Activist, producer, writer and editor Frank Barat shares his journey into activism, focusing on Palestine, and the significant moments that shaped his advocacy. From his upbringing in a working-class family to his eye-opening trip to Palestine in 2007, Barat paints a picture of the struggles and beauty he witnessed. He discusses the Russell Tribunal on Palestine and its impact, the Freedom Flotilla initiatives, and the importance of global solidarity movements. He touches on the moral high ground held by the movement and the intricate dynamics of apartheid in Israel, and offers a candid look at the challenges and hopes for the future of Palestine and Palestinian solidarity.This episode was recorded on April 18, 2025.00:00 Introduction 00:48 Frank Barat's Early Influences and Activism03:02 First Visit to Palestine and Its Impact10:19 The Russell Tribunal and Its Significance16:48 Challenges and Strategies in Activism24:36 The Freedom Flotilla 31:14 Legal Battles and Collaborations33:10 The Reality of Activism in Israel and Palestine34:28 The Moral High Ground and Global Solidarity35:01 Demonstrations and Public Perception36:08 Israeli Perspective and Internal Change38:04 The Zionist Project and Brainwashing41:05 Chomsky, Pappé & Other Influential Voices46:16 The Role of Jewish Voices in the Movement50:56 Global Shifts and the Future of Solidarity55:51 Reflections on Resilience and Struggle01:00:44 Book Recommendations and Closing RemarksFrank Barat is a French-born activist, producer, writer and editor currently based in Brussels, after spending more than a decade in London. He was one of the coordinators of the Russell Tribunal on Palestine (2008-2014) and is the co-founder of Festival Ciné-Palestine in Paris, the Palestina with Love festival in Brussels, and BARC Productions, a film production company, created in Brussels in February 2019. He has produced or co-produced films, including The Key, London Recruits, and a feature documentary on Palestine directed by Ali Al-Araian. He is also developing a television series with UK producer George Arbourne. Barat has edited books with Ilan Pappé, Noam Chomsky, Angela Y. Davis, Marc Lamont Hill, Ken Loach and Vijay Prashad. Connect with Frank 👉 https://www.instagram.com/4frankbarat/Hosted by:Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu/?hl=en-gb FOLLOW & RATE THE THIS IS NOT A WATERMELON PODCAST:» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/this-is-not-a-watermelon-palestinian-history-culture/id1726893137» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1UWCL1ITtnJIJUExrb6itr?_authfailed=1» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1047932705THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl40ZRFvo_VVYg6i56flEjSKABOUT AFIKRAafikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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