1 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:09,880 Speaker 1: Who who, and welcome to it could happen here. My 2 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:14,840 Speaker 1: name is Sharene and today you are stuck with me. Yes, 3 00:00:15,920 --> 00:00:18,960 Speaker 1: what a treat for all of you beautiful people out there. 4 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:21,720 Speaker 1: I've been wanting to do an episode about the World 5 00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:23,759 Speaker 1: Cup for a while, but I felt like there was 6 00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:26,720 Speaker 1: just so much to cover, and it was also happening 7 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:29,280 Speaker 1: in real time, so I wanted to wait a bit 8 00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:32,640 Speaker 1: so I could have enough stuff to pull from. I 9 00:00:32,760 --> 00:00:36,519 Speaker 1: will say I am recording this on Monday, December nineteenth. 10 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:41,159 Speaker 1: It is the day after the weekend where France lost 11 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:45,200 Speaker 1: to Argentina, and Argentina are now our World Cup champions. 12 00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:49,960 Speaker 1: I'm happy about that. And then Morocco did lose last 13 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:54,720 Speaker 1: week to France, which was devastating to me and my 14 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:56,920 Speaker 1: family and the rest of the Arab world because we 15 00:00:56,960 --> 00:00:59,720 Speaker 1: would have loved to see them beat their colonizers, but 16 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:02,760 Speaker 1: they got really far, and I want to talk about 17 00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:06,440 Speaker 1: the impact that that's had. They did coming forth when 18 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:10,040 Speaker 1: they lost to Croatia this weekend as well, so just 19 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:13,360 Speaker 1: in case y'all needed to know that. But I will 20 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:18,399 Speaker 1: say I am really happy for Argentina, and maybe it 21 00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:22,200 Speaker 1: was because Morocco lost to France, but I wasn't mad 22 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:26,880 Speaker 1: seeing France losing, and all the celebrations I've seen from 23 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:32,360 Speaker 1: people celebrating Argentina have been so heartwarming and yeah, but anyway, 24 00:01:32,600 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 1: I wanted to focus on something that I think has 25 00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:40,640 Speaker 1: been so unprecedented and beautiful and singular and I think 26 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:45,360 Speaker 1: deserves more coverage, and that is this show of Palestinian 27 00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:48,680 Speaker 1: solidarity that has been happening during the World Cup. It 28 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:51,040 Speaker 1: is so cool, and I want to talk about why 29 00:01:51,080 --> 00:01:54,640 Speaker 1: it's happening, the circumstances that could lead to this happening, 30 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 1: and what it means, because I think it's very significant 31 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:03,280 Speaker 1: moving forward, what it comes to Palestinian rights since Palestinian support. 32 00:02:03,760 --> 00:02:07,640 Speaker 1: So let's get into it. There's a great article by 33 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:12,799 Speaker 1: British Palestinian writer Hamzalisha titled Palestine is the biggest winner 34 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:15,680 Speaker 1: at this year's World Cup. And this article did such 35 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:18,799 Speaker 1: a good job compiling some key moments, so I'm going 36 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 1: to be referencing from it a lot as we continue 37 00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:25,959 Speaker 1: this episode. Okay, here we go. Despite the Western media 38 00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:29,760 Speaker 1: doing its best to ignore it, the World Cup has 39 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:35,040 Speaker 1: seen a huge tidal wave of Palestinian solidarity and it's 40 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:38,040 Speaker 1: united the Arab world in a really special way, and 41 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:41,560 Speaker 1: also highlighted just how many people Arab and non Arab 42 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:46,280 Speaker 1: alike support the Palestinian cause and so, not to be 43 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:49,240 Speaker 1: too cheesy, the biggest winners of this World Cup, in 44 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:52,160 Speaker 1: my opinion, have even had a team at all competing, 45 00:02:52,520 --> 00:02:56,239 Speaker 1: and that's the Palestinians. The World Cup has been characterized 46 00:02:56,280 --> 00:03:01,400 Speaker 1: by unforeseeable developments and dramatic quote unquote up sets, which 47 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:04,320 Speaker 1: it's a word I don't even really like, even if 48 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:07,079 Speaker 1: it's grammatically correct when it's used in fucking sports jargon. 49 00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:09,040 Speaker 1: But I don't like it because it kind of sounds 50 00:03:09,040 --> 00:03:12,720 Speaker 1: like a bad thing because it's like upset who But really, 51 00:03:12,760 --> 00:03:14,919 Speaker 1: I think surprises like this are a really good thing 52 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:18,640 Speaker 1: because what these upsets usually mean is simply that the 53 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:21,800 Speaker 1: underdog one, which is a narrative I will always support. 54 00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:27,200 Speaker 1: So these surprises really started with Argentina's lost to Saudi Arabia, 55 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:32,160 Speaker 1: which shocked everyone. The faces in the stadium, draws on 56 00:03:32,240 --> 00:03:34,880 Speaker 1: the floor, everyone was shocked. I watched it with my mom. 57 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 1: It was it was incredible and it was truly a 58 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:41,720 Speaker 1: beautiful game. I highly recommend you at least watch some 59 00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:45,200 Speaker 1: clips from it. It was fucking cool. And I don't know, 60 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:48,200 Speaker 1: it came out of nowhere, was really beautiful. And after 61 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:51,760 Speaker 1: this victory, Kingston, man of Saudi Arabia, ordered that day 62 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:54,960 Speaker 1: that they won a public holiday. To say the least, 63 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:58,880 Speaker 1: everyone was losing their minds and these surprises seemed to 64 00:03:58,920 --> 00:04:02,080 Speaker 1: be endless in this World Cup, mostly because, as I said, 65 00:04:02,120 --> 00:04:06,840 Speaker 1: the obvious teams were losing to the underdogs. And coming 66 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:09,520 Speaker 1: out of this one of the most consistent themes has 67 00:04:09,600 --> 00:04:14,880 Speaker 1: been this overarching Palestinian solidarity that has unfolded, particularly among 68 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:20,880 Speaker 1: fans of Arab nations. World Cup was already significant on 69 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:24,320 Speaker 1: its own. It's held Inta, making it the first World 70 00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:26,400 Speaker 1: Cup to be held in the Arab world in the 71 00:04:26,480 --> 00:04:30,040 Speaker 1: Muslim world, and only the second held entirely in Asia 72 00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:34,279 Speaker 1: after the two thousand two tournaments in South Korea and Japan. 73 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:40,240 Speaker 1: The Arab world is obsessed with soccer. An understatement to 74 00:04:40,279 --> 00:04:43,599 Speaker 1: say obsessed, I should you not. It's a huge part 75 00:04:43,839 --> 00:04:46,960 Speaker 1: of Arab culture, Middle Eastern culture, and so this was 76 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 1: already a huge deal to start with. And I think 77 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:53,320 Speaker 1: these two things together, the fact that it's very cultural 78 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:55,760 Speaker 1: and the fact that this is the first time it's 79 00:04:55,839 --> 00:04:58,800 Speaker 1: been on an Arab stage I think these two things 80 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:02,760 Speaker 1: together created seed for Arabs and Middle Easterners to really 81 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:06,800 Speaker 1: come together in a way we've never really seen. And 82 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:09,880 Speaker 1: this first World Cup in the Arab World has captured 83 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:14,440 Speaker 1: in this symbolic way, this reality where Western powers have 84 00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:18,679 Speaker 1: receded in the face of their challengers Morocco. They reached 85 00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:23,240 Speaker 1: the semifinals and they played France, their colonizers, which was 86 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:28,920 Speaker 1: so symbolic. Saudi Arabia humiliated one of the tournament favorites, Argentina, 87 00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:31,800 Speaker 1: and then Tunisia did the same to its former colonizer 88 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:38,520 Speaker 1: France Japan. They beat Germany and Spain. This traditional power 89 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 1: and balance in global soccer and what it means for geopolitics, 90 00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:45,760 Speaker 1: I feel like it can no longer be taken for 91 00:05:45,839 --> 00:05:50,680 Speaker 1: granted or ignored. As many as five million Moroccans live abroad, 92 00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:54,440 Speaker 1: mostly in Europe, and they've celebrated the team's victories in 93 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:58,720 Speaker 1: huge street celebrations in France and Belgium and Spain and 94 00:05:58,760 --> 00:06:03,080 Speaker 1: the Netherlands, and just internationally. For Moroccans living outside of 95 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:06,719 Speaker 1: Morocco and for so many other migrants from the Arab 96 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:11,159 Speaker 1: world or Africa, they've been driven by decades of desperation 97 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:14,640 Speaker 1: in their home countries to risk everything to reach Europe, 98 00:06:14,880 --> 00:06:20,040 Speaker 1: only to suffer abuse and contempt. So this achievement after 99 00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:23,919 Speaker 1: achievement was a huge pivotal milestone. And I think this 100 00:06:24,120 --> 00:06:27,040 Speaker 1: drive has been coupled with the show of Palestinian pride 101 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:30,760 Speaker 1: in Clethod as well. There was no Palestinian team at 102 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:34,640 Speaker 1: the World Cup, and yet the Palestinian flag was everywhere, 103 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:39,120 Speaker 1: not only in the hands of celebrating Moroccan players and fans, 104 00:06:39,400 --> 00:06:42,599 Speaker 1: but also at every game and on the streets of Dacha, 105 00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:48,400 Speaker 1: and it was just overwhelming and so amazing to see. 106 00:06:49,440 --> 00:06:53,360 Speaker 1: And these displays they shocked some Israeli journalists, who had 107 00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 1: been assured by their own government that the U S 108 00:06:56,600 --> 00:07:00,640 Speaker 1: broker Abraham Accords that had happened between Israel and Morocco 109 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:04,080 Speaker 1: and other Arab states. They thought that this signaled that 110 00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:07,720 Speaker 1: the Arab world had relinquished any pretense of advocacy for 111 00:07:07,839 --> 00:07:12,360 Speaker 1: Palestinian rights. But as we see with a lot of sports, 112 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:17,120 Speaker 1: soccer creates its own form of civil society, and especially 113 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:21,000 Speaker 1: because it's a huge international game in a way that 114 00:07:21,040 --> 00:07:24,720 Speaker 1: no other sport really is, and also being played in 115 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:30,200 Speaker 1: a region where civil society has largely been suppressed by authoritarians. 116 00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:33,960 Speaker 1: It's made it clear in this World Cup that the 117 00:07:34,040 --> 00:07:37,600 Speaker 1: Arab public is not willing to follow their unelected leaders 118 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:41,360 Speaker 1: and accepting the brutality against Palestinians and what human rights 119 00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 1: organizations have called Israel's apartheid system a k a. Israel's 120 00:07:46,280 --> 00:07:51,480 Speaker 1: ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, violence, brutality, murder. The list can 121 00:07:51,520 --> 00:07:55,160 Speaker 1: go on. I'm sure you've heard me on my soapbox before, 122 00:07:55,840 --> 00:07:59,320 Speaker 1: but it always bears repeating. My point is that the 123 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:02,560 Speaker 1: Arab public and the people in these Arab nations do 124 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:06,400 Speaker 1: not represent and do not necessarily believe in these leaders 125 00:08:06,480 --> 00:08:11,720 Speaker 1: that again they did not elect. It's all authoritarian dictatorships 126 00:08:11,760 --> 00:08:15,920 Speaker 1: and just corrupt government that I mean, we can get 127 00:08:15,960 --> 00:08:19,960 Speaker 1: into history another time, but the disablement of so many 128 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:22,800 Speaker 1: of these governments have been because of the Western world, 129 00:08:23,080 --> 00:08:26,960 Speaker 1: say the least, I don't know, different episode. I'm getting distracted, sorry. 130 00:08:27,480 --> 00:08:30,280 Speaker 1: Even countries that did not qualify for the World Cup 131 00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:34,800 Speaker 1: are surging with this united pride and pro Palestinian sentiment. 132 00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:39,440 Speaker 1: The Palestinian cause is obviously near and dear to the 133 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:43,480 Speaker 1: hearts of many Arabs across the world. And again, not 134 00:08:43,640 --> 00:08:45,800 Speaker 1: only is this the first time the World Cup has 135 00:08:45,840 --> 00:08:48,880 Speaker 1: been hosted in an Arab country. It's also probably the 136 00:08:48,920 --> 00:08:51,560 Speaker 1: first time there has been such a large gathering and 137 00:08:51,640 --> 00:08:56,560 Speaker 1: concentration of Arabs across nationalities gathered all in one place. 138 00:08:57,520 --> 00:09:00,920 Speaker 1: And again at almost every single game, there have been 139 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:04,520 Speaker 1: fans holding the Palestinian flag or banners that say Free 140 00:09:04,559 --> 00:09:09,520 Speaker 1: Palestine in the stadium. In their matches against Australia and 141 00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:14,720 Speaker 1: Belgium respectively, Tunisia and Moroccan fans each unfurled a huge 142 00:09:14,840 --> 00:09:18,240 Speaker 1: Free Palestine flag in the forty eight minute, which is 143 00:09:18,360 --> 00:09:22,360 Speaker 1: very significant because this is in reference to the nineteen Necba, 144 00:09:22,520 --> 00:09:28,080 Speaker 1: which translates to the catastrophe. The Neckba deserves millions of 145 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:31,559 Speaker 1: episodes on its own, but essentially it was the mass 146 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:35,160 Speaker 1: expulsion and ethnic cleansing of at least seven hundred and 147 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:40,800 Speaker 1: fifty thousand Palestinian refugees in ninety eight when the state 148 00:09:40,880 --> 00:09:43,920 Speaker 1: of Israel was formed. A side note that I do 149 00:09:43,960 --> 00:09:47,600 Speaker 1: want to mention here is that there's an incredible film 150 00:09:47,640 --> 00:09:49,920 Speaker 1: on Netflix right now that you should all go watch. 151 00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:54,800 Speaker 1: It's called Fara f A r h A. It's about 152 00:09:54,920 --> 00:09:57,760 Speaker 1: the Neckba, and there's never been a film like this before. 153 00:09:58,160 --> 00:10:00,319 Speaker 1: And the Israeli government has been doing this like smear 154 00:10:00,360 --> 00:10:03,679 Speaker 1: campaigned against it and has been calling it all sorts 155 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:09,439 Speaker 1: of terrible things. But the other side, Palestinian supporters and Palestinians, 156 00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:13,559 Speaker 1: they've made it so successful. They've outdone the haters I 157 00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:15,560 Speaker 1: guess to say the least, and it's doing really well. 158 00:10:15,640 --> 00:10:17,960 Speaker 1: And it's because of these supporters that is doing so well. 159 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:21,240 Speaker 1: So I mean, sorry to get a little bit tangential here, 160 00:10:21,280 --> 00:10:24,680 Speaker 1: but I really encourage you to watch Fudha on Netflix 161 00:10:24,760 --> 00:10:28,319 Speaker 1: right now. There's never been a film about this catastrophe 162 00:10:28,600 --> 00:10:32,240 Speaker 1: the NBA, so I highly encourage everyone to watch or 163 00:10:32,280 --> 00:10:34,320 Speaker 1: even just like put it on in the background while 164 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:37,440 Speaker 1: you're doing something else so it counts as views. Just 165 00:10:37,520 --> 00:10:39,960 Speaker 1: keep supporting it. I I think this is a really 166 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:43,360 Speaker 1: important time and it feels really significant that this is 167 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:46,680 Speaker 1: all happening at the same time. So anyway, go watch 168 00:10:46,760 --> 00:10:50,559 Speaker 1: that film. But Tunisia and Moroccan fans each at the 169 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:54,640 Speaker 1: forty minute, in reference to this catastrophe, they unfurled this 170 00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:59,120 Speaker 1: huge free Palestine flag, and by waving that Palestinian flag, 171 00:10:59,280 --> 00:11:04,040 Speaker 1: Moroccan ends and players expressed a very public descent from 172 00:11:04,080 --> 00:11:07,000 Speaker 1: the choices of their government and of the Western Powers 173 00:11:07,080 --> 00:11:10,000 Speaker 1: and as well as other Arab autocrats to abandon the 174 00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:13,800 Speaker 1: Palestinians to their fate, and as they advanced, Morocco was 175 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:17,680 Speaker 1: able to sustain the attention on these issues, and their 176 00:11:17,679 --> 00:11:20,280 Speaker 1: players proved time and time again that they are more 177 00:11:20,320 --> 00:11:24,880 Speaker 1: than deserving to be playing on this world stage. Morocco 178 00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:27,920 Speaker 1: was also the first African team to make the semifinals 179 00:11:27,960 --> 00:11:30,600 Speaker 1: of the World Cup, which is also a significant achievement 180 00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:32,920 Speaker 1: and a lovely slap in the face to anyone who 181 00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:37,199 Speaker 1: doubted them. The Moroccan defense was incredible, maybe some of 182 00:11:37,240 --> 00:11:41,760 Speaker 1: the best defense I've ever seen, but due to soccer's globalization, 183 00:11:42,160 --> 00:11:45,240 Speaker 1: the top players in soccer have for decades all played 184 00:11:45,280 --> 00:11:48,840 Speaker 1: in Europe's elite leagues, and this was the first World 185 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:52,679 Speaker 1: Cup in which all five African teams were coached by 186 00:11:52,760 --> 00:11:57,440 Speaker 1: African coaches rather than by European ones, and Morocco's coach 187 00:11:57,480 --> 00:12:01,280 Speaker 1: in particular appears to have made in a exceptionable difference. 188 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:06,240 Speaker 1: During Tunisia's game against France, a Genesian fan ran onto 189 00:12:06,240 --> 00:12:09,720 Speaker 1: the pitch and he waved a Palestinian flag, cart wheeling 190 00:12:09,760 --> 00:12:14,360 Speaker 1: in the process. The crowd erupted into chance of Palestine 191 00:12:14,480 --> 00:12:17,440 Speaker 1: as he was dragged away by security and in a 192 00:12:17,480 --> 00:12:21,400 Speaker 1: different match at the stadium, fans chanted with spirit and blood, 193 00:12:21,520 --> 00:12:25,040 Speaker 1: we will redeem you Old Palestine. They chanted this in Arabic. 194 00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:29,280 Speaker 1: And this occurred on the International Day of Solidarity with 195 00:12:29,320 --> 00:12:33,640 Speaker 1: the Palestinian People November twenty nine, and it felt very poetic. 196 00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:38,280 Speaker 1: And then when Morocco knocked the former champions Spain out 197 00:12:38,280 --> 00:12:41,800 Speaker 1: of the tournament, the Moroccan team posed for the standard 198 00:12:41,840 --> 00:12:45,679 Speaker 1: celebratory team photo and instead of holding the Moroccan flag, 199 00:12:45,920 --> 00:12:49,800 Speaker 1: they all held a Palestinian one. A winning team holding 200 00:12:49,880 --> 00:12:54,040 Speaker 1: up the flag of another country has literally never happened before, 201 00:12:54,880 --> 00:12:57,800 Speaker 1: and the fact that it's a Palestinian flag, I don't know, 202 00:12:57,840 --> 00:13:02,280 Speaker 1: man chills. I'm upset, obsessed, but okay, I feel like 203 00:13:02,280 --> 00:13:04,640 Speaker 1: I'm going to get more rambily and distracted, So before 204 00:13:04,679 --> 00:13:07,560 Speaker 1: I do that, let's take a break. I could not 205 00:13:07,679 --> 00:13:11,040 Speaker 1: think of a witty segue to get there, but here 206 00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:24,920 Speaker 1: are some ads. Okay, we're back. I also wanted to 207 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:29,000 Speaker 1: mention what, in my opinion, is the most iconic image 208 00:13:29,080 --> 00:13:35,040 Speaker 1: of the World Cup, and that is when Baracco's Sophia 209 00:13:35,080 --> 00:13:38,679 Speaker 1: and Buffal was dancing with his mom after his team's 210 00:13:38,840 --> 00:13:43,559 Speaker 1: brilliant upset victory over Portugal in the quarterfinals. They were 211 00:13:43,679 --> 00:13:47,080 Speaker 1: dancing and happy, and she's wearing a hijab, and it 212 00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:54,079 Speaker 1: was just this pure display of joy and um. It 213 00:13:54,240 --> 00:13:56,600 Speaker 1: just it felt really familiar to me, and it felt 214 00:13:56,640 --> 00:13:58,840 Speaker 1: that way to a lot of Middle Easterners and Arabs 215 00:13:58,880 --> 00:14:03,520 Speaker 1: and Moroccans. This moment, this dancing between him and his mom, 216 00:14:03,640 --> 00:14:06,800 Speaker 1: it was a statement of pride and of priorities and 217 00:14:06,840 --> 00:14:11,040 Speaker 1: a reminder that as the mother of another great football player, 218 00:14:11,400 --> 00:14:15,600 Speaker 1: Zenna Dean's Don, she once said that quote, some things 219 00:14:15,640 --> 00:14:19,160 Speaker 1: are bigger than football. Buffall and his mother, like the 220 00:14:19,200 --> 00:14:23,480 Speaker 1: majority of Morocco's players and coaches, they live in European cities, 221 00:14:23,960 --> 00:14:28,640 Speaker 1: and they're part of that continent's vast, marginalized and embattled 222 00:14:28,640 --> 00:14:33,240 Speaker 1: migrant underclass. Again, she wore a hijab, something that she 223 00:14:33,280 --> 00:14:36,040 Speaker 1: would be barred from doing if she was a teacher 224 00:14:36,160 --> 00:14:39,960 Speaker 1: or a public servant in France. Against all of that, 225 00:14:40,440 --> 00:14:43,240 Speaker 1: this moment on the field was captured in a moment 226 00:14:43,360 --> 00:14:48,400 Speaker 1: of unbridled joy. It was so pure and so human 227 00:14:49,120 --> 00:14:52,520 Speaker 1: and just reminded everyone, I hope reminded me and my 228 00:14:52,640 --> 00:14:56,440 Speaker 1: family of who we are. And again, I think this 229 00:14:56,520 --> 00:14:59,800 Speaker 1: is really significant when you think about the geopolitical implications 230 00:14:59,840 --> 00:15:03,200 Speaker 1: that we've seen during these games, with countries like Morocco 231 00:15:03,480 --> 00:15:06,720 Speaker 1: playing against the teams of the countries that colonize them 232 00:15:06,760 --> 00:15:10,360 Speaker 1: AKA when they played with France, it really feels like 233 00:15:10,360 --> 00:15:15,680 Speaker 1: this beautiful blossoming of culture against all odds of trying 234 00:15:15,720 --> 00:15:21,440 Speaker 1: to suppress it. So outside the stadiums, this theme remained 235 00:15:21,480 --> 00:15:25,160 Speaker 1: the same when it came to Palestinian solidarity. A Saudi 236 00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:29,160 Speaker 1: Arabian vendor selling flags of different countries, he went viral 237 00:15:29,200 --> 00:15:32,400 Speaker 1: after he was spotted giving customers an extra Palestinian flag 238 00:15:32,680 --> 00:15:35,280 Speaker 1: as a free gift with any purchase. And so this 239 00:15:35,400 --> 00:15:38,800 Speaker 1: uplifting message that has been repeated time and time again 240 00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:41,880 Speaker 1: during this World Cup is that Palestine can never be 241 00:15:41,960 --> 00:15:44,640 Speaker 1: removed from the hearts of the people. And there are 242 00:15:44,720 --> 00:15:47,960 Speaker 1: so many heartwarming videos like the one I mentioned, and 243 00:15:48,040 --> 00:15:51,040 Speaker 1: I urge everyone to follow Palestinian accounts to keep up 244 00:15:51,480 --> 00:15:54,560 Speaker 1: if you're curious. I know the World Cup is technically 245 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:59,440 Speaker 1: over now, but these videos are so fun and joyful 246 00:15:59,480 --> 00:16:03,800 Speaker 1: to watch. I really felt so much joy watching them. 247 00:16:03,800 --> 00:16:07,000 Speaker 1: This outpouring of support for Palestine is reminiscent of an 248 00:16:07,040 --> 00:16:09,800 Speaker 1: earlier time in history. When the Arab world was also 249 00:16:09,920 --> 00:16:13,920 Speaker 1: united in its support for Palestine. The Palestinian cause was 250 00:16:14,040 --> 00:16:16,920 Speaker 1: once a driving force in the policy direction of the 251 00:16:16,960 --> 00:16:20,000 Speaker 1: Arab world, and it reached its zenith in the nineteen 252 00:16:20,080 --> 00:16:23,920 Speaker 1: sixties when nations like Syria, Jordan in Egypt they went 253 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:27,280 Speaker 1: to war against Israel with the anti imperial objective of 254 00:16:27,360 --> 00:16:33,160 Speaker 1: regional Arab unity in Palestinian liberation. However, those aspirations were 255 00:16:33,200 --> 00:16:37,200 Speaker 1: stomped out in nineteen sixty seven when Israel quote unquote 256 00:16:37,440 --> 00:16:40,840 Speaker 1: one the Six Day War or the June War, which 257 00:16:40,920 --> 00:16:44,000 Speaker 1: is also known as the nineteen sixty seven Arab Israeli 258 00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:47,880 Speaker 1: War or the Third Arab Israeli War. Just a very 259 00:16:47,960 --> 00:16:51,880 Speaker 1: quick history lesson here. This war was fought between Israel 260 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:55,160 Speaker 1: and a coalition of Arab states, and it ended after 261 00:16:55,280 --> 00:16:59,480 Speaker 1: Israeli tanks and infantry advanced on a heavily fortified region 262 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:03,480 Speaker 1: of Syria called the Golden Heights. They successfully captured the 263 00:17:03,480 --> 00:17:06,720 Speaker 1: Goal and Heights. After this, the next day, on June 264 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:10,359 Speaker 1: tenth and nine, sixty seven, a U N brokered ceasefire 265 00:17:10,440 --> 00:17:13,359 Speaker 1: took effect and the Sixth Day War came to an 266 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:17,760 Speaker 1: abrupt end. The casualties between the two opposing sides are 267 00:17:17,800 --> 00:17:22,800 Speaker 1: basically incomparable. I'm gonna say some stats here, but despair 268 00:17:22,880 --> 00:17:26,400 Speaker 1: with me. Between seven hundred and seventy six and nine 269 00:17:26,480 --> 00:17:29,760 Speaker 1: hundred and eighty three Israelis were killed and four thousand 270 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:33,840 Speaker 1: and five hundred and seventeen were wounded. Fifteen Israeli soldiers 271 00:17:33,840 --> 00:17:40,120 Speaker 1: were captured. Arab casualties were far greater. Between nine thousand 272 00:17:40,119 --> 00:17:44,000 Speaker 1: and eight hundred and fifteen thousand Egyptian soldiers were listed 273 00:17:44,040 --> 00:17:47,800 Speaker 1: as killed or missing in action. An additional four thousand, 274 00:17:47,960 --> 00:17:52,120 Speaker 1: three hundred and thirty eight Egyptian soldiers were captured. Jordanian 275 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:55,359 Speaker 1: losses are estimated to be seven hundred killed in action 276 00:17:55,640 --> 00:17:59,280 Speaker 1: with another two thousand and five hundred wounded. The Syrians 277 00:17:59,280 --> 00:18:02,800 Speaker 1: were estimated to have sustained between a thousand and two thousand, 278 00:18:02,800 --> 00:18:06,040 Speaker 1: five hundred killed in action, between three hundred and sixty 279 00:18:06,119 --> 00:18:11,840 Speaker 1: seven and five Syrians were captured. It's an incomparable, an 280 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:15,560 Speaker 1: insurmountable loss, and I might go as far to say 281 00:18:15,600 --> 00:18:19,520 Speaker 1: it was a massacre because it was so unbalanced. Casualties 282 00:18:19,560 --> 00:18:21,879 Speaker 1: were also suffered by the u n e F, the 283 00:18:21,960 --> 00:18:25,600 Speaker 1: United Nations Emergency Force that was stationed on the Egyptian 284 00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:29,840 Speaker 1: side of the border. In three different episodes, Israeli forces 285 00:18:29,880 --> 00:18:33,040 Speaker 1: attacked a U n e F convoy as well as 286 00:18:33,119 --> 00:18:36,960 Speaker 1: camps in which un e F personnel were concentrated, as 287 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:39,840 Speaker 1: well as the un e F headquarters in Gaza, and 288 00:18:39,880 --> 00:18:44,200 Speaker 1: this resulted in one Brazilian peacekeeper and fourteen Indian officials 289 00:18:44,320 --> 00:18:48,320 Speaker 1: killed by Israeli forces, with an additional seventeen peacekeepers wounded 290 00:18:48,440 --> 00:18:52,919 Speaker 1: in both groups. That's your history lesson for today, at 291 00:18:52,960 --> 00:18:55,600 Speaker 1: least for now. But as you can't imagine that this 292 00:18:55,760 --> 00:18:59,200 Speaker 1: was a huge loss for the Arab world. In addition 293 00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:02,359 Speaker 1: to stealing the Olon Heights, this war led Israel to 294 00:19:02,440 --> 00:19:08,480 Speaker 1: seizing and occupying all remaining Palestinian territories, and as you 295 00:19:08,520 --> 00:19:12,080 Speaker 1: know or should know by now, Israel has maintained its 296 00:19:12,119 --> 00:19:15,320 Speaker 1: control of the land at the expense of the Palestinians, 297 00:19:15,640 --> 00:19:18,800 Speaker 1: with Arab leaders not able to do much in protest 298 00:19:18,880 --> 00:19:22,960 Speaker 1: over these years, especially after this nineteen sixty seven loss, 299 00:19:23,560 --> 00:19:28,080 Speaker 1: a lot of Arab leaders almost seemed indifferent. When we 300 00:19:28,119 --> 00:19:32,359 Speaker 1: fast forward to something happened that seemed like a decisive 301 00:19:32,400 --> 00:19:37,119 Speaker 1: death blow to the hopes of Palestinian solidarity in the 302 00:19:37,160 --> 00:19:40,639 Speaker 1: Abraham Accords were signed, and these were a series of 303 00:19:40,760 --> 00:19:45,200 Speaker 1: joint normalization statements between Israel and Arab countries that would 304 00:19:45,240 --> 00:19:49,440 Speaker 1: theoretically pave the way for increased business and diplomatic relations. 305 00:19:50,440 --> 00:19:53,720 Speaker 1: The implication was that Israel could afford to maintain it's 306 00:19:53,720 --> 00:19:57,040 Speaker 1: apartheid rule and still enjoy warm relations with the Arab 307 00:19:57,040 --> 00:20:01,320 Speaker 1: world because their politicians, too were be to willfully neglect 308 00:20:01,320 --> 00:20:07,040 Speaker 1: the Palestinians. Officials from Bhayan, the UAE, and Morocco all 309 00:20:07,160 --> 00:20:12,000 Speaker 1: signed the supposed quote unquote peace treaty with Israel. However, 310 00:20:12,560 --> 00:20:15,520 Speaker 1: as we've seen from this year's World Cup, the Arab 311 00:20:15,560 --> 00:20:20,040 Speaker 1: people do not agree with their politicians or their decisions. Again, 312 00:20:20,560 --> 00:20:24,320 Speaker 1: most of these decision makers are not elected by their people. 313 00:20:25,040 --> 00:20:27,320 Speaker 1: There's a lot of corruption at play, and I think 314 00:20:27,320 --> 00:20:30,600 Speaker 1: it's very important to always separate a government from its people, 315 00:20:31,280 --> 00:20:34,520 Speaker 1: as we're seeing, especially in Iran right now, which is 316 00:20:35,280 --> 00:20:38,679 Speaker 1: something that makes me very emotional and deserves to be 317 00:20:38,720 --> 00:20:41,000 Speaker 1: talked about more. I can't do a justice in this 318 00:20:41,040 --> 00:20:43,520 Speaker 1: one sentence, but I urge you all to keep spreading 319 00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:47,199 Speaker 1: awareness about Iran. Please. What they're doing to protesters is 320 00:20:47,240 --> 00:20:52,800 Speaker 1: inhumane and truly medieval. Recent polls indicate that the Arab 321 00:20:52,840 --> 00:20:57,280 Speaker 1: public widely disapproves of the Abraham Accords, strongly disagreeing with 322 00:20:57,320 --> 00:21:00,679 Speaker 1: the prospect of normalizing ties with Israel as long as 323 00:21:00,720 --> 00:21:04,440 Speaker 1: the Palestinians remain oppressed. But if there were still any 324 00:21:04,560 --> 00:21:09,160 Speaker 1: lingering doubts that these accords our bullshit had not wanted. 325 00:21:09,960 --> 00:21:13,639 Speaker 1: The experience of Israeli journalists and Clethod can be seen 326 00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:18,480 Speaker 1: as this decisive confirmation that the treatment of Palestinians will 327 00:21:18,480 --> 00:21:24,680 Speaker 1: actually be what dictate the trajectory of normalization. Israeli journalists 328 00:21:24,720 --> 00:21:29,440 Speaker 1: broadcasting live have been interrupted by rallies of people chanting 329 00:21:29,520 --> 00:21:34,359 Speaker 1: pro Palestinian slogans and waving Palestinian flags. An Egyptian man 330 00:21:34,440 --> 00:21:37,440 Speaker 1: went viral after he leaned into the camera and said, 331 00:21:37,760 --> 00:21:43,439 Speaker 1: live on Israeli television, Viva Palestine. Fans refusing to speak 332 00:21:43,480 --> 00:21:47,679 Speaker 1: to Israeli channels has also been a hilarious common occurrence. 333 00:21:48,280 --> 00:21:52,080 Speaker 1: One particular exchange included Moroccan fans posing for the camera 334 00:21:52,520 --> 00:21:55,840 Speaker 1: before swiftly walking off upon realizing it was for an 335 00:21:55,920 --> 00:22:00,399 Speaker 1: Israeli media outlet. The reporter's response was one of shock, 336 00:22:00,840 --> 00:22:04,400 Speaker 1: repeatedly citing that a piece agreement had been signed by Morocco, 337 00:22:04,800 --> 00:22:08,639 Speaker 1: thereby assuming that the Moroccan people themselves endorsed the notion 338 00:22:08,960 --> 00:22:14,480 Speaker 1: that Israel's crimes could be whitewashed and forgotten, and again 339 00:22:15,280 --> 00:22:18,119 Speaker 1: highly recommend you watch these videos. They have brought me 340 00:22:18,160 --> 00:22:22,600 Speaker 1: a joy that I haven't felt in literal years, and 341 00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:27,440 Speaker 1: it's just beautiful and most importantly hilarious to see. Highly recommend. 342 00:22:27,960 --> 00:22:31,040 Speaker 1: There are silver lining sometimes to life, and I feel 343 00:22:31,040 --> 00:22:33,560 Speaker 1: like there are enough terrible things happening where a little 344 00:22:33,640 --> 00:22:39,479 Speaker 1: joy is fine. And seeing Israeli journalists being accumulated, thank you, 345 00:22:39,640 --> 00:22:43,679 Speaker 1: thank you world. There's a thread on Twitter of World 346 00:22:43,720 --> 00:22:46,840 Speaker 1: Cup football fans refusing to speak to Israeli channels. I'll 347 00:22:46,840 --> 00:22:49,679 Speaker 1: try to put that in the note somewhere, but regardless, 348 00:22:49,760 --> 00:22:55,479 Speaker 1: highly recommend looking up these videos. Just again, beautiful, beautiful stuff. 349 00:22:56,320 --> 00:23:00,200 Speaker 1: And as I mentioned, Israeli journalists often seem bewildered as 350 00:23:00,200 --> 00:23:03,720 Speaker 1: to why they are being boycotted. An Israeli reporter told 351 00:23:03,760 --> 00:23:06,800 Speaker 1: The New York Times, I really changed my mind here. 352 00:23:07,640 --> 00:23:10,119 Speaker 1: We are not human beings for them. They want to 353 00:23:10,160 --> 00:23:14,200 Speaker 1: wipe us out from the map, which is obviously not true. 354 00:23:14,800 --> 00:23:17,639 Speaker 1: And language like this is one of many Zionist talking 355 00:23:17,680 --> 00:23:22,560 Speaker 1: points that are all stupid. And while Israeli journalists speculated 356 00:23:22,560 --> 00:23:25,760 Speaker 1: about being wiped out. That is, in fact, the lived 357 00:23:25,800 --> 00:23:30,800 Speaker 1: reality for Palestinians under Israeli rule. Also, there is a 358 00:23:30,880 --> 00:23:32,840 Speaker 1: video that was captured, and I'm sure there are many 359 00:23:32,880 --> 00:23:36,000 Speaker 1: more instances like this where it was not captured on video, 360 00:23:36,600 --> 00:23:40,600 Speaker 1: but the Israeli police were violently cracking down on Palestinians, 361 00:23:40,640 --> 00:23:45,439 Speaker 1: including children, who were celebrating Morocco's previous winds and occupied 362 00:23:45,480 --> 00:23:49,680 Speaker 1: East Jerusalem. They were celebrating Morocco becoming the first African 363 00:23:49,760 --> 00:23:53,720 Speaker 1: or air country to reach the semifinals, and they were 364 00:23:53,800 --> 00:23:57,080 Speaker 1: literally beaten up. There's no defense in this video. That's 365 00:23:57,080 --> 00:23:59,080 Speaker 1: the thing that I can't get over is the I 366 00:23:59,200 --> 00:24:01,360 Speaker 1: d F facts in a way that is so indefensible 367 00:24:01,760 --> 00:24:04,600 Speaker 1: and so obvious. And you can say that maybe the 368 00:24:04,640 --> 00:24:08,159 Speaker 1: similar things about the police here. It's mind blowing that 369 00:24:08,200 --> 00:24:13,080 Speaker 1: they've been able to terrorize Palestinians for basically a century now. 370 00:24:13,760 --> 00:24:17,560 Speaker 1: I also want to play this video. Well, you're gonna 371 00:24:17,600 --> 00:24:21,679 Speaker 1: hear the audio. There's a Palestinian activist online that I 372 00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:26,560 Speaker 1: really admire. He's always posting really great things, and he 373 00:24:26,760 --> 00:24:29,639 Speaker 1: sometimes post funny things which are very funny. But his 374 00:24:29,720 --> 00:24:35,160 Speaker 1: name is Saha and his handle is sp ei h 375 00:24:35,200 --> 00:24:38,560 Speaker 1: dot jpg and there is a video that he posted 376 00:24:38,600 --> 00:24:43,240 Speaker 1: about basically what Israel has been doing just throughout even 377 00:24:43,280 --> 00:24:46,639 Speaker 1: the past week when this World Cup is happening, and 378 00:24:46,680 --> 00:24:49,159 Speaker 1: I feel like he'll say it better than me paraphrasing it, 379 00:24:49,280 --> 00:24:51,879 Speaker 1: so here he is. Let's go through everything Israel has 380 00:24:51,920 --> 00:24:54,360 Speaker 1: been doing to Palestinians in the past week or so, 381 00:24:54,720 --> 00:24:57,800 Speaker 1: during all this hype of Morocco making it to the semifinals. 382 00:24:57,880 --> 00:25:00,400 Speaker 1: And these are the reasons why so many people are 383 00:25:00,480 --> 00:25:03,200 Speaker 1: carrying and waving the Palestinian flag at the World Cup 384 00:25:03,280 --> 00:25:06,160 Speaker 1: right now, including the Moroccan team after their matches. First, 385 00:25:06,160 --> 00:25:10,520 Speaker 1: we have Palestinians who are celebrating Morocco's winds being attacked 386 00:25:10,560 --> 00:25:13,320 Speaker 1: by Israeli occupation forces. They're out here waving the Morocco 387 00:25:13,400 --> 00:25:15,720 Speaker 1: flag trying to celebrate with them, and of course it 388 00:25:15,760 --> 00:25:18,280 Speaker 1: has to be cut short with Israeli soldiers coming and 389 00:25:18,600 --> 00:25:21,080 Speaker 1: hitting everyone. Then we have a sixteen year old child 390 00:25:21,160 --> 00:25:23,400 Speaker 1: named Jennez Kadine who was on the roof of her 391 00:25:23,400 --> 00:25:26,520 Speaker 1: house when she was shot in the face by Israeli 392 00:25:26,560 --> 00:25:29,479 Speaker 1: forces during another illegal raid of the city of Genine. 393 00:25:29,520 --> 00:25:32,000 Speaker 1: We have another sixteen year old Palestinian child, a boy 394 00:25:32,080 --> 00:25:35,119 Speaker 1: named Theei Maui, who was also killed by Israeli forces 395 00:25:35,160 --> 00:25:37,199 Speaker 1: in west of Romola. On top of those two, we 396 00:25:37,280 --> 00:25:41,119 Speaker 1: have four Palestinian men also killed by Israeli forces Jehad 397 00:25:41,160 --> 00:25:46,760 Speaker 1: Hamid Ladak damage and set. Israeli forces demolished another Palestinian 398 00:25:46,880 --> 00:25:50,480 Speaker 1: home in a town near Jericho, then another Palestine home 399 00:25:50,800 --> 00:25:54,600 Speaker 1: in the town of Laban. Israeli occupation forces fired tear 400 00:25:54,680 --> 00:25:58,159 Speaker 1: gas at journalists who were covering the Palestinian protests against 401 00:25:58,200 --> 00:26:01,159 Speaker 1: the illegal Israeli settlement X mansions in the town of 402 00:26:01,200 --> 00:26:04,160 Speaker 1: Bid Desion. You'd think that we're done, but there's more. 403 00:26:04,240 --> 00:26:07,240 Speaker 1: We have an Israeli soldier brutally beating a young Palestinian 404 00:26:07,280 --> 00:26:10,200 Speaker 1: man in Nablis. The soldier sits on top of him 405 00:26:10,320 --> 00:26:13,120 Speaker 1: and punches him in the head. And east of Hebron, 406 00:26:13,280 --> 00:26:18,600 Speaker 1: Israeli forces cut down fifty olive trees belonging to Palestinian farmers. 407 00:26:18,720 --> 00:26:22,080 Speaker 1: And of course Israeli settlers continue to break into an 408 00:26:22,160 --> 00:26:25,960 Speaker 1: ups some moss under the protection of Israeli occupation forces. 409 00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:29,199 Speaker 1: This is why everyone's living in the Palestinian flag at 410 00:26:29,200 --> 00:26:31,160 Speaker 1: the World Cup. This is why that tun Asian man 411 00:26:31,320 --> 00:26:34,520 Speaker 1: randomly ran through the match with the Palestinian flag, or 412 00:26:34,520 --> 00:26:38,080 Speaker 1: why Israeli reporters are being ignored and shunned. These are 413 00:26:38,119 --> 00:26:41,240 Speaker 1: the reasons. Why not because anti Semitism is because Israel 414 00:26:42,160 --> 00:26:45,000 Speaker 1: is literally killing Palestinians. You'd rather just blame it all 415 00:26:45,080 --> 00:26:49,040 Speaker 1: on anti Semitism instead of simply holding Israel accountable for 416 00:26:49,240 --> 00:26:52,359 Speaker 1: their actions. Everything I just listed happened in the past 417 00:26:52,440 --> 00:26:55,679 Speaker 1: like ten days, putting aside everything that Israel has been 418 00:26:55,680 --> 00:26:59,120 Speaker 1: doing the Palestinians for the past almost a hundred years now, 419 00:26:59,240 --> 00:27:02,639 Speaker 1: so don't be surprised when people stand with the people 420 00:27:02,640 --> 00:27:07,960 Speaker 1: of Palestine. Last week marked six months since El Jazira 421 00:27:08,040 --> 00:27:13,000 Speaker 1: journalist Sharine was assassinated by Israeli forces, and while her 422 00:27:13,040 --> 00:27:16,400 Speaker 1: death did attract more coverage than as usual in part 423 00:27:16,480 --> 00:27:19,239 Speaker 1: of her being an American citizen, it was unfortunately not 424 00:27:19,280 --> 00:27:24,639 Speaker 1: an exception. Since the year two thousand fifty, Palestinian journalists 425 00:27:24,640 --> 00:27:29,879 Speaker 1: have been murdered many many more civilians, including children, have 426 00:27:30,040 --> 00:27:34,640 Speaker 1: been murdered. So if media representatives or journalists from an 427 00:27:34,640 --> 00:27:37,800 Speaker 1: apartheid state can't seem to understand why the reception to 428 00:27:37,880 --> 00:27:41,480 Speaker 1: their presence has been so cold, they just are better 429 00:27:41,560 --> 00:27:44,399 Speaker 1: off examining why that is and why their government is 430 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:47,280 Speaker 1: actually the one attempting to wipe a people off the map. 431 00:27:47,920 --> 00:27:51,520 Speaker 1: Even in the weeks during this World Cup, Israel has 432 00:27:51,600 --> 00:27:56,639 Speaker 1: killed multiple Palestinians, has murdered multiple Palestinians. They killed a 433 00:27:56,720 --> 00:28:00,240 Speaker 1: sixteen year old girl when she was on her roof 434 00:28:00,320 --> 00:28:05,640 Speaker 1: searching for her cat. She was shot four times, twice 435 00:28:05,720 --> 00:28:09,679 Speaker 1: in the head. How can you justify that they're claiming 436 00:28:09,720 --> 00:28:13,240 Speaker 1: it was an accident. But it's similar to what police 437 00:28:13,240 --> 00:28:17,080 Speaker 1: say here when they shoot someone multiple times in the 438 00:28:17,160 --> 00:28:20,760 Speaker 1: back and then blame it on the person that they murdered, 439 00:28:20,800 --> 00:28:24,240 Speaker 1: in the family, that they destroyed X Y Z, etcetera, etcetera. 440 00:28:25,119 --> 00:28:27,639 Speaker 1: And just to put it in perspective, Israeli forces have 441 00:28:27,800 --> 00:28:32,639 Speaker 1: killed over two hundred and fifteen Palestinians this year, making 442 00:28:32,640 --> 00:28:36,480 Speaker 1: it the deadliest year and over a decade. Israel is 443 00:28:36,520 --> 00:28:39,760 Speaker 1: the one who does not see Palestinians, as has proven 444 00:28:39,840 --> 00:28:42,920 Speaker 1: time and time again by their actions as human beings. 445 00:28:53,640 --> 00:28:57,440 Speaker 1: Something so significant is that the public support of Palestinian 446 00:28:57,520 --> 00:29:01,560 Speaker 1: solidarity has not been confined to only fans of Arab nations. 447 00:29:02,000 --> 00:29:06,680 Speaker 1: Brazilian fans also proudly raised the Palestinian flag, and Uruguay 448 00:29:06,720 --> 00:29:10,160 Speaker 1: supporters have been spotted dotting the Kofeia, which is the 449 00:29:10,280 --> 00:29:13,400 Speaker 1: symbolic black and white scarf that has become a symbol 450 00:29:13,480 --> 00:29:17,720 Speaker 1: of Palestinian resistance. And they're also wearing pro Palestinian shirts 451 00:29:17,760 --> 00:29:22,800 Speaker 1: with fans insisting the Palestinian people deserve freedom. One clip 452 00:29:22,840 --> 00:29:25,720 Speaker 1: that also went viral and social media featured an English 453 00:29:25,720 --> 00:29:29,400 Speaker 1: fan who, during an interview with an Arabic channel, confessed 454 00:29:29,400 --> 00:29:31,920 Speaker 1: that as Arabic wasn't really that strong, and then he 455 00:29:31,960 --> 00:29:36,000 Speaker 1: shouted free Palestine and great Arabic and then he broke 456 00:29:36,040 --> 00:29:40,280 Speaker 1: into this free, free, free chant with everyone around him 457 00:29:40,320 --> 00:29:45,120 Speaker 1: again joyful, beautiful stuff. That just proves that this kind 458 00:29:45,160 --> 00:29:49,400 Speaker 1: of support works, and it grows and it spreads, and 459 00:29:49,480 --> 00:29:52,120 Speaker 1: so all of this really goes to show is that 460 00:29:52,160 --> 00:29:55,760 Speaker 1: while Arab governments have been normalizing relations with Israel, that 461 00:29:55,960 --> 00:29:59,320 Speaker 1: sentiment is not reflected in the streets, and Arabs and 462 00:29:59,360 --> 00:30:02,520 Speaker 1: non Arabs alike are more passionate than ever about the 463 00:30:02,560 --> 00:30:07,160 Speaker 1: Palestinian cause. Some Palestinians living in Cuthold have referred to 464 00:30:07,160 --> 00:30:10,960 Speaker 1: the World Cup as a quote golden opportunity to introduce 465 00:30:11,000 --> 00:30:14,920 Speaker 1: our cause, and this intent has been received enthusiastically, to 466 00:30:14,960 --> 00:30:19,000 Speaker 1: say the least. And yet in the face of such 467 00:30:19,040 --> 00:30:23,600 Speaker 1: an unavoidable talking point, there's been a striking, if not unsurprising, 468 00:30:23,720 --> 00:30:27,600 Speaker 1: radio silence from Western media. It's a huge reason why 469 00:30:27,640 --> 00:30:29,880 Speaker 1: I wanted to talk about this in an episode. I 470 00:30:29,960 --> 00:30:33,240 Speaker 1: found it so strange that my family and friends who 471 00:30:33,240 --> 00:30:36,160 Speaker 1: were tuned into the World Cup, we're constantly talking about 472 00:30:36,240 --> 00:30:39,000 Speaker 1: something that hasn't been covered at all by Western media, 473 00:30:39,360 --> 00:30:42,600 Speaker 1: at least not in a real honest way. If anything, 474 00:30:42,960 --> 00:30:48,960 Speaker 1: the World Cup has ignited a Islamophobic and orientalists tropes 475 00:30:49,200 --> 00:30:53,400 Speaker 1: in some Western news coverage, which I think is so shameful. 476 00:30:53,680 --> 00:30:55,640 Speaker 1: For example, I'm going to go through a little list 477 00:30:56,120 --> 00:31:00,920 Speaker 1: that Al Jazeera shared. A Dutch newspaper blished a cartoon 478 00:31:01,080 --> 00:31:06,000 Speaker 1: of Moroccan men stealing the World Cup trophy. And this image, 479 00:31:06,000 --> 00:31:10,160 Speaker 1: they're on a bike and they're grabbing this trophy from 480 00:31:10,240 --> 00:31:15,000 Speaker 1: a white man. They're depicted as not white, obviously, and 481 00:31:15,880 --> 00:31:19,920 Speaker 1: it just reinforces these stereotypes of young Arab men in 482 00:31:19,960 --> 00:31:25,840 Speaker 1: the Netherlands being seen as criminals. Another example is okay, 483 00:31:25,880 --> 00:31:30,680 Speaker 1: so when Muslims put up an index finger, it's what 484 00:31:30,760 --> 00:31:35,680 Speaker 1: we call dak weed, which is to signify the oneness 485 00:31:35,760 --> 00:31:40,280 Speaker 1: of God, because Islam there's only one God. Just like 486 00:31:40,320 --> 00:31:44,120 Speaker 1: all the Big Three as far as religions go. But 487 00:31:44,440 --> 00:31:47,960 Speaker 1: when these Muslim teams are winning, the gestures from the players, 488 00:31:48,000 --> 00:31:50,800 Speaker 1: like sometimes you'll see a player raising an index finger 489 00:31:50,920 --> 00:31:54,120 Speaker 1: or raising two index fingers, and so this fucking German 490 00:31:54,160 --> 00:31:59,360 Speaker 1: TV news anchor responded to Morocco success by suggesting that 491 00:31:59,400 --> 00:32:02,320 Speaker 1: these players that are raising their index fingers are showing 492 00:32:02,360 --> 00:32:05,800 Speaker 1: support for ISIS. And some fans have responded to this 493 00:32:05,840 --> 00:32:08,240 Speaker 1: with humor, but at the same time it's like you're 494 00:32:08,360 --> 00:32:13,280 Speaker 1: laughing only because it's sad and maddening. Another example is 495 00:32:13,320 --> 00:32:17,360 Speaker 1: a cartoon in a French newspaper. It depicted Cathos national 496 00:32:17,480 --> 00:32:22,480 Speaker 1: team as bearded caricatures that were playing soccer holding rifles 497 00:32:22,520 --> 00:32:28,240 Speaker 1: and machetes. Is such an ugly cartoon and I have 498 00:32:28,400 --> 00:32:31,880 Speaker 1: no idea why they insist on making these artistic depictions. 499 00:32:31,920 --> 00:32:34,360 Speaker 1: I think they know because it's gone people riled up 500 00:32:34,400 --> 00:32:37,680 Speaker 1: in the past. It's almost like they're like poking the bear. 501 00:32:38,480 --> 00:32:41,360 Speaker 1: So it's kind of annoying. That's so childish in my opinion, 502 00:32:42,080 --> 00:32:47,080 Speaker 1: but again, terrible depiction of Arabs. What's new. And then 503 00:32:47,120 --> 00:32:50,760 Speaker 1: another example is a photo caption in a British newspaper 504 00:32:51,040 --> 00:32:54,200 Speaker 1: stated that Cathodes are not used to seeing women in 505 00:32:54,320 --> 00:32:58,480 Speaker 1: Western clothing, when in reality about eight seven percent of 506 00:32:58,520 --> 00:33:03,800 Speaker 1: Cathos population is other countries, including Western ones, and this 507 00:33:03,840 --> 00:33:08,520 Speaker 1: caption was later removed. Another example, yes there's still more, 508 00:33:09,320 --> 00:33:13,040 Speaker 1: is that a French journalist joked about there being a 509 00:33:13,200 --> 00:33:16,000 Speaker 1: lot of Mosques in clod as if that was something 510 00:33:16,120 --> 00:33:19,560 Speaker 1: like notable to be aware of. Yeah, no ship, people 511 00:33:19,560 --> 00:33:24,800 Speaker 1: are sucking Muslim And then a Danish TV channel literally 512 00:33:24,840 --> 00:33:28,640 Speaker 1: compared Morocco's players who were celebrating by hugging their mothers 513 00:33:28,640 --> 00:33:32,680 Speaker 1: on the field, they compared them with monkeys. On live 514 00:33:32,760 --> 00:33:36,840 Speaker 1: television TV two news. They showed a segment in which 515 00:33:36,920 --> 00:33:40,080 Speaker 1: the anchor Sore and Lippert he held up an image 516 00:33:40,080 --> 00:33:44,320 Speaker 1: of monkeys embracing while talking about Morocco's national team players 517 00:33:44,400 --> 00:33:48,560 Speaker 1: hugging their mothers. And while comparing black and brown people 518 00:33:48,640 --> 00:33:54,560 Speaker 1: with monkeys is a common, unsurprising racist trope, it was 519 00:33:54,600 --> 00:33:57,680 Speaker 1: still pretty upsetting to see what happened in this year 520 00:33:57,720 --> 00:34:02,800 Speaker 1: of two whatever. I just the obvious orientalist nature of 521 00:34:02,840 --> 00:34:06,640 Speaker 1: Western news really um came out in full force for 522 00:34:06,680 --> 00:34:10,000 Speaker 1: some of this coverage. But yeah, I just think these 523 00:34:10,160 --> 00:34:14,000 Speaker 1: kind of depictions and coverage it reinforces stereotypes that are 524 00:34:14,000 --> 00:34:19,520 Speaker 1: harmful and shameful, and it further makes immigrants and people 525 00:34:19,600 --> 00:34:24,560 Speaker 1: of color in countries that they immigranate to just get terrorized. 526 00:34:24,719 --> 00:34:27,560 Speaker 1: And I just wanted to bring up some examples to 527 00:34:27,640 --> 00:34:30,799 Speaker 1: remind you that news sucks most of the time. Okay, 528 00:34:31,040 --> 00:34:34,000 Speaker 1: the World Cup and all the joy and pride that's 529 00:34:34,040 --> 00:34:37,000 Speaker 1: come from it is all my family, and I'm sure 530 00:34:37,080 --> 00:34:39,760 Speaker 1: most air families have talked about for the last month, 531 00:34:40,760 --> 00:34:44,359 Speaker 1: and I feel like it barely registers here. You have 532 00:34:44,480 --> 00:34:49,160 Speaker 1: no idea how happy I've seen my parents, and my 533 00:34:49,280 --> 00:34:52,560 Speaker 1: mom in particular, just text me updates, are watching a 534 00:34:52,640 --> 00:34:55,879 Speaker 1: game with me. We're all so united in a way 535 00:34:55,920 --> 00:34:59,640 Speaker 1: that I haven't felt before, and it's just really beautiful. 536 00:34:59,640 --> 00:35:01,680 Speaker 1: And I and do that borders are all made up 537 00:35:01,680 --> 00:35:04,080 Speaker 1: and in the end, we're all the same people fighting 538 00:35:04,080 --> 00:35:09,160 Speaker 1: for the same things. Notoriously, large sections of US and 539 00:35:09,200 --> 00:35:12,760 Speaker 1: British media have engaged in the practice at deceptive framing 540 00:35:13,040 --> 00:35:17,120 Speaker 1: and untrue coverage when it comes to covering Israel's treatment 541 00:35:17,160 --> 00:35:22,040 Speaker 1: of Palestinians. We've seen this in inaccurate headlines, the twisting 542 00:35:22,080 --> 00:35:25,839 Speaker 1: of words, and the general constant anti Palestinian and pro 543 00:35:26,080 --> 00:35:30,200 Speaker 1: Israel bias that is almost always present when Western media 544 00:35:30,239 --> 00:35:35,680 Speaker 1: talks about Palestine, and if Palestine rises in the political agenda, 545 00:35:36,239 --> 00:35:39,879 Speaker 1: western media is quick to disparage it. In the UK, 546 00:35:40,320 --> 00:35:43,879 Speaker 1: when a Labor Party candidate made reference to Palestine during 547 00:35:43,880 --> 00:35:48,960 Speaker 1: a campaign in one the liberal leaning New Statesman magazine 548 00:35:49,360 --> 00:35:54,720 Speaker 1: referred to it as quote unhinged and an obsession. British 549 00:35:54,719 --> 00:35:59,600 Speaker 1: Palestinian writer again Hamas Alisha writes in his article do 550 00:35:59,760 --> 00:36:04,480 Speaker 1: p will suffering from decades of cruelty deserve support? Apparently 551 00:36:04,520 --> 00:36:08,920 Speaker 1: not if they're Palestinian. It's characteristic of this bias that 552 00:36:09,320 --> 00:36:11,920 Speaker 1: while human rights have been a hot topic throughout the 553 00:36:11,920 --> 00:36:15,040 Speaker 1: World Cup and fans across the world are being commanded 554 00:36:15,040 --> 00:36:19,520 Speaker 1: to speak out against injustice, the outpouring of Palestinian solidarity 555 00:36:19,840 --> 00:36:26,360 Speaker 1: has largely been ignored. And this, unfortunately isn't surprising, but 556 00:36:26,480 --> 00:36:30,920 Speaker 1: doesn't make it any less disappointing, he continues, As it 557 00:36:31,000 --> 00:36:35,960 Speaker 1: maintains its rule, Israel has spent years, with unconditional assistance 558 00:36:36,000 --> 00:36:40,600 Speaker 1: from the Western world, cracking down and suppressing Palestinian solidarity. 559 00:36:40,960 --> 00:36:43,920 Speaker 1: We are under no illusions that the outpouring of support 560 00:36:43,960 --> 00:36:47,080 Speaker 1: at the World Cup will cause the occupation to grind 561 00:36:47,080 --> 00:36:51,000 Speaker 1: to a halt or prevent Palestinians from being killed. As 562 00:36:51,000 --> 00:36:54,320 Speaker 1: a British Palestinian, he says, I often see the misery 563 00:36:54,360 --> 00:36:57,360 Speaker 1: of my family who are living under occupation gets swept 564 00:36:57,440 --> 00:37:01,200 Speaker 1: under the carpet by the international community. As a result, 565 00:37:01,560 --> 00:37:05,840 Speaker 1: it's hard not to exist in a perpetual state of despondency. 566 00:37:06,040 --> 00:37:09,600 Speaker 1: But seeing the Palestinian flag hoisted so proudly during the 567 00:37:09,640 --> 00:37:14,440 Speaker 1: World Cup has been heartening because it provides new grounds 568 00:37:14,520 --> 00:37:17,520 Speaker 1: for hope and it shows that this is by no 569 00:37:17,719 --> 00:37:21,200 Speaker 1: means a solo struggle, and that the commitment to Palestine 570 00:37:21,320 --> 00:37:26,719 Speaker 1: liberation remains as unshakable as ever. That was the end 571 00:37:26,719 --> 00:37:30,160 Speaker 1: of his article, and uh, that's a great place to 572 00:37:30,280 --> 00:37:33,040 Speaker 1: end because that was fucking great and poetic, and I 573 00:37:33,080 --> 00:37:38,200 Speaker 1: hope that you also go watch the movie on Netflix. 574 00:37:39,040 --> 00:37:42,400 Speaker 1: It's really important and it all goes hand in hand 575 00:37:42,560 --> 00:37:46,160 Speaker 1: with supporting the Palestinian people and continuing to raise awareness 576 00:37:46,360 --> 00:37:49,439 Speaker 1: because that's a huge reason why we've gotten this far, 577 00:37:50,760 --> 00:37:55,680 Speaker 1: and the culmination of all of that being broadcast from 578 00:37:55,680 --> 00:38:02,399 Speaker 1: the World Cup internationally. It's just been really really incredible 579 00:38:02,520 --> 00:38:07,560 Speaker 1: and beautiful to watch. And uh, yeah, that's the episode. 580 00:38:08,239 --> 00:38:12,359 Speaker 1: Until next time. I don't know, go watch Huh. That's 581 00:38:12,360 --> 00:38:14,200 Speaker 1: the only thing I can really say. And I hope 582 00:38:14,239 --> 00:38:19,800 Speaker 1: you all have nice holidays whatever you do. Um yeah, 583 00:38:20,920 --> 00:38:29,000 Speaker 1: have fun. Goodbye. It could Happen here as a production 584 00:38:29,040 --> 00:38:32,040 Speaker 1: of cool Zone Media or more podcasts from cool Zone Media. 585 00:38:32,160 --> 00:38:34,600 Speaker 1: Visit our website cool zone media dot com, or check 586 00:38:34,680 --> 00:38:36,960 Speaker 1: us out on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, 587 00:38:37,040 --> 00:38:40,080 Speaker 1: or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can find sources 588 00:38:40,080 --> 00:38:42,640 Speaker 1: for It could Happen Here, updated monthly at cool zone 589 00:38:42,680 --> 00:38:45,440 Speaker 1: media dot com slash sources. Thanks for listening.