A collection of essays and conversations:
These Dilemma episodes are about the Palestine Israel conflict. They are designed to be listened to in order (from bottom of this page up).
In the first episode I take you through my response to some of the most common arguments made in defense of Israel and I start to provide some crucial historical context. The next conversation with Gideon Levy is meant to continue to providing historical framing and laying out the root causes of the conflict while taking the pulse of the Israeli nation. In my conversation with Richard English we discuss the complicated ethics of violent resistance and terrorism and evaluate some very important questions about “terrorism’s effectiveness” and what to about it. Then I discuss the personal journey from Zionism to Palestinian activism with Miko Peled. In the final episode, I deliver some closing thoughts with some clarifications of definitions and a hopeful speech which could be delivered by an Israeli Prime Minister one day.
At the bottom of the page you’ll find an extensive collection of resources including historical documentation, films, books, documentaries, articles and more.
A personal essay about a trip to ghana in 1999 where i first started to ask big questions about justice and why the world was the way it was.
An essay on my “secular” Jewish upbringing, the JNF charity boxes and the role of trees in Palestine, Zionism’s insidious targeting of children, and why I was always the “evil” child.
A serious philosophical answer to a persistent question. An essay on the nature of condemnation and an analogy of Manifest Destiny to Zionism.
Jay breaks down arguments being presented by popular thinkers such as Sam Harris who defend Israel…
I’m guessing that a decent portion of my audience discovered me or still keeps an ear on what I’m up to because of the network of people I’ve worked with: including my former co-host Coleman Hughes, of course, and people like Sam Harris and there are others in the orbit whose names we all know. It should be no secret or surprise by now that I am floored and dismayed by the level of ignorance, carelessness, and tribalism exhibited by some of them…
Full Text with links and film, book, and conversation recommendations available here…
Gideon Levy speaks about how he came to question the Zionist project and where Israel can go from here.
A conversation with Haaretz journalist Gideon Levy where we take the pulse of Israel and discuss how he came to question the Zionist project and where we might go from here…
Full text with links, references, and recommended reading available here…
A conversation with Richard English who is not afraid to ask the question, “Does Terrorism Work?”
Transcript with references and recommended reading coming soon…
The story of Miko Peled’s journey from son of a Zionist general to Palestinian Cause Activist.
Transcript with references and recommended reading coming soon…
Defining Zionism, Israel, and Judaism and a Speech for a future israeli prime minister.
INFORMATION RESOURCES
A collection of articles, books, studies, films, and talks to help understand the Israel Palestine conflict.
Other Relevant Dilemma Episodes:
