What's Going On Here?

In the ocean that is the depth of the Palestinian people and resistance, these figures create waves. Mahmoud Darwish, Ghassan Kanafani, Leila Khaled, and Noura Erakat. Among the millions of Palestinians who have devoted their entire lives for justice and peace, these four are undeniable. Tune in and find out more about these four influential figures in human history. This episode is the finale of Season 1 of What’s Going On Here? Thank you for tuning in and listening. We at the podcast are truly appreciative of everyone who has supported us for these 8 episodes and we look forward to bringing in more content in the next season. We will be present and active on social media so make sure to keep up with our posts as we bring you more news and awareness on what is going on in Palestine. Peace!Links to Resources Mentioned:⁠⁠"Think of Others" ⁠⁠ by Mahmoud Darwish⁠⁠⁠"A conversation between the sword and the neck."⁠⁠ - Ghassan Kanafani⁠⁠"Leila Khalid, Hijacker"⁠⁠ - Directed by Lina Makboul⁠⁠"Amnesty International Chair Award, 2025"⁠⁠ - Noura Erakat

Quick. Decisive. Lethal. These three words describe the State of Israel’s surprise attack on Syria, Egypt, Jordan, and Palestine conducted on June 6, 1967. The destruction of their air forces bases crippled the Arab armies and allowed the State of Israel to occupy the West Bank, the Gaza Strip , the Sinai Peninsula (Egypt), and the Syrian Golan Heights. Tune in to this episode to hear what led to this “pre-emptive strike” from the State of Israel and how it led to their first full occupation of historic Palestine. References:Finkelstein, Norman G. Image and Reality of the Israel-Palestine Conflict. Verso, 2003.Mansour, Camille and Mansour, Sylvie. “Overall Chronology”. Interactive Encyclopedia of the Palestine Question. Accessed March 17, 2025, ⁠https://www.palquest.org/en/overallchronology?show=intro⁠.Pappe, Ilan. The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine. Oneworld Publications Ltd., 2006.Pappe, Ilan. A Very Short History of the Israel-Palestine Conflict. Simon and Schuster, 2024.

In the first part of this series, we are going to layout the events that led up to the June '67 war. At this point in time, the State of Israel has been officially declared and is being met by resistance from Egypt. The fearless Egyptian leader, Gamal Abdel Nasser, plays a crucial role in defending the Arab world and is threatening Western power in the region; and so the triple alliance of Britain, France, and the State of Israel conduct a war in the Sinai Peninsula in an attempt to undermine his power. Listen as we go on this journey from 1948 up until the Sinai War of 1956 - a crucial stepping stone towards the events of 1967.References:Mansour, Camille and Mansour, Sylvie. “Overall Chronology”. Interactive Encyclopedia of the Palestine Question. Accessed March 17, 2025, ⁠https://www.palquest.org/en/overallchronology?show=intro⁠.Pappe, Ilan. The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine. Oneworld Publications Ltd., 2006.Pappe, Ilan. A Very Short History of the Israel-Palestine Conflict. Simon and Schuster, 2024.Weiss, Leonard. “The Lavon Affair: How a false-flag operation led to war and the Israeli bomb.” Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, no. 69(4), (2013): 58-68.⁠⁠https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0096340213493259⁠⁠.⁠UN Map of Suez Canal

This episode is about The Nakba. An event in Palestinian history that was catastrophic for the Palestinians who suffered the loss of their homes, villages, and for many, their lives. Join me as we journey through the harrowing events that caused the Catastrophe.References:Pappe, Ilan. A Very Short History of the Israel-Palestine Conflict. Simon and Schuster, 2024.Mohammed Hassan, Mohammed. “The Surprising History of the Israeli Defence Forces.” Middle East Eye, United Kingdom, October 23, 2024. Video, 32 min., 14 sec. ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCGtHMxNrXY⁠⁠UN Partition Plan of Palestine map⁠ - Retrieved on Saturday, March 8, 2025.

Part 2 of the The Z Word focuses on three key figures: Jabotinsky, Ben-Gurion, and Begin. These men would go on to establish armed groups known as the Haganah, the Irgun, and the Lehi a.k.a the Stern Gang. Listen to find out more about how these Zionist groups helped to establish the State of Israel. This is a history lesson they do not teach in schools.References:Pappe, Ilan. A Very Short History of the Israel-Palestine Conflict. Simon and Schuster, 2024.Mohammed Hassan, Mohammed. “The Surprising History of the Israeli Defence Forces.” Middle East Eye, United Kingdom, October 23, 2024. Video, 32 min., 14 sec. ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCGtHMxNrXY

This is a two part series on Zionism. In Part 1, we are going to discuss the definition of the term Zionism, why it came to become important for the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine, and who the early Zionists were. References:Pappe, Ilan.A Very Short History of the Israel-Palestine Conflict. Simon and Schuster, 2024.Elaine C. Hagopian.Arab Studies Quarterly 39, no. 2 (2017): 861–64. https://doi.org/10.13169/arabstudquar.39.2.0861.Sofuoglu, Murat. “A Lookback at the Zionist Terrorism That Led to Israel’s Creation.”TRT World,November 10, 2023,⁠https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/a-lookback-at-the-zionist-terrorism-that-led-to-israels-creation-15767166⁠.

This episode provides a short and succinct history of Palestine as a place and a name. Before the current borders of Gaza and the West Bank were ever created, Palestine was known by people from Ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, and the Muslim Empires of old. Join me as we trace back thousands of years of Palestine’s history from then unto the present day. References:Pappe, Ilan. A Very Short History of the Israel-Palestine Conflict. Simon and Schuster, 2024.Click here for an interactive map of historical Palestine:⁠A Place of Many Beginnings: Three Paths into the History of Palestine⁠Click here for more information on the major city centres in Palestine:⁠Urban Palestine: Divergent Trajectories of Spatial and Social Transformations

This is the introduction episode of What's Going On Here? where Elias talks about his motivations for starting this project and what he hopes will come of the show. He hopes to spread a message of peace, love, and justice for all of those who are suffering in a part of the world that is dear to his heart.