Middle East Monitor Conversations

In its recent report, War Child revealed that 96% of children in Gaza believe death is imminent, while 49% expressed a wish to die due to Israel's relentless bombing campaign, making Gaza 'the most horrifying places in the world to be a child'. King unpacks the report and speaks of his first hand experience after returning from Gaza. Over the past 15 months, the world has witnessed heartbreaking scenes from Gaza, where children have borne the brunt of relentless military aggression. With conservative estimates putting the number of children killed by Israeli occupation forces at nearly 18,000, the devastating toll on Gaza’s youngest and most vulnerable residents is clear. Yet, the psychological scars inflicted by this violence often remain unseen.In this week’s MEMO in Conversation, we speak to Kieran King, head of humanitarian at War Child, who has just returned from Gaza. He shares his firsthand experience of the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe. Our discussion centres on War Child’s recent report - the first of its kind - exploring the psychological impact of Israel’s genocide on Gaza’s most vulnerable children. The report provides a stark reminder that Gaza has become one of the most horrifying places in the world to be a child.Kieran sheds light on his experiences in Gaza, painting a vivid picture of the human suffering he encountered and the immense challenges faced by children living in such harrowing conditions. The report’s findings are staggering: 96 per cent of children feel death is imminent, nearly half wish to die and 87 per cent display severe fear.

Israel has deep historical ties with oppressive regimes, arming many that have been accused of genocide. But how is Tel Aviv using expertise it is gaining during its war on Gaza to make a profit? Israel has transformed its occupation of Palestine into a lucrative global enterprise, exporting methods of control and surveillance worldwide. Joining MEMO in Conversation to discuss Israel’s role in the global arms and surveillance technology  trade is Antony Loewenstein, author of groundbreaking new book 'The Palestine Laboratory'. Loewenstein, an investigative journalist, examines Israel's deep historical ties with oppressive regimes, from its support of South African apartheid to its current relationships with far-right governments. Loewenstein shares insights from his 17-year journey investigating Israel’s arms industry, drawing parallels between his earlier work on disaster capitalism and the commodification of Palestinian suffering. He explores Israel’s willingness to arm regimes accused of genocide, from Rwanda to Myanmar, and its cultivation of relationships with openly anti-Semitic far-right leaders like Hungary's Viktor Orban.Loewenstein argues that Israel’s military actions in Gaza reflect long-established patterns of weaponising its expertise in occupation for profit.Loewenstein is an independent journalist, best-selling author, filmmaker and co-founder of Declassified Australia. He's written for the Guardian, the New York Times, the New York Review of Books and many others. His books include 'Pills, Powder and Smoke', 'Disaster Capitalism', 'The Palestine Laboratory' and 'My Israel Question'. His documentary films include 'Disaster Capitalism' and Al Jazeera English films 'West Africa's Opioid Crisis' and 'Under the Cover of Covid'.

Pamphlets were the social media of their time, they helped spread dissent and were pivotal to the polarisation of politics during the Ottoman Empire, Nir Shafir guides us through the communications revolution of the 16th and 17th centuries. The Ottoman Empire banned the printing press and stifled intellectual and economic development in the Middle East due to religious objections. At least this has been the popular narrative about the Ottomans for decades, despite the fact there is no evidence of a ban and throughout the empire's history, different printing presses emerged. However, the print press would not take off in a major way until the 18th century, but that does not mean a communication revolution did not occur in the Islamic world. Indeed the pamphlet took off across the empire in the 16th and 17th centuries, leading a radical transformation in ideas, identities, politics and to the creation of a public square. Pamphlets were the social media of their day and, much like today, they were pivotal to the polarisation of politics in the Empire. The Kadizadeli, a new religious movement, emerged through the pamphlet, fermenting dissent and discord. A new book 'The Order and Disorder of Communication: Pamphlets and Polemics in the Seventeenth-Century Ottoman Empire' takes us into the world of Ottoman polarisation. To discuss the book and the communication revolution during the Ottoman Empire MEMO in Conversation is joined by author Nir Shafir. Shafir is an associate professor of history at  University of California, San Diego (UCSD) whose work focuses on the Ottoman Empire/Middle East from 1200 to 1800. At UCSD, he teaches graduate and undergraduate classes on the history of the early modern and medieval Middle East, the history of science, global history and historical approaches to disinformation, misinformation and propaganda. He is an occasional contributor and editorial board member of the Ottoman History Podcast and served as its editor in 2018. Future projects include a social history of the Turkish language in the Ottoman Empire and an investigation into the cultural role of antiquity and antiquarianism in the early modern Middle East.

The war on Gaza is raging on, with Israel looking set to impose a permanent security zone in the Strip. With less than one month before US President-elect Donald Trump enters the White House, what should Europe do to bring peace to the region and justice for the Palestinians?In this week’s MEMO in Conversation we examine a timely new report from the European Council on Foreign Relations that assesses Gaza's future as Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House. Our guest Muhammad Shehada, a visiting fellow with ECFR's Middle East and North Africa programme, brings his expertise as both a researcher and Gazan to unpack this critical analysis.The discussion reveals the realities on the ground in Gaza, moving beyond official narratives to explore how Israel’s targeting of civilians, mass starvation and decimation of basic governance structures has fundamentally altered daily life in the territory. Shehada provides fresh insights into Hamas’s current position and the widespread breakdown of social order.One of the most striking elements of the conversation focuses on Israel’s plans for Gaza’s future administration, including the controversial prospect of working with local clans. Shehada explains how Netanyahu’s government appears set on transforming Gaza into a permanent security zone rather than pursuing meaningful negotiations.Drawing from his deep understanding of Gaza and extensive research, Shehada maps out practical steps for the international community, particularly European states, to avoid the nightmare scenario Israel is presenting. His analysis offers valuable perspective on navigating these challenges as Trump’s return threatens to dramatically reshape regional dynamics.A researcher, writer and human rights advocate from Gaza, Muhammad Shehada's work focuses on investigating human rights violations in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, and more broadly in the Middle East and Europe, with an emphasis on the treatment of migrants, refugees and civilians in conflict zones.He is currently serving as the chief of communications and programmes at the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor. He has contributed to a wide range of international publications such as the Forward, Al Jazeera, Newsweek, the Nation and the New Arab.

When Daesh was defeated in 2017, many thought their crimes would be forgotten and their victims would have the terrors they experienced swept under the carpet, but a new online museum has been launched to preserve and educate people about the group's atrocities.Over a decade ago, the world was fixated on the emergence of Daesh or so-called Islamic State, the terror group that took control of vast swaths of territory across Syria and Iraq. Daesh governed the lives of millions of people and ran a vast police state, their defeat in 2017, led to concerns that their crimes would soon be forgotten and what people endured would be swept under the carpet. A new online digital archive aims to preserve and educate people about some of the atrocities committed by the group. The ISIS Prisons Museum is a virtual museum space that uses state-of-the-art technology to forensically investigate the group's crimes and to tell stories that promote awareness of what happened in Daesh custody. Joining us to speak about the project is its English Editor Robin Yassin-Kassab. Yassin-Kassab is the author of the novel 'The Road From Damascus', and co-author of 'Burning Country: Syrians in Revolution and War'. He is deputy editor of, and contributor of essays to, the Critical Muslim.

Germany has repeatedly stressed its unwavering support for Israel and its actions in Gaza over the past 14 months, but what is underpinning this position and will it ever shift?Against the backdrop of Israel's devastating assault on Gaza, Germany has emerged alongside the US as one of Israel’s most ardent defenders. While US support has been crucial in allowing Israel to carry out its genocide, Germany's backing is rooted in complex historical and political factors, including its concept of 'Staatsraison' - the commitment to Israel's security as a reason of the German state. Joining us to discuss how Germany’s past continues to shape its present policies is Professor Jurgen Mackert.A distinguished sociologist from the University of Potsdam, author of 'On Social Closure' and an expert on political sociology, Mackert offers unique insights into Germany's support for Israel and its deeper historical underpinnings. He explores the controversial relationship between Germany's historical obligation stemming from the Holocaust and its current position on Gaza and examines how this affects Berlin's stance on international law, its response to ICC arrest warrants, and its reaction to ICJ rulings. Most provocatively, he discusses his recent work arguing that the same settler-colonial logic that drove the Holocaust continues to animate German politics today.This timely conversation delves into whether Germany's unwavering support for Israel truly reflects public opinion and what might cause this position to shift in the future.

For many, the civil war in Syria has been a distant memory, but that all changed when in a sudden turn of events, rebel groups captured the country's second largest city, Aleppo, and began to move towards other northern cities. But why is all this happening now? Syrian journalist Hussam Hammoud joins us to explain.What a difference a few days make. Up until the end of November 2024, Syria's second largest city Aleppo was firmly under the control of President Bashar Al-Assad and to many outsiders the Mediterranean country's civil war was a distant memory. Many assumed the war was either over or at least frozen and then in the space of a few days Syrian rebels, who are opposed to the rule of Al-Assad, launched a lightning offensive and captured Syria's second city. Fighting is now taking place in different parts of the Levantine country, but what is actually happening? Why is it happening now? And who are those involved? In this MEMO in Conversation special we are joined by Hussam Hammoud to delve into events in Syria. Hammoud is a Syrian journalist who specialises in the Syrian conflict and beyond. He is known for his field reporting and focus on human rights, highlighting stories from war zones and displacement crises in both Syria and Ukraine. His work has mostly appeared on the European Cultural Chanal ARTE.

Many have wondered how states have allowed the massacres in Gaza to continue for over a year and what can be gained from them. Investigative journalist Kennard exposes corporate power and state intervention to highlight why the genocide in Gaza has been allowed to continue.In this episode, MEMO is in Conversation with investigative journalist and author Matt Kennard who joins us to delve into Western complicity in the Gaza genocide and examine how deeply this complicity runs. Known for his groundbreaking books 'The Racket' and 'Silent Coup', Kennard brings his expertise in exposing corporate power and state intervention to shed light on the forces driving the genocide in Gaza.Kennard explores how Israel's actions fit into a broader pattern of Western imperial power and examines the evolving US-Israel relationship, the surprising alliance between far-right groups and Israel, and how these developments are reshaping international dynamics.The conversation takes a critical look at the media landscape, exploring how the stark contrast between social media coverage and mainstream narratives of Gaza has contributed to a collapse in public trust in traditional media outlets. Kennard provides unique insights into how global perception of Western support for Israel is shifting in the wake of genocide charges at the ICJ and ICC arrest warrants.As co-founder of Declassified UK and a former Financial Times journalist, Kennard offers a seasoned perspective on how the Gaza crisis represents a potential turning point in public understanding of Western complicity in state violence.Kennard has previously written for the New Statesman, the Guardian, OpenDemocracy and the Intercept. He is the author of 'Irregular Army: How the US Military Recruited Neo-Nazis, Gang Members, and Criminals to Fight the War on Terror', 'The Racket: A Rogue Reporter vs. the Masters of the Universe' and co-author of 'Silent Coup: How Corporations Overthrew Democracy'.

From raising a family to a nation, how debates around modernisation, democracy and capitalism gave birth to a new Arab woman. In the 1850s the Arab world underwent a gendered revolution brought about by western missionaries, integration into the global capitalist economy, the print press and reform efforts. Life in the eastern Mediterranean within a few decades after the 1850s was unrecognisable from a few years prior. Women, gender and childrearing were at the centre of tension and changes taking place. Tarbiya, or cultivation, took on a new urgency in Arabic thought, before the 1850s Tarbiya was often used in the context of teachers or sheikh cultivating their students’ intellectual development, but after the 19th century it referred more specifically to women and the raising of children. Raising a child became a political act and the failure to instil ‘good’ ethical and moral norms could bring down nations, it was feared. The notion of women’s work and a good mother being at home became a feature of political debates and tensions. Gendered notions like Tarbiya sit at the cross section of modernisation, democratisation and nation building ideas. Joining us is Susanna Ferguson who is the author of a new book called Labors of Love: Gender, Capitalism, and Democracy in Modern Arab Thought, a review to her book can be found here: https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20241023-labors-of-love-gender-capitalism-and-democracy-in-modern-arab-thought/Susanna Ferguson is a historian of women, gender, and intellectual life in the Eastern Mediterranean and Assistant Professor of Middle East Studies at Smith College. Her research focuses on how questions about gender, sex, and science shaped political imaginaries in the 19th- and 20-century Arab world. Her work has appeared in various scholarly journals, including Modern Intellectual History, the Journal of Middle East Women's Studies, Comparative Studies of South Asia, Africa, and the Middle East and the Arab Studies Journal. She is a longtime host, former editor-in-chief and now associate producer at the Ottoman History Podcast, where she also co-curates the series on “Women, Gender, and Sex in the Ottoman World.” Ferguson's first book, Labors of Love: Gender, Capitalism, and Democracy in Modern Arab Thought, was published by Stanford University Press in September 2024.

The 16 and 17 centuries saw an eruption in espionage, spying and covert operations, with a growing network of Christian clergymen, traders, slaves, travellers, nobles and others who were also intelligence operatives for Istanbul. We speak to the author of the book 'Spies for the Sultan' to find out more.The Bishop of Heraclea, an Orthodox clergyman, approached the Habsburg royal family with a devious plot, the Austro-Spanish dynasty could form a secret alliance with the Persian Shah to take control of the Ottoman Empire. Together they could back the son of Sultan Suleiman I, Prince Selim, to seize power away from his brother Prince Mustafa. Little did the Habsburgs know, the cleric was also an Ottoman spy and part of a growing network of Christian clergymen, traders, slaves, travellers, nobles and others who were also intelligence operatives for Istanbul. The 16 and 17 centuries saw an eruption in espionage, spying and covert operations. A book recently translated from Turkish into English 'Spies for the Sultan' delves into the murky world of surveillance. Joining us for MEMO in Conversation is the book's author Emrah Safa Gurkan. Professor Gurkan teaches at the Istanbul 29 Mayis University’s department of political science and international relations. In 2012, he was awarded a doctorate in history from Georgetown University. He was the recipient of the Promising Scientist of the Year award at the 14th Kadir Has Awards in 2018. He received the the Outstanding Young Scientist Award from the same institution. He has written a number of articles in English, Turkish, Italian, Spanish and German as well as two scientific monographs, the first of which received the Scientific Monograph of the Year Award from the Turkish Academy of Sciences (TUBA).

As an anti-apartheid activist, Stavit Sinai has repeatedly taken action against the occupation state of Israel, but she made headlines when, in 2022, she was one of two Israelis arrested for storming the site of Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems in the UK, she speaks to MEMO about why it's important not to stay silent.Elbit Systems is Israel's premier arms and military technology company, which claims that its drones are the backbone of the Israeli occupation forces. With 18,000 employees and sites across the world, its weaponry boasts being field tested i.e. used on Palestinians in the West Bank and the besieged Gaza Strip. Israeli military officials and politicians serve on its board and sell weapons worldwide. On 15 May 2022, a group of activists with Palestine Action UK, stormed the Elbit Systems site in Bristol, aiming to disrupt its operations while highlighting what the company does. The direct action protest led to the seven activists being arrested, charged and convicted in the British court. Two of the seven were Israeli dissidents with a track record of Palestinian rights activism. In this second of a two-part conversation, we are joined by Stavit Sinai, one of the two Israeli activists involved in the protest. Dr. Stavit Sinai is a philosophy lecturer and Israeli anti-apartheid activist based in Berlin. She was formally imprisoned for taking direct action against Elbit Systems in the UK.

CAPTION: On Nakba Day in 2022, 7 activists stormed the site of Israel's largest weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems in an effort to disrupt its operations and highlight the atrocities its 'field tested' weapons have caused against Palestinians. Two of the activists were Israeli and they spoke to MEMO to discuss why they continue to protest. Elbit Systems is Israel's premier arms and military technology company, which claims that its drones are the backbone of the Israeli occupation forces. With 18,000 employees and sites across the world, its weaponry boasts being field tested i.e. used on Palestinians in the West Bank and the besieged Gaza Strip. Israeli military officials and politicians serve on its board and sell weapons worldwide. On 15 May 2022, a group of activists with Palestine Action UK, stormed the Elbit Systems site in Bristol, aiming to disrupt its operations while highlighting what the company does. The direct action protest led to the seven activists being arrested, charged and convicted in the British court. Two of the seven were Israeli dissidents with a track record of Palestinian rights activism. In the first of a two-part episode we speak to Ronnie Barkan, one of the two activists. Barkan is co-founder of Boycott from Within and member of Palestine Action. Most recently Barkan was harassed by the German secret police following his Munich talk at Professor-Huber-Platz, where he connected the legacy of the White Rose who opposed Nazism with direct action in opposition to Zionism. He is also considering taking on the UK legal system in international forums for violating his rights by forcing him to pay a fine to an arms company involved with Israel's genocide.

The anti-Zionist Jewish movement has led numerous anti-war protests calling for an end to the genocide in Gaza, but what’s the history of Jewish opposition to Zionism?Israel claims to be working to protect world Jewry, but as it continues its bombing of Gaza and expands its military operation into southern Lebanon, the anti-Zionist Jewish movement continues to declare the state’s actions are ‘not in our name’. But where does Jewish opposition to Zionism stem from? What are its ideological foundations and real life implications of a political ideology that seeks to create a Jewish supremacy in Historic Palestine. Joining us to discuss the root of anti-Zionist Jewish ideology is historian Zachary Foster.Foster, a Princeton University graduate and active social media commentator, brings his wealth of knowledge to challenge common misconceptions about Zionism. Including debunking simplistic definitions such as those which claim Zionism is a national movement for Jewish self-determination and examining the theological opposition from within Jewish communities. Foster also runs a course called ‘Zionism 101’.The discussion also looks into the historical relationship between Christian and Jewish Zionism, the changing attitudes among younger generations of Jews towards Israel, and the ongoing debates surrounding Jewish identity and nationalism.

Algeria won its War on Independence because it won a media war against the French following help from Yugoslavia. But what did the images coming out of Algiers show and how did they frame its battle for a new beginning?France lost the Algerian War (1954-1962) diplomatically because it lost the media war and this forced it to end its 132-year rule of the North African country. The fight for independence was led by the Algerian National Liberation Front or FLN, who had help from abroad. One country that assisted them was Yugoslavia led by Marshal Josip Tito, who was looking for a way to expand Yugoslavia's reach in the world following its isolation from the Soviet Union. Helping Algeria was part of a new and alternative politics Belgrade was fashioning for countries who did not want to fall into either the American or Soviet orbit, called the non-alignment movement.Based around 'third world' solidarity, decolonisation, development and independence, the movement today has 120 members. Tito aided the FLN by helping them win the information war, he sent his favourite cameraman Stevan Labudovic, who snuck into Algeria and filmed many hours of footage of FLN raids and helped give rise to Algerian media independent of France. His reels are the subject of a new film 'Cine-Guerrillas/Non-Aligned: Scene from the Labudovic Reels', which shows not only Algeria's fight for independence, but the development of an idea, the non-alignment movement. Joining us on MEMO Conversation is filmmaker Mila Turajlic. Born in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, Turajlic is an award-winning filmmaker and archive ‘artivist’ whose works include 'Cinema Komunisto' and IDFA-winner 'The Other Side of Everything'. She is the founder of the Non-Aligned Newsreels research project, an artistic exploration of the ‘orphaned’ status of film archives made by Yugoslavia in a gesture of ‘ciné-solidarity’ with the non-aligned world. Performative and video iterations of the project were curated for IDFA on Stage, international exhibitions and biennials (Berlin’22, Belgrade’22, Sharjah’25). In 2020 Mila was invited to join the AMPAS (Oscars) Documentary Branch. She was named Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres by the French government in 2022.

Looking back at Israel's conduct over the past year, Baroud highlights Tel Aviv's use of African mercenaries in the execution of its onslaught on Gaza and how the West is enabling the continuation of this aggression.In this week’s MEMO in Conversation prominent Palestinian journalist and author Dr Ramzy Baroud shares his unique perspective on the events leading up to 7 October 2023 and the subsequent Israeli military offensive. Baroud, a descendant of Palestinian refugees and son of a freedom fighter, analysis of Israel's objectives in Gaza, the place of his birth, and explores whether Tel Aviv's actions constitute ethnic cleansing, genocide, or a deliberate attempt to render Gaza uninhabitable. Baroud provides his analysis of Israel's conduct over the past year and beyond, touching on lesser-known aspects such as the recruitment of African mercenaries by Israel to carry out its military onslaught. He also examines the crucial role of Western support, particularly from the US, in enabling Israel's aggression.Globally, the events of 7 October have recalibrated the Palestinian cause as a pressing global issue, he explains, providing an assessment of Israel's strategic defeats, despite apparent tactical victories, and examines the material foundations of Zionism and how they have been weakened over the past year. Baroud is the Editor of the Palestine Chronicle and author of five books; his latest is 'Our Vision for Liberation: Engaged Palestinian Leaders and Intellectuals Speak Out'.  Baroud is a non-resident Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Islam and Global Affairs (CIGA) and also at the Afro-Middle East Centre (AMEC).

Craig Mokhiber resigned from the UN over its inaction with regards the 'textbook case of genocide' taking place in Gaza. One year on, little has changed. He joins MEMO in Conversation to discuss the events of the past 12 months.It has been almost a year since Craig Mokhiber resigned from the UN over the world body's inaction with regards the genocide unfolding in Gaza. The former senior UN human rights official joined MEMO in Conversation to address the UN's failure to act decisively in the face of Israel's ongoing assault on Gaza and the occupied West Bank and highlight the systematic atrocities committed against Palestinians. Mokhiber also reflects on the growing legal and civil movements that challenge Israel’s impunity, raising important questions about the future of international accountability and justice for Palestinians.Mokhiber is a seasoned human rights lawyer who served over three decades at the United Nations, where he held senior positions, including Director of the New York Office for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Known for his outspoken advocacy for justice, Mokhiber resigned from his post in 2023, condemning what he called a "textbook case of genocide" in Palestine.

Palestinians aren't suffering post traumatic stress disorder, there's been no 'post' for them as they continue to live under occupation and colonialism. 'Ongoing stress disorder' is what they experience daily, says the executive producer of Where the Olive Trees Weep.In this week's MEMO in Conversation we speak to Ashira Darwish, one of the producers of 'Where the Olive Trees Weep', a powerful documentary offering a searing look into the struggles and resilience of the Palestinian people living under Israeli occupation. The film has captivated audiences worldwide, winning awards at seven film festivals and inspiring viewers to contribute to the planting of 1,000 olive trees in the occupied West Bank, a project headed by Treedom for Palestine.Darwish, a motivational speaker and creator of Active Meditation, brings a unique perspective to the film, having personally experienced and overcome severe trauma, including full-body paralysis from a severed spinal cord in 2012. Our conversation explores the depths of Palestinian trauma and resistance depicted in the documentary, which weaves together the stories of Palestinian activists, journalists and survivors of torture in Israeli prisons.We delved into the concept of 'ongoing stress disorder', a term used in the film to describe the constant state of trauma experienced by Palestinians, and discuss how this continuous stress shapes the collective Palestinian experience. The conversation also touches on the importance of non-violent resistance, the role of journalism in revealing truths about the occupation, and the film's significance in portraying not just individual stories, but the broader narrative of a people striving to maintain their culture and identity in the face of erasure.Darwish worked for 15 years as a TV and radio journalist and researcher in Palestine for the BBC, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (HRW). She is the founder of Catharsis Holistic Healing, a trauma therapy project pioneering a type of Sufi active meditation which draws its roots from ancestral and indigenous knowledge

The occupation's reliance on swift, decisive wars have left it unprepared for the current genocide it is carrying out in Gaza. Military, economic and political spheres are showing signs of decline as a result. Can Israel survive after the war on Gaza?Is Israel in a death spiral? That’s the question we will be discussing with our guest, Sharmine Narwani, a Beirut- and UK-based geopolitical analyst. Narwani recently delivered a presentation at the American University of Beirut (AUB), entitled 'Asymmetrical Warfare: How to boil the Israeli frog', and gives us further insights into talk. Narwani utilises the 'boiling frog' analogy to shed light on Israel's ongoing challenges. She contends that, like the frog in the parable, Israel is gradually being overwhelmed by a range of pressures, edging towards collapse without fully recognising the severity of the situation. Our conversation examines how Israel’s historical reliance on swift, decisive wars has left it unprepared for the drawn-out nature of the current genocidal campaign in Gaza, with signs of decline evident in its military, economic, political and societal spheres.We also discuss the impact of Israel's changing global image, the phenomenon of 'reverse aliyah' - the movement of Jews out of Israel, and the impact of shifting geopolitical dynamics on Israel's strategic options. Narwani's incisive analysis, backed by economic indicators and military data, paints a stark picture of a nation potentially trapped in an irreversible downward trajectory and to its own demise. Narwani is a writer and analyst of West Asian geopolitics and a columnist at the Cradle. Her work has been published in a broad array of media outlets, including the American Conservative, Russia Today, the New York Times, USA Today, the Guardian, Al-Akhbar English, Assafir, Huffington Post, BRICS Post, Salon.com, Al Jazeera and others.

Millions of Muslims in the US have said Gaza is the most important election issue for them, but with the frontrunners in the presidential election being Israel supporters Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, how will they vote?On 5 November, Americans will take to the polls to pick the 47th president of the United States. The choice before them will be incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris or former President Donald Trump. For large sections of the American public the choice is clear, for Harris supporters, a Trump presidency represents an existential threat to democracy and an attack on women and minority rights. For Trump supporters, a Harris presidency represents a liberal establishment that is both out of touch with ordinary working Americans and is actively hostile to them. However, for the rest of American society the election is less clear cut. For Arab and Muslim Americans there are concerns about both candidates, while Trumpian politics is seen as antagonistic towards Muslims, Harris's stance on Israel/Palestine has made many feel they cannot vote for her. The majority of Muslim American voters polled say Gaza is the most important election issue for them and the Muslim vote could play a key role in swing states. So how do Arab and Muslim Americans see the upcoming election? This week, MEMO is in Conversation with Saher Selod of the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding to help us delve into what's at stake both for the candidates and the electorate.Saher Selod is Director of the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding and Associate Professor and previous Chair of the Department of Sociology at Simmons University in Boston, MA. Her research expertise centres on the experiences of Muslims with surveillance. Her first book, 'Forever Suspect: Racialised Surveillance of Muslim Americans in the War on Terror', examines how Muslim men and  women experience gendered forms of racialisation through their hyper surveillance because of the War on Terror. Her co-authored second book, 'A Global Racial Enemy: Muslims and Twenty-First Century Racism', assesses how the global War on Terror has justified the detention, imprisonment and hyper surveillance of Muslims in the US, UK, India and China.

Israeli occupation authorities have uprooted more than 800,000 Palestinians olive trees since 1967, Treedom for Palestine is working to replant them and protect Palestinian farmers' deep ties to their land.This week on MEMO in Conversation we have a truly inspiring story that beautifully illustrates the power of art, activism and agriculture in creating tangible change. Our guest, Cyrus Copeland, Executive Director of Treedom for Palestine, shares the remarkable journey of an initiative that has recently made headlines following the release of a powerful documentary 'Where Olive Trees Weep' and its mission to plant olive trees in the occupied West Bank.Cyrus takes us through the genesis of Treedom for Palestine, from his personal connection to tree planting to witnessing the deep relationship between Palestinians and their olive trees. He discusses the collaboration with the Palestinian Farmers' Union and the impact of planting 1,000 olive trees on the lives of Palestinian farmers. The conversation touches on the challenges faced, including the need for steel fencing to protect the Freedom Farms from settler violence and the staggering statistic that since 1967, Israeli occupation authorities have uprooted more than 800,000 Palestinian olive trees.As we explore the international reception of the documentary and its influence on the project's growth, Cyrus shares insights into the future of Treedom for Palestine. He discusses how growing awareness of settler violence has affected support for the project and outlines the long-term goals for this initiative. Cyrus is a writer, nonprofit pioneer and speaker who was born in Washington DC. At the age of 10 his family moved to Iran, just before the 1979 revolution. His experiences, including his father's imprisonment during the Islamic Revolution, have deeply influenced his work. A critically acclaimed author, Cyrus's writing has appeared in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Slate and the Boston Globe.