The People Speak, January 21, 2014
The Executive Director of The Jerusalem Fund speaks about the past history and crimes of Israel's late Ariel Sharon. Amidst commemorative speeches regarding the late Israeli leader Ariel Sharon, many in the Middle East who suffered because of his actions remember him less fondly. Among those who speak knowingly are Yousef Munayyer, the Executive Director of The Jerusalem Fund.
The Jerusalem Fund seeks to give voice to the Palestinian narrative through policy briefings, lecture series, conferences, symposia, scholarly research publications and an extensive research library. The Center’s analysis emphasizes a Palestinian perspective on the peace process, the Right of Return and final status negotiations, elections, international law, media coverage of Israel and Palestine and U.S. foreign policy in the region.
Guest, Yousef Munayyer
YOUSEF MUNAYYER is a Palestinian American writer and political analyst based in Washington, DC. Munayyer was born in Lod (Lydda or Al-Lyd), Israel. He is currently the Executive Director of the The Jerusalem Fund for Education and Community Development and its educational program, the Palestine Center. Previously, Munayyer was a policy analyst with the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. He holds both US and Israeli citizenship.
EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION
Munayyer received a BA in Political Science and History from the University of Massachusetts- Amherst. He also received a 5 College Degree in International Relations from Mt. Holyoke College in 2005. During his time at the University of Massachusetts he served as an editorial editor for the Massachusetts Daily Collegian.
His MA is from the University of Maryland in Government and Politics and he is currently completing a PhD at the same institution. His research interests included political repression and ethnic cleansing.
AMERCIAN-ARAB ANTI-DISCRIMINATION COMMITTEE (ADC)
Beginning in 2004, Munayyer worked at the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee for five years in various capacities. Upon his departure from the ADC in September 2009, the ADC issued a statement expressing its “heartfelt gratitude and appreciation” to him “for his years of exceptional service to ADC and to the Arab-American community.” ADC President Mary Rose Oakar said, “Yousef has been with ADC for 5 years, first as an intern in the Communications Department. He then industriously worked as a full time employee as a Finance Manager, Communications Director and Policy Analyst.
THE JERUSALEM FUND
Munayyer has been Executive Director of the Jerusalem Fund for Education and Community Development and its educational program, the Palestine Center since September 24, 2009. Established in 1977 “to provide humanitarian relief to the Palestinian people, educate the American public, and showcase Palestinian and Arab culture,” the Jerusalem Fund is a non-profit organization that is based in Washington, D.C., and registered as a 501(c). Its operational expenses are paid for by investment income, and its humanitarian activities are paid for by private donations.
It consists of the Palestine Center, an educational program that holds policy briefings, lecture series, conferences, and symposia, issues scholarly publications, and houses an extensive research library; the Humanitarian Link program, which provides grants to hospitals, orphanages, clinics, schools, universities, and civil-society organizations in Palestinian territories and refugee camps; and The Gallery, which displays exhibits about Palestinian and Arab culture, and hosts an annual art competition, a summer film series, musical performances, and art workshops.
The Jerusalem Fund accepts donations in the form of appreciated stock, real estate, and other devices that can help donors avoid capital gains taxes and/or permit them to make tax deductions. In 2011, the Jerusalem Fund received $436,056 in contributions and grants for the fiscal year, $105,930 in program revenue and $62,038 in investment income.
OTHER PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
He is a frequent contributor to major metropolitan newspapers on the question of Palestine, civil and human rights, and US policy in the Middle East. His writings (see below) have appeared in the Washington Post, the Chicago Tribune, The Boston Globe, The San Francisco Chronicle, the Miami Herald and many others. He is a regular contributor to Politico.com and has appeared on numerous national and international television and radio programs to discuss the Middle East and Palestine. He has spoken on a number of policy panels and is often invited to speak on the Middle East and
Israel/Palestine at Universities and Colleges. He is fluent in Arabic and English.
The People Speak
The People Speak has evolved over the years with many great guests who have been interviewed by some very fine hosts.
We are a 55 minute show airing every other Sunday between 5-6pm Pacific/8-9pm Eastern. The show features a guest interview from any number of realms of interest (entertainment, science, philosophy, healing, spirituality, activism, politics, literature, etc.).
The guests share their stories, lives, strategies, books, philosophy, films, music, or whatever it is they use as a vehicle for making a difference for the better.
The radio show name, The People Speak, is based on the idea of allowing our audience - the People - a chance to interact with the guests during the hour, and we take phone or text questions from them during the interview.
Past guests include such notables as Nobel Peace Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the late Howard Zinn, Nobel Laureates Mairead Maguire, Shirin Ebadi, Kathryn Najimy, Oliver Stone, Jesse Ventura, Richard Belzer, Cynthia McKinney, Cindy Sheehan, Scott Horton, Joan Jett, Willie Nelson, George Galloway, Roseanne Barr, Ed Asner, Chevy Chase, as well as various reps from Amnesty International, UN World Food Programme, and many others.
