Podcast Ep 27: A vision of equality in Jerusalem

On episode 27 of The Electronic Intifada Podcast, Asa and Nora are joined by Ben Jamal, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) in the UK.

PSC recently concluded a week of direct action to amplify the growing opposition to Israel’s apartheid system, the ongoing expulsion of Palestinians from their land, the 13-year siege on Gaza and the formal annexation of the occupied West Bank.

Jamal tells us how the week of action and lobbying of MPs went. He also gives us some personal background on his Palestinian heritage and how he began campaigning.

We discuss recent censorship efforts in the UK targeting the movement, including the attacks against the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaign for Palestinian rights.

“The reason that the BDS movement is being targeted and there’s an attempt to delegitimize [it] is because of Israel’s concern about the strategic threat the BDS movement poses,” Jamal tells us.

Finally, we get a little into events in the Labour Party and the manufactured anti-Semitism crisis.

Jamal was one of many prominent British Palestinians who condemned the Labour Party for shrinking the space in which to criticize Zionism and oppose Israeli policies.

Articles we discussed

“Racist to deny us right to oppose Zionism, British Palestinians tell Labour” (Asa Winstanley)
“Revealed: the Israel lobby’s Labour hit list” (Asa Winstanley)

Theme music by Sharif Zakout

Music: “Rafif” (Kamilya Jubran)

Image: Ben Jamal (Palestine Solidarity Campaign)

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