On today’s episode of Israel & Palestine Unpacked, we speak with Khalil Sayegh, a Palestinian Christian political analyst and peace advocate, born into a refugee family in the Gaza Strip. Raised amid the Second Intifada and the 2008 Gaza War, Khalil’s early years were marked by deep fear and resentment. But his Christian faith led him on a transformative path toward empathy, dialogue, and mutual recognition.

Now based in the U.S., Khalil holds degrees from Bethlehem Bible College and American University, and is the co-founder of the Agora Initiative, which promotes liberal democratic values in the Middle East. In this conversation, he reflects on growing up as a Christian under Hamas rule, the power of humanizing the “other,” and his bold call for Palestinians to acknowledge Jewish peoplehood—and for Israelis to recognize Palestinian identity.

It’s a thought-provoking conversation on courage, change, and the future of peacebuilding.

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Additionally, if you know anyone who you feel would like to be interviewed or possibly fits the description, please do not hesitate to get in contact.

Pádraig

In this episode of Israel & Palestine Unpacked, host Pádraig speaks with Shachar Erez, an Israeli Marriage and Family Therapist who also trains therapists and leads workshops on love, communication, and conflict. Shachar explores the intersection between personal healing and societal polarization, drawing on his experiences during a year and a half of war and trauma in Israel. He discusses the mental health challenges faced by individuals and communities, how he stays grounded amid collective grief, and the importance of fostering resilience, nuance, and quiet hope even in the midst of ongoing conflict.Twitter/X: @IAPUnpacked

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Email: israelpalestineunpacked@gmail.com

Additionally, if you know anyone who you feel would like to be interviewed or possibly fits the description, please do not hesitate to get in contact.

Pádraig

On today’s episode of Israel & Palestine Unpacked, we speak with Dr. Eleni Fotou, a forensic psychologist, about radicalisation and de-radicalisation.

Dr. Eleni Fotou received her BSc in Psychology from the University of Utah in 2002 and has spent the past ten years studying the criminal profiles of domestic homicide offenders in Greece. She has lived, worked, and studied in the US, the UK, and Greece, developing a research background that specialises in radicalisation, extremism, and terrorism studies.

In addition to this, she co-founded Bia-Stop in 2008, a programme based in Kavála, Greece, that focuses on the prevention and treatment of domestic violence. She works closely with the police and the prosecuting authorities on cases involving children who are victims of sexual assault and manages the penal mediation programme in Kavála for domestic violence offenders. Currently, she is creating the Hellenic Risk Assessment Tool under contract from the Ministry of Social Welfare. This tool is now being used by every national agency that handles domestic violence cases. She has presented her work on the management of perpetrators at the international level, including at the UN in New York (2019) and the European Committee of Experts on the Horizon 2020 programme in Brussels (2020), among other professional endeavours.

Today, we are speaking to her about understanding the processes of radicalisation and de-radicalisation. We’ll explore radicalisation within the Israeli-Palestinian context before concluding with a discussion on preventative measures and future outlooks.

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Email: israelpalestineunpacked@gmail.com

Additionally, if you know anyone who you feel would like to be interviewed or possibly fits the description, please do not hesitate to get in contact.

Pádraig

‘Israel & Palestine Unpacked’ is a podcast that is dedicated to exploring the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.

Coming Up Today

On today’s episode of Israel & Palestine Unpacked, we speak with Professor Mohammed S. Dajani Daoudi, a Jerusalemite scholar and peace activist whose work has challenged entrenched narratives on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian divide. He holds doctorates from the University of South Carolina (1981) and the University of Texas at Austin (1984) and is a prolific author, having written numerous books and academic articles.

At a time when Islam is often misrepresented as being synonymous with extremism, Professor Dajani advocates for an interpretation of Islam that remains true to its Quranic foundations—one that champions freedom of religion, tolerance, reconciliation, coexistence, cooperation, compassion, empathy, and interfaith dialogue.

We hope this episode is both informative and deeply moving. If you enjoy conversations like this, subscribe to stay updated as we continue exploring personal narratives within this complex and deeply human conflict.

About Our Guest

Beyond his academic work, Professor Dajani has been a vocal advocate for Holocaust education in Palestinian society. In 2007, he founded the Wasatia Moderate Islamic Movement and the Wasatia Academic Institute. In 2012, he co-authored Holocaust: Human Agony to help educate Palestinians about the Holocaust.

His advocacy has not come without cost. In March 2014, he was forced to resign from his positions as Rector of Libraries and founding director of the American Studies Institute at Al-Quds University (2002–2014) after leading Palestinian students on an educational visit to Auschwitz. The trip, aimed at fostering empathy, compassion, and tolerance, provoked backlash—including death threats and the torching of his car.

Despite these challenges, Prof. Dajani's commitment to peace and dialogue has been widely recognized. In 2014, Tufts University honoured him with the Dr. Jean Mayer Global Citizenship Award for his efforts to combat extremism. From 2015 to 2017, he served as a Weston Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. More recently, in March 2023, the Austrian Parliament awarded him the Simon Wiesenthal Prize for his work against antisemitism. Later that year, in September, he received the Excellence in Leadership Award from Queens College, City University of New York.

What to Expect in This Episode

In this interview, we discuss his visit to Auschwitz with Palestinian students, the challenges of dialogue within Palestinian society, the role of political Islam in shaping Palestinian identity today, and the founding of Al-Wasatia as an advocate for education as a tool for peace.

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Email: israelpalestineunpacked@gmail.com

Additionally, if you know anyone who you feel would like to be interviewed or possibly fits the description, please do not hesitate to get in contact.

Pádraig

‘Israel & Palestine Unpacked’ is a podcast that is dedicated to exploring the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.

Coming up in today’s episode we meet Jonny Clark. Jonny is the Programme Manager for Public Theology within the Corrymeela Community, Ireland’s oldest peace centre.

Corrymeela was founded in 1965 by Ray Davey and a group of university students. Based in a town called Ballycastle on the North Coast of Northern Ireland it is a place that provides for dialogue, healing and community building, particularly in the context of sectarian divisions.

Today, Corrymeela continues its work, addressing Contemporary issues such as migration, trauma and identity, striving to create a more peaceful and inclusive society.

I would like to extend special thanks to Connaire McCullough for taking the time and effort to edit these interviews during this particularly busy period in my life.

Jonny has worked in peacebuilding and reconciliation for 25 years, both in Belfast and in post-conflict contexts around the world. His work has focused on fostering dialogue, understanding, and healing in divided communities.

In 2018, he produced a documentary titled Guardians of the Flame, along with an accompanying podcast of the same name. The film explores the experiences of three individuals who were directly impacted by Northern Ireland’s conflict,highlighting their personal journeys, struggles, and hopes for peace. Through this project, Jonny aimed to shed light on the power of reconciliation and the resilience of those affected by violence.

In this interview, we speak with Jonny about his involvement in Corrymeela. We explore the role of faith as a tool for conflict resolution and how it can serve as a positive social force to improve the lives of Israelis and Palestinians while fostering inclusive societies.

Twitter/X: @IAPUnpacked

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558747507898

Email: israelpalestineunpacked@gmail.com

Additionally, if you know anyone who you feel would like to be interviewed or possibly fits the description, please do not hesitate to get in contact.

Pádraig

‘Israel & Palestine Unpacked’ is an exciting podcast that is dedicated to exploring the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.

Hani Description

In our first interview, we have the pleasure of speaking with Hani, a fascinating individual who describes himself as half Palestinian and half European. With a love for languages, Hani is something of a polyglot, fluent in English, Arabic, Turkish, Hungarian, Romanian, German, and Italian. His linguistic abilities reflect his diverse background and enable him to connect with people from a wide range of cultures.

Hani views himself as a bridge between Eastern and Western cultures, believing that his unique heritage and language skills allow him to foster understanding and dialogue between different worlds. However, he expresses a sense of disappointment that, despite their curiosity, many people are hesitant to cross cultural bridges and engage with unfamiliar perspectives. More troubling to him is the observation that some are determined to demolish these bridges altogether, rejecting opportunities for meaningful connection and mutual respect.

Paula Description

Paula was born in South Africa and moved to Israel at the age of 12. She spent 18 years there, living on a kibbutz in the centre of the country. Since leaving Israel, she has resided in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where she lives with her partner and daughter.

She holds a degree in community theatre from Tel Aviv University and a Level 3 Certificate in Peace and Reconciliation. Passionate about progressive Judaism, she is working towards a lay reader's certificate, which trains her to lead Jewish prayers through Liberal Judaism UK.

In our interview, we discuss how her experience of living in conflict zones has shaped her understanding of conflict, what she means by being a "critical friend to Israel," and what she would say to Israelis and Palestinians in light of her personal experience with Northern Ireland’s imperfect peace.

Twitter/X: @IAPUnpacked

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558747507898

Email: israelpalestineunpacked@gmail.com

Additionally, if you know anyone who you feel would like to be interviewed or possibly fits the description, please do not hesitate to get in contact.

Pádraig

‘Israel & Palestine Unpacked’ is an exciting podcast that is dedicated to exploring the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.

Daliah Description

In our first interview, we speak to Daliah, a 41-year-old mother from Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip. She describes herself as having "two wonderful sons who are" her ‘’greatest joy’’. After enduring four harrowing months of violence, killing, and starvation in the Gaza Strip, she managed to leave her homeland.

At present, she is residing in Cairo, seeking safety and stability for her family. Her journey has been filled with immense challenges, yet she remains a proud Gazan determined to build a brighter future for her children.

Kemi Description

In our second interview, we sit down with Kemi, born in London to Israeli and South African parents, who grew up in a secular household. Her upbringing, rooted in a multicultural background, nurtured a deep appreciation for diverse cultures and traditions. In 2010, after completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology, Kemi made the pivotal decision to move to Israel, driven by a desire to reconnect with her roots and start a new chapter in her life.

She spent five years serving in the IDF, an experience that deepened her understanding of Israeli culture while exposing her to the complexities and challenges of Israeli society. Early in her journey, Kemi met her husband, and today they raise two children in central Israel.

The balancing act of motherhood amidst ongoing conflicts has significantly shaped her perspectives on society and politics, offering a unique lens on resilience and identity in Israel.

Twitter/X: @IAPUnpacked Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558747507898 Email: israelpalestineunpacked@gmail.com Additionally, if you know anyone who you feel would like to be interviewed or possibly fits the description, please do not hesitate to get in contact. Pádraig

‘Israel & Palestine Unpacked’ is an exciting podcast that is dedicated to exploring the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.

Galit Interview Details In our first interview, we speak with Galit, an Israeli-American with dual citizenship. She was born to a mother who was a Holocaust refugee and a father, a native Israeli, born during the later years of the British Mandate for Palestine.
Galit has lived in both Israel and the U.S. and holds degrees from Columbia and Harvard Universities, where she studied Computer Science and Math Education, respectively. She is married and has six children, ranging in age from 14 to 31.

Seema Interview Details In our second interview, we speak with Seema, a Palestinian-American born in Amman, Jordan, and a descendant of the Dajani family, a prominent Jerusalemite lineage with over five centuries of history in the land.
Political unrest in Mandate Palestine forced her family to resettle in Amman, where she was born. After the Six-Day War in 1967, they emigrated to the United States in search of new opportunities.
In the U.S., Seema embraced her Middle Eastern heritage and underwent a faith conversion to Christianity, deepening her understanding of the Holy Land and its people. She is now the co-founder of a German-Palestinian-Jewish dialogue group dedicated to fostering reconciliation through faith.
In this interview, we explore how Seema remains connected to her Palestinian roots, navigates her Arab-American identity, and approaches the complexities of Israel and Palestine.