusses the British Parliament’s vote to ban Palestine Action, a civil disobedience and direct action protest group. He also addresses a private prosecution brought against him by the Campaign Against...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Arab Talk with Jess and Jamal brings news and analysis of the Arab World and Middle East, as well as issues affecting the Arab American community. Arab Talk broadcasts live every Thursday from 2-3 PM/PT on KPOO, 89.5FM San Francisco. Follow us on Twitter @ArabTalk Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/arab-talk-with-jess-jamal/id1244474570?mt=2
HOSTED BY
News You Can Use with Jamal Dajani & Jess Ghannam
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Arab Talk with Jess & Jamal have?
Arab Talk with Jess & Jamal currently has 397 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Arab Talk with Jess & Jamal about?
Arab Talk with Jess and Jamal brings news and analysis of the Arab World and Middle East, as well as issues affecting the Arab American community. Arab Talk broadcasts live every Thursday from 2-3 PM/PT on KPOO, 89.5FM San Francisco. Follow us on Twitter @ArabTalk Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes...
How often does Arab Talk with Jess & Jamal release new episodes?
Arab Talk with Jess & Jamal publishes regularly with 397 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
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You can listen to Arab Talk with Jess & Jamal on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Arab Talk with Jess & Jamal?
Arab Talk with Jess & Jamal is created and hosted by News You Can Use with Jamal Dajani & Jess Ghannam.
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