Waseem Hijazi, a passionate Palestinian vegan food blogger, and Victoria Hertel, an anti-Zionist Jewish vegan advocate from Vegans for Palestine join the show this week. Wasim discusses how his journey into veganism is not just about health but also a means to advocate for Palestinian rights, while Victoria reveals her transformation into anti-Zionism and her dedication to supporting Palestinians through the lens of veganism and activism.

We scrutinize the ethical implications of Western veganism’s silence on Palestinian oppression and the troubling practice of “vegan washing” by the Israeli government. Our discussion ventures into the wider landscape of activism, examining the power of collective actions like the BDS movement. 

We wrap up our episode by emphasizing the importance of community-driven efforts and solidarity across movements. From supporting Palestinian families with plant-based food parcels to critiquing the support of Israeli vegan products, we call for genuine engagement and the preservation of cultural integrity. This episode is a thought-provoking exploration of how veganism can be a tool for activism and social change, inviting you to reconsider the impact of your choices on a global scale.

Guest Bios:

Victoria Hertel (she/her) is Vegan for Palestine’s Public Image Committee Chair. She is an anti-Zionist Jew, vegan and queer person currently residing on the Lands of the Peoria, Mississauga, Bodwéwadmi (Potawatomi), Anishinabewaki ᐊᓂᔑᓈᐯᐗᑭ, and Wyandot Peoples on Turtle Island. She believes Zionism contradicts the values of Judaism and by conflating the two it is detrimental to the religion. Judaism, according to the Torah, forbids Jews to have our own sovereignty and forbids to kill or steal. Zionism is a genocidal and nationalistic political ideology, which was created by non-religious people. Standing in opposition to the state of “Israel” is standing with true Jewish values, and calling that anti-Semitic is inaccurate. Victoria is a photographer and a healthcare professional. She recognizes her white privilege and continues to learn and unlearn in order to be a better advocate and ally for all sentient beings. She believes that vegans have a duty to be intersectional in their advocacy and cannot only advocate for non-human animals because every injustice is connected whether it’s humans, non-human animals, or the environment.

Waseem Hijazi is a Palestinian vegan content creator, and the founder of the food blog: Plant Based Arab. His journey towards veganism started around five years ago, after taking on monthly challenges in pursuit of a healthier Lifestyle. This led to a deeper realization of how our actions – even as individuals – can contribute to the suffering of other living beings.

He’s involved with the Vegans for Palestine group: a space to be in community with fellow vegans and animal rights activists, to advocate for Palestine. Helping to raise awareness about Israel’s vegan-washing, and how we may be contributing to the oppression of Palestinians with what we choose to consume rather than boycott; as well as highlighting some of the ways to support Palestinians in Gaza via on the ground initiatives, and more.

Waseem has contributed a selection of Arabic and Palestinian recipes to a fundraiser eBook, in collaboration with a collective of vegans of the Global Majority, called: Flavours of Freedom. You can find more of his vegan recipes on the website: www.plantbasedarab.com, and connect with him directly on Instagram @plantbasedarab.

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Music by Matthew Baxley

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As I stumbled through the perils of answering the ultimate question, "what do you want to do with your life?" I knew somehow my answer would incorporate helping others. This translated into paths that, when I tuned into the universe, I realized were very connected. (Funny how that always happens!)

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