UNDERSTANDING PALESTINE AND ISRAEL | A Busboys and Poets Books Presentation

As Israel’s war on Gaza grinds on, and the ongoing struggles for justice in Palestine continue, a crucial new book is arriving at the perfect time. Understanding Palestine and Israel by renowned activist and political analyst Phyllis Bennis, with a foreword by noted Palestinian analyst Omar Baddar, cuts through the noise and delivers clear, accessible answers to the most pressing questions about the situation—questions that many have never had the opportunity to ask. The book covers events right up through Israel's genocidal war and the 2024 US elections.

You're invited to this discussion between Phyllis Bennis, founder/CEO of Busboys and Poets Andy Shallal, and Omar Baddar. Books will be available for purchase at the event that will conclude with a book signing.

This event is free and open to all. Our program begins at 6:00 pm, and will be followed by an audience Q&A. Copies of UNDERSTANDING PALESTINE AND ISRAEL will be available for purchase before and after the event. Please note that this event is in person and will be livestreamed. 

We ask that guests RSVP in order to receive direct updates about the event from Busboys and Poets Books

Phyllis Bennis is a fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies where she co-directs the New Internationalism Project. She serves as an international adviser to Jewish Voice for Peace, and is a leading voice in US and global movements supporting Palestinian rights and challenging US foreign policy. She has written numerous books on Palestine, the broader Middle East, US foreign policy and the United Nations, is a frequent contributor to Democracy Now, al Jazeera, BBC, MSNBC and more, and writes widely in US and international media outlets. She has been twice short-listed to become the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Andy Shallal is an artist, social entrepreneur and founder/CEO of Busboys and Poets, a restaurant group in the Washington Metropolitan area where art, culture and politics intentionally collide over mindfully sourced food, drinks, books and event programming. With eight locations in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia, Busboys and Poets has become a home for progressives, artists, creatives and intellectuals, including such notables as Harry Belafonte, Danny Glover, Alice Walker, Angela Davis and the late Howard Zinn. As a leader in the sustainable food movement, Busboys has been recognized locally and nationally for its innovative, conscious cuisine. Under Shallal’s leadership, Busboys has received numerous awards including the Mayor’s Arts Award, Employer of the Year from the Employment Justice Center and the Mayor’s Environmental Award.

Omar Baddar is a political analyst, digital producer, and human rights advocate based in Washington, DC. He holds an M.A. in International Relations and Comparative Politics from the University of Memphis, where his research focused on U.S.-Middle East policy. He is the former Executive Director of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee of Massachusetts, and the former Director of the Palestine Cultural Center for Peace in Boston, MA. He has participated in dozens of panels, lectures, and debates on college and university campuses throughout the US. His media appearances include the BBC, Al-Jazeera, Sky News, Voice of America, Russia Today, and several other outlets, and his writings have appeared in Salon, the Huffington Post, the Daily Beast, Jadaliyya among other platforms. He is also a free lance English/Arabic translator, and He holds an undergraduate degree in multimedia Graphic Design.

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