Ep.11 Hani & Paula

‘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