Five Questions
Five Questions is a podcast by Arab Center Washington DC where we unpack some of the big issues of the day by asking guests five key questions to break those issues down.
Episodes
Shifting US Opinion on Palestine
Matt Duss and Yousef Munayyer unpack the shifting landscape of American public opinion on #Israel and its implications for the future US engagement in the #MiddleEast.
Syria: A Modern History
Daniel Neep and Khalil E. Jahshan discuss Neep's new book, Syria: A Modern History. From Ottoman roots to civil war, he unpacks how history shapes #Syria's struggles today.
The Complexities of Human Rights Reporting on Palestine
Yousef Munayyer and Omar Shakir discuss his decision to depart from Human Rights Watch, the contents of the report that the organization sought to withhold, and the broader challenges of conducting human rights documentation on #Palestine within a climate of repression and restricted expression.
Crime, Neglect, and Politics in Israel
Yousef Munayyer and Muhammad Mustafa explore rising crime in Palestinian towns inside #Israel, the government’s willful neglect, and the shifting domestic political landscape ahead of the Israeli elections.
Unrest in Iran: Economic Drivers and External Dynamics
Negar Mortazavi and Yousef Munayyer examine the latest unrest in Iran amid a deepening economic crisis, intensifying US sanctions, and rising threats of external military intervention.
Gaza's Second Stage Commences
Yara M. Asi, Muhammad Shehada, and Yousef Munayyer discuss the current situation in Gaza, the forthcoming “Phase 2” of the ceasefire, and the implications for Palestinians in the Strip as well as for the broader Middle East region.
Hezbollah and Israel’s Ongoing War on Lebanon
Imad K. Harb and Khalil E. Jahshan examine the situation in #Lebanon, focusing on the challenges of disarming #Hezbollah and the ongoing #Israeli military campaign against the country.
Mr. Sharaa Comes to Washington
Radwan Ziadeh and Yousef Munayyer discuss #Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa’s visit to the White House, exploring what Syrians hope to gain from the trip, and what both Damascus and the #Trump administration seek from the US–Syria relationship.
A Changing Conversation on the Left and Right
Experts examine how the war on #Gaza has reshaped global public opinion toward #Israel, and explore how these shifting perceptions influenced the New York mayoral race and other key state-level elections across the US in 2025.
A Ceasefire in Gaza?
Experts examine the #Trump administration’s proposed plan for #Gaza, assess the likelihood of a lasting #ceasefire, evaluate the current role of the US in the region, and explore whether efforts to normalize relations with #Israel might be revived.Speakers: Hanna Alshaikh, Yara M. Asi, Rami G. Khouri, and Yousef Munayyer
A Plan for Palestine
Yousef Munayyer chats with Sarah Leah Whitson and Michael Shaeffer Omer-Man about their new book, which offers a blueprint for a future in #Palestine and #Israel. The conversation covers the plan offered in their book, the process of coming up with it together, why they felt this intervention was so needed now, and what sort of conditions will be required to begin putting the plan into place.
The Most American King
Aaron Magid and Khalil E. Jahshan explore King Abdullah II's evolving relationship with the United States over the past 26 years, as well as Magid's new book, The Most American King.
Israel's Ever Expanding Belligerency
Experts discuss escalating tensions as Israel launches attacks across the region, including a failed airstrike targeting Hamas leaders in Doha and alleged drone attacks near Tunisian waters. Meanwhile, momentum for Palestinian statehood has accelerated, with Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia among the Western countries making historic recognition announcements.Speakers: Hanna Alshaikh, Yar
Palestine Takes Center Stage
Experts examine the announced plans of several countries to recognize #Palestine at the UNGA, Israel’s targeting of journalists at Nasser Hospital in #Gaza, and ongoing efforts by the Lebanese government to disarm resistance groups in the country. Speakers: Hanna Alshaikh, Yara Asi, Rami Khouri, and Yousef Munayyer
30 Years with Gaza
Brian K. Barber discusses his decades of research in #Gaza and his book "No Way But Forward," which chronicles the experiences of three Palestinian families living under the crushing weight of occupation and conflict. Khalil E. Jahshan moderated the discussion.
Deadly "Humanitarianism" in Gaza
Experts discuss #Israel's use of starvation as a weapon in #Gaza and the role of the "Gaza Humanitarian Foundation" in exacerbating the suffering of Palestinians in the Strip.Speakers: Hanna Alshaikh, Yara Asi, Rami Khouri, and Yousef Munayyer
A Political Earthquake in New York
Peter Beinart, Heba Gowayed, and Yousef Munayyer discuss Zohran Mamdani's surprise victory in New York City's mayoral Democratic primary and the implication it may have for US domestic and foreign policy.
The GCC and Israel’s War on Iran
Kristian Coates Ulrichsen and Khalil E. Jahshan discuss how the #Gulf Arab states are responding to #Israel’s assault on #Iran and explore the broader implications of this conflict for the #GCC nations and the Middle East.
Trump heads to the Middle East
Experts discuss Trump's trip to the region, the US deal with the Houthis, the dismissal of Michael Walz, the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the release of detained student protestors in the US.
Trump and Netanyahu Talk Gaza and Iran
Hanna Alshaikh, Yara M. Asi, Rami G. Khouri, and Yousef Munayyer discuss the deteriorating situation in Gaza as well as Netanyahu's recent meeting with Trump and its implications for the Middle East.
Crackdowns continue from Palestine to America
Hanna Alshaikh, Yara M. Asi, Rami G. Khouri, and Yousef Munayyer discuss the resumption of Israel's war on Gaza and the Trump administration's arrest of the war's critics on college campuses.
Taking Biden to Court
Sarah Leah Whitson discusses her organization's efforts to urge the ICC to investigate Joe Biden, Antony Blinken, and Lloyd Austin for their personal roles in aiding Israel's war crimes in Gaza. Whitson is Executive Director of Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN).
Trump’s Foreign Policy and the Middle East
Hanna Alshaikh, Yara M. Asi, Rami G. Khouri, and Yousef Munayyer discuss US foreign policy in the first six weeks of the Trump administration and how it affects the Middle East.
A New Year and a Region in Transition
Hanna Alshaikh, Yara M. Asi, Rami G. Khouri, and Yousef Munayyer discuss how the Middle East region has changed over the past year and their expectations for 2025.
Implications of the US Elections for the Middle East
Hanna Alshaikh, Yara M. Asi, Rami G. Khouri, Ethan Mayer-Rich, and Yousef Munayyer discuss the results of the US Presidential election and the implications for the Middle East.
Israel's Endless Wars
Hanna Alshaikh, Yara M. Asi, Rami G. Khouri, and Yousef Munayyer discuss the annihilation of northern Gaza, Israel's killing of Hamas leader Yaha Sinwar, American media bias, and US policy on the war.
The Middle East on the Precipice of Regional War
Hanna Alshaikh, Yara M. Asi, Rami G. Khouri, and Yousef Munayyer discuss the expansion of the Gaza war into a regional war, the Israeli assault on Lebanon, and the Iranian missile strike on Israel.
The Gaza war and US Elections
Hanna Alshaikh, Yara Asi, Rami Khouri, and Yousef Munayyer discuss the war on Gaza, the escalating Israeli military campaign in the West Bank, anti-war campus protests, and the upcoming US Presidential Elections.
The West Bank in the Crosshairs
Mariam Barghouti and Yousef Munayyer discuss the dangerous situation in the West Bank, as well as how Palestinians are experiencing an unprecedented rise in Israeli military and settler violence. Barghouti is a journalist and writer based in the West Bank, and her analysis has been featured in several prominent news outlets, including the New York Times, CNN, The Guardian, Al Jazeera, and others.
A Year into Sudan's War
Reem Abbas and Yousef Munayyer discuss the civil war in Sudan, which started a year ago in April 2023 and has regional actors supporting different sides of the conflict. Abbas is the Mohamed Aboelgheit Fellow at the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy.
Walking out on President Biden
Dr. Thaer Ahmad and Yousef Munayyer discuss Israel's war on Gaza's health system and Dr. Ahmad's decision to walk out of a Ramadan dinner in the White House. Dr. Ahmad is an emergency medicine physician based in Chicago, and an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Illinois. He spent time volunteering in Gaza's hospitals during Israel's war on the Strip.
An Insider's View on US Weapons Sales to Israel
Josh Paul and Yousef Munayyer discuss US weapons sales to Israel during the war on Gaza. Paul is the former Director of Congressional and Public Affairs at the US Department of State's Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, which oversees arms transfers to foreign nations.
The Healthcare System as a Target in Gaza
Yara M. Asi and Yousef Munayyer discuss how Israel has been targeting the healthcare system in Gaza in order to drive Palestinians out of their towns. Asi is a Non-resident Fellow at Arab Center Washington DC and Assistant Professor at the University of Central Florida in the School of Global Health Management and Informatics.
Yemen, Gaza, and Regional Turmoil
Maysaa Shujaa al-Deen and Yousef Munayyer discuss the current situation in Yemen and the role of the Houthis in the regional unrest triggered by Israel's war on Gaza. Shujaa al-Deen is a senior researcher at the Sanaa Center for Strategic Studies.
Teaching Palestinian Stories Through Film
Farah Nabulsi and Yousef Munayyer discuss her film The Present, which tells the story of a Palestinian father and daughter in the West Bank trying to buy a wedding anniversary gift but having to navigate the Israeli system of apartheid on their way home. Nabulsi is an Academy Award-nominated and BAFTA-winning British-Palestinian filmmaker and human rights advocate.
A Day in the Life of Abed Salama: Anatomy of a Jerusalem Tragedy
Nathan Thrall and Yousef Munayyer discuss Thrall's new book detailing the experience of a Palestinian father searching for his missing son and how the system of Israeli apartheid complicates his efforts at every turn. Nathan Thrall is also the author of The Only Language They Understand: Forcing Compromise in Israel and Palestine (Metropolitan, 2017). He spent a decade at the International Cri
Tragedy and Resilience in Morocco
Aida Alami and Yousef Munayyer discuss the devastation in Morocco and the status of the rescue and recovery efforts. Alami is a Moroccan reporter who has been contributing to The New York Times since 2011. Based in Rabat, Morocco, and Paris, she mainly covers migration, human rights, religion, politics and racism.
Exporting the Weapons of Apartheid
Antony Loewenstein and Yousef Munayyer discuss the Israeli arms industry and how it relates to Israel's military occupation of Palestine. Loewenstein is an independent investigative journalist, best-selling author, and filmmaker.
Creeping Israeli Annexation
Dahlia Scheindlin and Yousef Munayyer discuss the process of creeping Israeli annexation of the West Bank. Scheindlin is a Fellow at Century International, a public opinion expert and an international political and strategic consultant, as well as a scholar and a writer.
India and Israel's Evolving Relationships
Azad Essa and Yousef Munayyer discuss the implications of Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States and the relationship between India and Israel. Essa is a senior reporter for Middle East Eye based in New York City. He worked for Al Jazeera English between 2010-2018 and is the author of 'Hostile Homelands: The New Alliance Between India and Israel.'
Why Palestinians Are Skipping Israel’s Protests
Diana Buttu and Yousef Munnayer discuss the Israeli protests against Netanyahu proposed "judicial reform" and the Palestinian position on these unprecedented protests. Buttu is a Palestinian lawyer, writer, analyst, and a former legal advisor to the PLO.
How Will American Jews React to Israel’s Far Right Government?
Peter Beinart and Yousef Munayyer discuss the impact of Israel’s new government on the Jewish American community in the United States. Beinart is Professor of Journalism and Political Science at the City University of New York, Editor at Large of Jewish Currents, and a Fellow at the Foundation for Middle East Peace.
Transnational Palestine
Nadim Bawalsa and Yousef Munayyer discuss Palestinian communities in Latin America as part of Bawalsa’s recent book, Transnational Palestine: Migration and the Right of Return before 1948.
Nadim Bawalsa is a historian of modern Palestine. His work has appeared in Jerusalem Quarterly, the Journal of Palestine Studies, NACLA Report on the Americas, and edited volumes. He earned a Master’s in Arab St
Iran Erupts in Protest
Negar Mortazavi and Yousef Munayyer discuss the latest protests in Iran after the killing of Mahsa Amini by the Iranian morality police. Mortazavi is an Iranian-American journalist and the host of the Iran Podcast.
The Murder of Shireen Abu Akleh and the Quest for Accountability
Laila Al-Arian and Yousef Munayyer discuss the response by the White House and US media outlets to Shireen Abu Akleh’s killing. Al-Arian is an American Emmy-award-winning broadcast journalist, and executive producer of the Al Jazeera documentary series Fault Lines.
Where Does Tunisian’s Democratic Experiment Go from Here?
Sarah Yerkes and Yousef Munayyer discuss Kais Saied’s efforts to change Tunisia’s constitution and consolidate his power. Yerkes is a senior fellow in the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace's Middle East Program, where her research focuses on Tunisia’s political, economic, and security developments, as well as state-society relations in the Middle East and North Africa.
Boycott and Repression
Julia Bacha and Yousef Munayyer discuss the new film titled "Boycott," which explores the legal challenges faced by Americans who are asked to sign anti-BDS pledges in order to receive work, and the origins of these anti-boycott laws which violate the US Constitution. Bacha is the film's director and a Peabody Award winning filmmaker. She is also the Creative Director at Just Vision.
Women at Work in the Arab World
Yara M. Asi and Yousef Munayyer discuss the trends and challenges women experience while seeking employment and at the workplace in Arab countries. Asi is an Assistant Professor at the University of Central Florida in the School of Global Health and Informatics, and a Non-resident Fellow at Arab Center Washington DC.
A Palestinian Critique of Amnesty’s Apartheid Report
Rania Muhareb and Yousef Munayyer discuss the Amnesty International report on Israeli apartheid from a Palestinian point of view. Muhareb is an Irish Research Council and Hardiman PhD Scholar at the Irish Centre for Human Rights at the National University of Ireland, Galway. Munayyer is a Non-resident Senior Fellow at Arab Center Washington DC.
Where Is the War on Yemen Heading?
Maysaa Shuja al Deen and Yousef Munayyer discuss the current status of the war in Yemen, the regional and international dynamics affecting the conflict, and the impact of the Ukraine crisis on it. Shuja al Deen is a senior researcher at the Sanaa Center for Strategic Studies. Munayyer is Non-resident Senior Fellow at Arab Center Washington DC.
Documenting Israel’s Apartheid against Palestinians: The Amnesty International Report
Sherine Tadros and Yousef Munayyer discuss the Amnesty International report that called for Israeli authorities to be held accountable for committing the crime of apartheid against Palestinians. Tadros is the UN Representative and Head of Office for Amnesty International in New York.
Can the Vienna Talks Bring Back the Iran Deal?
Laura Rozen and Yousef Munayyer discuss the Vienna nuclear talks, how close the parties are to a deal, and what needs to happen to reach one. Rozen is a veteran foreign policy journalist and the editor of the Diplomatic newsletter on Substack. She also serves as a member of Just Security's editorial board.
Partners in Crime: How Violent Israeli Settlers and the State Work to Take Palestinian Land
Sarit Michaeli and Yousef Munayyer discuss Israeli settler violence against Palestinian villagers under the protection of the IDF. Michaeli is the International Advocacy Officer at B'Tselem.
Islamism and Revolution across the Middle East
Yousef Munayyer speaks with Khalil al-Anani regarding his new book on Islamism and revolutions in the Middle East. Al-Anani is a Senior Fellow at Arab Center Washington DC and Associate Professor of Political Science at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies in Doha, Qatar.
Where Does Tunisia Go from Here?
Laryssa Chomiak and Yousef Munayyer discuss the constitutional crisis in Tunisia which started after Kais Saied sacked the prime minister and suspended parliament. Chomiak is the director of the Centre d’Études Maghrébines à Tunis (CEMAT).
Lebanon in Crisis
Yousef Munayyer and Mona Harb discuss Lebanon's collapsing economy and the oligarchy's control over the country, as well as the lasting effects of the Beirut blast. Harb is Professor of Urban Studies and Politics at the American University of Beirut and a Nonresident Fellow at Arab Center Washington DC.
Understanding Palestine's Latest Uprising
Yousef Munayyer and Diana Buttu discuss the recent Palestinian uprising, which started in Sheikh Jarrah, and its impact on Israeli and American politics. Buttu is a Palestinian lawyer and a former spokesperson for the Palestine Liberation Organization.
A Coup or Not a Coup, That Is the Question in Jordan
Yousef Munayyer and Jillian Schwedler discuss Jordan's royal family tensions and the current situation in the kingdom. Schwedler is a professor of political science at the City University of New York’s Hunter College and the Graduate Center.
Where Does Algeria Go after the Hirak?
Yousef Munayyer and Dalia Ghanem discuss the Algerian protests that ousted Abdelaziz Bouteflika and the future of democracy in the country. Ghanem is a resident scholar at the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut, where her work examines political and extremist violence, radicalization, Islamism, and jihadism with an emphasis on Algeria.
Palestine at the ICC: Pitfalls and Potential
Yousef Munayyer and Noura Erakat discuss the International Criminal Court's ruling allowing it to investigate war crimes in the West Bank and Gaza. Noura Erakat is a human rights attorney and an Assistant Professor at Rutgers University in the Department of Africana Studies and the Program in Criminal Justice.
A return to the Iran Deal? Not as easy as it seems
Yousef Munayyer and Holly Dagres discuss the Iran nuclear deal and the possibilities of reviving it under the Biden Administration. Holly Dagres is a Non-resident Senior Fellow and IranSource Editor at the Atlantic Council.
Vaccinations in Israel/Palestine: Inequality in the Fight Against COVID
Yousef Munayyer and Yara Asi discuss how Israel excluded Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip from receiving the Coronavirus vaccine. Yara M. Asi is Non-resident Fellow at Arab Center Washington DC, and a 2020-2021 Fulbright US Scholar to the West Bank.
President Biden's Initial Steps toward a Palestine Policy
Yousef Munayyer and Zaha Hassan discuss Biden's Palestine policy and the prospects of returning to a pre-Trump status for US-Palestinian relations. Zaha Hassan is a human rights lawyer and Visiting Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Previously, she was the coordinator and senior legal advisor to the Palestinian negotiating team during Palestine’s bid for UN membership
10 years from Tahrir: How will a Biden Administration Engage Egypt
Yousef Munayyer and Sarah Leah Whitson discuss US-Egypt relations under the Obama, Trump, and Biden administrations as well as current human rights conditions in Egypt. Sarah Leah Whitson is the Executive Director of DAWN. Previously, she served as executive director of Human Rights Watch’s Middle East and North Africa Division.
The Biden Administration and Israel/Palestine Policy: What to Expect
Podcast host Yousef Munayyer and guest Lara Friedman discuss the expected Israel/Palestine policy of the incoming Biden Administration and the damage caused by the Trump Administration to Middle East peace. Lara Friedman is the president of the Foundation for Middle East Peace. She is a leading authority on US foreign policy in the Middle East, with particular expertise on the Israeli-Arab conflic
Israel's Effort to Silence Dissent in the US
Podcast host Yousef Munayyer and guest Diala Shamas discuss the efforts by Israel to silence any criticism of the occupation in the United States and go after BDS activists. Diala Shamas is a staff attorney at the Center for Constitutional Rights, where she works on challenging government and law enforcement abuses perpetrated under the guise of national security.
The Gulf a Decade after the Arab Spring
Yousef Munayyer and Elham Fakhro discuss democracy and normalization in the Arabian Gulf. As Crisis Group’s Senior Analyst for Gulf States, Elham Fakhro works on security, conflict, and governance in the Gulf region.
Anything but Normal: The UAE-Israel Deal
Podcast host Yousef Munayyer and guest Dana El-Kurd unpack the UAE-Israel deal and discuss the prospect of Arab states normalizing relations with Tel Aviv. El-Kurd is an assistant professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies and a researcher at the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies.
Race and the Arab American Community
In the first episode of 5 Questions, podcast host Yousef Munayyer, who is a senior nonresident fellow at ACW, welcomes his first guest, Nadine Naber, to discuss Arab Americans and US race relations. Nadine Naber is a professor in the Gender and Women's Studies Program and the Global Asian Studies Program at the University of Illinois, Chicago, and the co-founder of Arab and Muslim American Studies
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