Truthout August 29, 2024
Despite indications Harris will have a better foreign policy than Biden, the Democratic Party’s platform’s segment on the Middle East — written primarily by Biden’s team — is very disappointing…
Category: Middle East
Middle East Overview
Interview: U.S. Policy and the Gaza war and its impact on American politics
Community or Chaos with Marvin Hubbard, August 25, 2024
A 50-minute interview for a New Zealand radio station.
Interviews: U.S. policy, Israel/Palestine, Lebanon & Kamala Harris for KPFA Pacifica Radio
Dr. Zunes is the guest for three recent KPFA radio interviews:
During the first hour of KPFA’s “Talkies” show with Kris Welch
August 16, 2024 (segment starts at the 9:30 mark); also on
August 25 on KPFA Evening News (starts at 11:45); and earlier
August 11 on recent developments (starts at 2:10).
Interview: Kamala Harris, Israel Palestine and the 2024 Democratic Convention
KSQD-FM August 19, 2024; 55 minutes (Dr. Zunes’s segment starts at 5:40)
Video Panel – Brave Resistance: Iran’s Women Prisoners Up Against Execution Surge & Threats Of Wider Regional War
August 25, 2024 panel, Unitarian Universalists of San Francisco panel: Dr. Zunes addressed U.S. policy and the prospects of change in Iran (segment starts at the 13:35 mark, and in the Q&A session starting at the 1:32:30 mark).
Is the UN Ready for a Second Trump Presidency?
Inter Press Service August 29, 2024:
This article, which examines the dangers to the United Nations system should Trump return to office, quotes Dr. Zunes:
Stephen Zunes, Professor of Politics and Director of International Studies at the University of San Francisco, who has written extensively on the politics of the United Nations, told IPS: “Yes, this would indeed be disastrous and UN funding for these agencies and affiliated institutions would indeed be cut”.
Interviews: Gaza War, Radio Summer 2024
- Interview: Israel/Palestine, U.S. policy, and related issues on KMUD FM (at 1 hour). Find it at https://archive.kmudfm.org/ by scrolling down to “Friday Night Talk” at 7 pm July 26.
- On Netanyahu’s address before a joint session of Congress (July 25 Singapore radio, 13-mins. starting at the 1:45 mark)
- WMNF Tampa: Israel’s True Motivations – A talk with Professor Stephen Zunes April 18
- U.S. reaction to the recommendation of the International Criminal Court to prosecute Hamas and Israeli leaders for war crimes, along with other related issues regarding U.S. policy WORT-FM in Madison, Wisc., June
- Trial of Senator Menendez, contradictions in U.S. foreign policy, and other issues July 20 (50-min)
- U.S. support for Israel’s war on Gaza and the domestic and international opposition Chicago radio June 18 (50-min)
- Repression of dissident faculty voices and others critical of U.S. policy towards Israel/Palestine (June 3, 2024, KBOO radio, Portland, OR; Zunes’ half-hour segment begins about 36:30 mark. Note that the timing counts down.)
- Israel’s war on Gaza, the Biden administration’s rejection of international law, and the implications for the November elections( June 11, New Zealand radio, 45-min)
Interview: Israel/Palestine civilian deaths, US Policy & ICJ finds West Bank occupation illegal
KPFA Pacifica Network July 19,2024 Recent developments in Israel/Palestine, including mounting civilian casualties, U.S. policy and the International Court of Justice decision finding the Israeli occupation of the West Bank illegal (25 mins. starting at 1:05:00)
Interview: As Israel Refuses to End Genocide in Gaza, Threat of War With Hezbollah Looms
Truthout July 2, 2024: By Daniel Falcone with Stephen Zunes and Lawrence Davidson. Also summarized by HeadTopics.com.
For the past eight months, Hezbollah has attacked the northern portion of Israel in an attempt to pull the Israeli army out from Gaza, reports Al Jazeera. Fears of a wider war have prompted international calls to deescalate at the border…
Don’t Believe the Rampant Disinformation over Israel’s Escalation in Lebanon
Truthout August 2, 2024: The US is misrepresenting the strike on Majdal Shams and even the geography and political status of where it took place. Israel has been trading strikes with Hezbollah, the Lebanese political party and armed group, ever since October. So far, the strikes have killed at least 542 people in Lebanon, including 114 civilians and at least 22 soldiers and 25 civilians in northern Israel and Israeli-occupied territory…
Will Kamala Break With Joe on Israel?
The Progressive, July 26, 2024: While her Senate record was hawkish, Harris has signaled she’d make justice for Palestinians a higher priority than Biden…
A Move to Out-Maneuver the US Veto to admit the State of Palestine as a UN member
UNITED NATIONS, Jun 21, 2024 (IPS) Inter Press Service, by Thalif Deen, quoting Dr. Stephen Zunes: “It has been U.S. policy since 1990 to withdraw funding from any United Nations agency which grants Palestine member status…'”
Gaza War Webinar: Escalating Famine & Genocide. Arab Organization for Human Rights-UK
Dr. Zunes speaks for the first seven minutes on U.S. policy then briefly again at the 1:11:30 mark [Source]
Interviews: Middle East,
KPFA Oct. 2023-July 2024
Twelve more interviews on KPFA Evening News aired Sundays on KPFA-FM and Pacifica Radio Network affiliated stations October 7, 2023 through July 2024
- October 8, 2023: The horror of the crimes, why it happened, and the U.S. response (begins just after the four-minute mark)
- Mid-October: The United States has long been an international outlier in regard to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and U.S. responsibility in the failure of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process (begins at 12:30)
- January, following the fatal attack on U.S. forces in Jordan: Problems with the ongoing presence of U.S. forces in the Middle East (begins just after the three-minute mark)
- January, following the initial Houthi attacks on the Red Sea and the U.S. bombing of Yemen: The rise of the Houthis, why they are attacking international shipping, and problems with the U.S. military response (starts a little before 14:00)
- February: The resulting humanitarian disaster from an Israeli invasion of Rafah and U.S. acquiescence (begins a little after the four-minute mark)
- March: The reasons for Biden’s strong support for Israel’s war on Gaza despite widespread domestic and international opposition (begins at the 3:30 mark)
- Also March: Moral and legal implications of U.S.-backed Israeli forces attacking civilian-populated areas (starts a little after the 7:30 mark)
- April, following the conflict between Israel and Iran: Analysis, with a special focus on U.S. policy (starts a little after the four-minute mark)
- May: Rhetoric versus the reality in Biden’s policy regarding U.S. arms transfers to Israel and its political impact, as well as his supposed support for Palestinian statehood (begins a little after the nine-minute mark)
- Late May: Double-standards by the U.S. government on recognizing Israeli and Palestinian statehood and question the Biden administration’s support for a two-state solution (starts at the six-minute mark)
- June: How Biden’s support for Israel’s war on Gaza was alienating Democratic voters and threatening his re-election, as well as how the slogan “river to the sea” has been deliberately misinterpreted to discredit pro-Palestinian activists (starts at the seven-minute mark)
- Mid-July: In anticipation of the International Court of Justice ruling on the Israeli occupation as well as related issues regarding U.S. hostility towards the World Court and international law (Five mins. begins at the 13:45 mark)
Parallels Between Today’s Student Activism and Anti-Apartheid Protests
In this Recent 8-min. video Dr. Zunes contrasts response to today’s growing student protests urging divestment from Israel with the successful student protests in the 1980s demanding boycotts and divestment from South Africa, which helped end apartheid there.
Is Joe Biden’s Gaza Policy Leading to a Repeat of 1968?
The Progressive June 5, 2024
Zunes warns how Biden’s Gaza policy and the repression against student protests is creating a political environment similar to 1968, in which alienating young and minority voters could dampen voter.
Biden Continues to Provide Israel Billions for War Crimes
Truthout May 26, 2024:
Biden’s administration is violating US law by continuing to send military aid to Israel despite Gaza war crimes [and] growing popular opposition…
Biden’s Response to Israel’s ICC Prosecution Is an Attack on International Law
Truthout May 22, 2024:
This marks the first time in US history a sitting president has openly sided with suspected war criminals…
Letter: Panetta opposes halting weapons to Israel
Santa Cruz Sentinel Letter to the Editor May 20, 2024:
Once again, our Congressperson Jimmy Panetta is out of step with his constituents….
The Chilling Effect of Equating Criticism of Israel to Antisemitism
The Progressive May 17, 2024:
Broadening the federal definition of antisemitism is a disingenuous attempt to quash dissent…