Protests and Palestine with Safia Southey and Dr. Amgad Elsherif

Uncommons with Nate Erskine-Smith

Nate is joined on this episode by Columbia law student Safia Southey and thoracic surgeon Dr. Amgad Elsherif.

Safia participated in the encampment at Columbia that helped to spark similar protests at campuses across North America. She speaks to the importance of protest, the role students can play in raising awareness and affecting change, and the need to differentiate between criticism of Israel and antisemitism.

Dr. Amgad Elsherif is a thoracic surgeon based in Ontario who has been on the ground in Gaza to provide emergency medical care. He shares his firsthand experiences of the devastating impact of the war on children in Gaza, including the impacts of the inability to access basic medical supplies.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Background of the Guests

01:24 The Distinction Between Criticism of Israel and Anti-Semitism

with guest Safia Southey (3:00)

3:00 Safia’s Background and Initial Involvement

05:10 Details of the Columbia Encampment

07:44 Safia’s Personal Motivations and Experiences

12:42 Addressing Antisemitism and Criticism of Israel

20:23 Complexities of Zionism and Palestinian Rights

20:45 The Complexity of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

24:43 The Need for a Ceasefire and Protection of Civilian Lives

32:04 Challenges Faced by Student Protesters at Columbia University

34:26 Media Coverage of the Crackdown

36:46 Threats and Intimidation by the School

with guest Dr. Amgad Elsherif (43:18)

44:12 The Reality on the Ground in Gaza

53:08 Effectiveness of IDF Messages to Civilians

59:15 The Human Impact of War on Children

01:02:51 Recognition of a Palestinian State

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