Eps. 13 Prof. Mohammed S. Dajani Daoudi (Al-Wasatiyya)

‘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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Pádraig