Episode 33 Featuring Max Blumenthal

West Philadelphia's community radio station, WPEB 88.1 FM, presents Radio Against Apartheid. Amplifying voices for justice and equality in the Middle East.

On this week's program, DJ Ev Daddy and Matt Graber are joined by award-winning journalist and best-selling author Max Blumenthal. Max is a current writing fellow at the Nation Institute, and he blogs at MaxBlumenthal.com.

During the interview, we discussed Max's background growing up in Chocolate City, and how that has influenced his journalistic perspective when covering US politics, Israel, and Palestine. Then we discussed the rise of Benjamin Netanyahu and Neoliberalism in the United States, and Max's latest article on Islamophobia in the Nation, 'The Sugar Mama of Anti-Muslim Hate,' about Nina Rosenwald - an heiress to the Sears Roebuck money - and her support for Islamophobia and racism.

Finally, Max announced the project that he's working on, which will go public soon. More to come on that.

Also on the show:

Palestine News Network provides exclusive reporting from the West Bank city of Bethlehem. PNN reports on the recent legalization of three Israeli settlements in the West Bank, IOF raids and arrests in the West Bank, the billboards in New York City which are inspiring controversy and charges of antisemitism, and other news.

Palestinian prisoner Akhram Rikhawi has reached his 99th day of hunger strike inside of Israeli prison. Rikhawi is demanding adequate medical attention, among other demands. Also on hunger strike are Samer Al Barq (59 days), Hassan Safadi (29 days), among others. Physicians for Human Rights - Israel, Addameer, the Palestinian Prisoner and Human Rights Support Network, and Al Haq have issued statements of concern for the lives of the hunger strikers. 

Violence continues in Syria, as violence in the town of Tremseh claimed the lives of hundreds. Commondreams reports. (To follow up on this, Commondreams reports on July 18, 'Syria 'Spinning Out of Control', as four Syrian military leaders were killed).

The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed lawsuits challenging the legality of the United States assassinations by drones of American citizens, including 16 year-old Abdulrahman Anwar Al Alawlaki. Full report from Commondreams.

A bombing in the Bulgarian resort town of Burgas killed 6 Israelis. Israeli officials blamed Iran for the bombing, without any evidence. Full report from Commondreams.

Finally, Radio Against Apartheid NEEDS your support. Please consider donating to our parent organization. Scribe Video Center, and let your family and friends know!

If you have any money left over - as I mentioned in the radio show - Existence is Resistance does amazing workshops for Palestinian youth in refugee camps. Please donate to their 2012 tour to help build creative expression and musical talents - and to share amazing art!