This Is Not a Watermelon | Palestinian History & Culture

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This Is Not a Watermelon | Palestinian History & Culture

Palestinian history and culture will not be erased. History warns us how media's dehumanizing rhetoric can pave the way for targeted aggression and allow society to permit atrocities as grave as genocide. It is resolutely within our mission to counteract this dehumanizing narrative. Afikra has always stood in unwavering solidarity with our Palestinian sisters and brothers – and with individuals of all nationalities and faiths around the world – who bravely protest the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestine and condemn the state violence of the Israeli colonial settler project. After the events of October 7, 2023 it felt impossible to go on with the podcast like business as usual. So we dedicated The afikra podcast programming to special episodes relevant to understanding the historical context of what is happening in Palestine. Each episode was recorded in real time and uploaded to YouTube and all podcasting platforms. For most of these, the time of recording is key to understanding the context in which these conversations took place. As we entered the new year and the atrocities continue, we deemed it necessary to create an exclusive series dedicated to Palestinian history and culture. This is how this podcast came about and will continue to exist so long as the fight for liberation and peace continues. Make sure to check out all of these highly informative conversations with guests from completely different disciplines, who have generously shared their time and insight in these dark times.

  1. OCT 30

    Chloe Kattar | @leb.historian Explains Zionist Propaganda on Lebanon

    Better known to many through her Instagram account @leb.historian which has gained a large audience especially since Lebanon's 17 October Revolution, Chloe Kattar joins us on This Is Not a Watermelon for a special podcast episode to contextualize the current Israeli war on Lebanon. We focus on Israeli propaganda and discuss Zionist expansionist agenda and the ways in which these imperial narratives are disseminated. Kattar gives us a quick history of Israel's aggressions on Lebanon which started decades before October 7. She dismantles vague terms weaponized by the the Israeli occupation such as "Hezbollah Infrastructure", clarifies the ambiguities of the "Dahiyeh Doctrine", and explains the impact of drones and psychological warfare on a civilian population.

    57 min

  2. OCT 18

    Beirut Southern Suburbs & Hezbollah: History & Truth | Mona Harb

    In this special episode of This Is Not a Watermelon podcast, we speak to Professor Mona Harb, co-founder of the Beirut Urban Lab at the American University of Beirut, to help us delve into the intricate socio-political dynamics and historical narratives of Beirut's southern suburbs, known as "Dahiyeh" that's been under severe Israeli bombardment since September. Professor Harb offers an in-depth exploration of Dahiyeh, a part of the Lebanese capital often associated with Shi'ism, poverty, and Hezbollah, highlighting the socio-economic diversity in the area and the effects of Lebanon's civil war and subsequent urban planning policies on this large geography which encompasses several municipalities. The episode further explores the interconnected economy and population movements, and the impact of media misrepresentation on Lebanon. Stressing on just how large and diverse of an area "Dahiyeh" is, Harb explores the impacts of Israeli attacks on urban heritage, the media's false portrayal of Hezbollah, and the strength of Beirut's communities amidst the ongoing challenges. With personal insights and professional expertise, she sheds light on the multifaceted narrative of this urban space in Beirut, bringing attention to the fact that the attack on Dahiyeh (and the south of Lebanon) is an attack on the entire Lebanese population and infrastructure. Harb highlights the resilience and solidarity among Beirut's communities and the significance of knowledge production in fostering inclusive urban environments. This episode was recorded on October 15th at 5pm Beirut time. 00:00 Introduction 00:45 Personal Reflections on Safety in Beirut 02:53 Understanding the Southern Suburbs of Beirut 04:31 Historical Context and Evolution of Dahieh 09:19 Sectarian Geographies, Municipalities and Urban Dynamics 15:11 Current Damage and Reconstruction Challenges 19:42 Interconnectedness of Lebanon's Regions 22:54 Lies in Media Portrayal 28:07 The Dahieh Doctrine and Urbacide Explained 30:43 Impact on Education and Daily Life 34:34 Challenges Faced by Students and Youth During The Current Israeli War on Lebanon 39:38 Solidarity and Hope Amidst Crisis 44:59 Recommendations for Further Reading Mona Harb is Professor of Urban Studies and Politics at the American University of Beirut where she is also co-founder and research lead at the Beirut Urban Lab. Her research investigates governance and territoriality in contexts of contested sovereignty; urban activism and oppositional politics; and how people make collective life in fragmented cities. She is the author of "Le Hezbollah à Beirut: de la banlieue à la ville, co-author of Leisurely Islam: Negotiating Geography and Morality in Shi’i South Beirut (with Lara Deeb)", co-editor of "Local Governments and Public Goods: Assessing Decentralization in the Arab World (with Sami Atallah)", and co-editor of "Refugees as City-Makers (with Mona Fawaz et al.)". She serves on the editorial boards of MELG, IJMES, EPC, and CSSAME, and was previously on the boards of IJURR and the ACSS. At AUB, she served as Coordinator of the Graduate programs in Urban Planning, Policy and Design, Associate Dean of her faculty, and as Chairperson of the department of Architecture and Design. Connect with Mona 👉 https://x.com/mona_harb_ Beirut Urban Lab is a collaborative and interdisciplinary research space. It produces scholarship on urbanization by documenting and analyzing ongoing transformation processes in Lebanon and its region's natural and built environments. It intervenes as an interlocutor and contributor to academic debates about historical and contemporary urbanization from its position in the Global South. Discover Beirut Urban Lab 👉 https://beiruturbanlab.com/ Explore the Middle East Research and Information Project 👉 https://merip.org/

    47 min

  3. SEP 9

    Ghada Karmi | I Returned to My Stolen Home in Palestine

    Palestinian doctor, scholar and research fellow Ghada Karmi offers powerful, truthful and hard-hitting words on Palestine's past, present and future. She sheds light on a common experience amongst Palestinian diaspora: that of blocked memories, suppressed as a result of trauma. She shares wise words of advice on dealing with friends and family who – especially in the wake of October 7th – have stayed apathetic and silent, or refused to take a moral stance.

    52 min

  4. AUG 23

    Palestinian Music in Exile: Voices of Resistance | Louis Brehony

    In this episode of This Is Not a Watermelon, we talk about positioning Palestinian music within a global music scene, cassettes as precious as diamonds, music and resistance, and reiterations of traditional folk music. Global scholar of Palestinian music, activist, and musician Louis Brehony joins us with a roster of musical interludes that take us on a tour of the Palestinian music that should appear on all those "Top 10" rankings we read online.

    1h 20m

  5. JUL 29

    Sonja Mejcher-Atassi | An Impossible Friendship: Group Portrait, Jerusalem Before & After 1948

    In this episode of This Is Not a Watermelon, Sonja Mejcher-Atassi joins us in our studio in Beirut to talk about her book "An Impossible Friendship: Group Portrait, Jerusalem Before and After 1948," which details the relationship between a group of friends who came together at a momentous time in the modern history of Palestine. The group, who Sonja calls her "famous five", features an extraordinary meeting of minds: Walid Khalidi, Jabra Ibrahim Jabra, Rasha Salam, Sally Kassab and Wolfgang Hildescheimer. The five straddle religious and cultural barriers to forge an unlikely friendship that becomes almost politically impossible after 1948. Learning about their friendship, we get snippets of life in Jerusalem during the British Mandate and other key moments in the country's history. We speak about how the bombing of the King David Hotel arguably marked a significant turning point for Palestine, and why it's important to read Palestinian and Israeli histories together considering how entangled they are.

    1h 4m

  6. JUN 18

    Justice in Palestine... But For Whom? | Victor Kattan

    The power and apparent failings of international law in Palestine are questions on everyone's minds right now. In this episode of This is Not a Watermelon, professor Victor Kattan walks us through the scope and remit of international law, the legalities of occupation and invasion, and the state of international law today. Tracking back through the 20th century, Victor reflects on whether the makers of the Balfour Declaration and Mandates for Palestine would call their "great experiment" a success. He touches on the "Jewish question" in Europe, apartheid as a form of genocide, and the likelihood of a functioning Palestinian State. Finally, he looks at South Africa's case against Israel and to the question of whether justice in Palestine is ever possible (and if so, in what form and for whom?)

    1 hr

  7. JUN 3

    The British Betrayal of Palestine | Salman Abu Sitta

    Dr Salman Abu Sitta lived through the Nakba. In this episode of This Is Not A Watermelon, we hear about his lived experience, writing his memoir "Mapping My Return: A Palestinian Memoir," and the Palestinian Land Society – an organization he founded that is dedicated to the documentation of Palestine's land and people. Dr Abu Sitta gives us an overview of the history of the Zionist occupation of Palestine, explaining the role that the British and the Haganah played, ultimately betraying the Palestinians. This is a unique opportunity to learn about the events of 1948 from a first-hand perspective.

    1h 4m

  8. APR 23

    A Transnational Atlas for Palestinian Literature | Refqa Abu-Remaileh

    Refqa Abu-Remaileh joins us on This Is Not A Watermelon podcast to discuss the fascinating and crucial work she does through her digital project "Country of Words: A Transnational Atlas for Palestinian Literature". We dive into the very nature of Palestinian literature, discussing how it is without a centralized nation state and the challenges this presents in understanding it, as well as the key role of magazines in its production. Refqa explains the concept of a "diaspora-homeland continuum" and what it means to historicize Palestinian literature. Finally, she shares the names of figures of Palestinian literary production that are often forgotten.

    1h 7m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Palestinian history and culture will not be erased. History warns us how media's dehumanizing rhetoric can pave the way for targeted aggression and allow society to permit atrocities as grave as genocide. It is resolutely within our mission to counteract this dehumanizing narrative. Afikra has always stood in unwavering solidarity with our Palestinian sisters and brothers – and with individuals of all nationalities and faiths around the world – who bravely protest the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestine and condemn the state violence of the Israeli colonial settler project. After the events of October 7, 2023 it felt impossible to go on with the podcast like business as usual. So we dedicated The afikra podcast programming to special episodes relevant to understanding the historical context of what is happening in Palestine. Each episode was recorded in real time and uploaded to YouTube and all podcasting platforms. For most of these, the time of recording is key to understanding the context in which these conversations took place. As we entered the new year and the atrocities continue, we deemed it necessary to create an exclusive series dedicated to Palestinian history and culture. This is how this podcast came about and will continue to exist so long as the fight for liberation and peace continues. Make sure to check out all of these highly informative conversations with guests from completely different disciplines, who have generously shared their time and insight in these dark times.

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