Fire and Frustration: Insurgency Dynamics in the Middle East

The Israel-Hamas war has taken an immense toll on both sides and caused thousands of casualties. As difficult of a topic as this is, shedding light on this war, with an objective and critical lens, is a vital endeavor in the hope that history should never repeat itself in this way again.

Today, we take a step back to discuss the histories in the region and the rise of Hamas to power, through to the present-day. For our guest today, we welcome Mr. Jon Allen, and professor Alejandro Paz to help us get a better understanding about the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas Conflict and how insurrection groups like Hamas rose into power in the region. 

Before we begin this episode, our hearts here at Beyond the Headlines go out towards those who have suffered and lost tremendously through this war, from both sides. Any statements we make in this episode are rooted in empathy and a desire for peace. Our focus is on fostering understanding, compassion, and support for those affected by the devastating consequences of war. We understand that this is a difficult topic, so we welcome conversations on Twitter/X (@Byond_Headlines), or by reaching out to us on Instagram @beyondtheheadlines. We are listening.

Guests:

Jon Allen is a former Canadian diplomat. He held the positions of Minister at the Canadian Embassy in Washington (2004-2006) and Assistant Deputy Minister, Americas (2010-2012). From 2006 to 2010, he was Canada’s Ambassador to Israel. Jon is currently a Senior Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto, a Distinguished Fellow of the Canadian International Council, and the Chair of Rozana Canada, a not for profit whose objective is to build bridges between Palestinians and Israelis via the health sector. 

Alejandro Paz is an Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Toronto Scarborough, and he has written about the politics of migration, language and citizenship in Israel/Palestine, as well as settlement in occupied East Jerusalem. His book Latinos in Israel: Language and Unexpected Citizenship (Indiana UP) was published in 2018. His current research is about Israeli English online journalism, and its impact on North Atlantic public opinion.

Producers:

Vicky Li, Julia Brahy