0:08 – Field report from a Gaza neighborhood bombed over the weekend by Rami Almeghari .
0:15 – Phyllis Bennis (@PhyllisBennis) is a Middle East analyst and fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies; her book Understanding the Palestinian-Israeli conflict: A Primer has just been re-released in its 7th edition.
0:30 – Fund Drive Premium: The Occupation of the American Mind: Israel’s Public Relations War in the U.S. (2016)
Over the past few years, Israel’s ongoing military occupation of Palestinian territory and repeated invasions of the Gaza strip have triggered a fierce backlash against Israeli policies virtually everywhere in the world — except the United States. The Occupation of the American Mind takes an eye-opening look at this critical exception, zeroing in on pro-Israel public relations efforts within the U.S.
Narrated by Roger Waters and featuring leading observers of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and U.S. media culture, the film explores how the Israeli government, the U.S. government, and the pro-Israel lobby have joined forces, often with very different motives, to shape American media coverage of the conflict in Israel’s favor. From the U.S.-based public relations campaigns that emerged in the 1980s to today, the film provides a sweeping analysis of Israel’s decades-long battle for the hearts, minds, and tax dollars of the American people in the face of widening international condemnation of its increasingly right-wing policies.
1:08 – Fund Drive Premium: Al-Nakba
In our second hour, we focus on the roots of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the lens of the documentary Al-Nakba, by Al-Jazeera TV, which traces the historical events leading up to the creation of the state of Israel.
This episode is part of KPFA’s Spring Fund Drive! KPFA is community-supported public radio, which means listener support is crucial to remaining independent, critical, and honest as a station. Call in (1800) 439-5732 during our broadcast of UpFront or click here to pledge your support.