It Could Happen Here

Episode: The Pro Palestine Movement Two Years After Genocide

Date: November 12, 2025
Host: Donna Elkerd (Cool Zone Media)
Guest: Ahmad Moore (2025 Foundation for Middle East Peace Fellow, author, activist, and analyst)

Episode Overview

This episode explores the evolution of pro-Palestine activism in the United States two years after what the guests and host describe as a genocide in Palestine. Donna Elkerd and Ahmad Moore analyze the shifting frameworks and alliances in the movement, its impact on American politics, changes in organizing strategies, and the future direction of activism both within the Palestinian-American diaspora and in broader coalitions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Personal Introductions and Context Setting

• Donna Elkerd introduces Ahmad Moore, noting his activism, scholarship, and leadership roles.
• Ahmad Moore shares his background: Born in Gaza, immigrated to the US as a child, became politically active post-9/11, and now works primarily on Palestine-Israel and foreign policy issues.

  “I was born in Gaza…moved here when I was a kid…like lots of people was galvanized around that experience [of 9/11 and the Iraq War].” — Ahmad Moore (04:00)

2. The War on Terror’s Legacy and Its Impact on Palestine Discourse

(Timestamps: 05:07–09:51)

• The War on Terror, especially the Iraq War, created a generational “awareness that we’ve been lied to” by US political elites, leading to a skepticism that has since evolved.

  “That was the, I would say, generational awareness that we’ve been lied to…that came to a head around the Iraq war.” — Ahmad Moore (05:39)

• The impact of those experiences is now visible in both left and right political realignments in the US, with Palestine as a focal point.
• The intersection of Palestine with democracy, elite versus popular opinion, and broader issues of US foreign policy is increasingly recognized.

  “Palestine has become an issue of democracy.” — Donna Elkerd (07:30)

• Major political events, such as the election of Zahran Mamdani as NYC mayor, are interpreted as signs of changing attitudes, but the true measure of the pro-Palestine movement’s success remains debated.

3. How Pro-Palestine Organizing Has Changed Since the Start of the Genocide

(Timestamps: 14:52–18:58)

• The analytic frame has shifted from seeing Palestine as an isolated “rights-based” issue to viewing it “correctly focused on empire,” seeing parallels between domestic US struggles and US-backed oppression abroad.

  “Now…I think the analysis is very correctly focused on empire…the whole idea of empire for me was an antiquated one. I didn’t think it had a whole lot of relevance today. But…the reality is that empire is intact.” — Ahmad Moore (15:16)

• Increasingly, domestic and foreign policy are being recognized as inseparable, with voters motivated by both in recent US elections.
• Electoral politics are met with deep skepticism; the “uncommitted movement” and the struggle for representation within major parties is highlighted.
• Shift from “rights” framing to deeper critiques of settler colonialism and state legitimacy.

  “We've gone from a contested conversation around 1967...to 1948. That's what we talk about now. And that's correct.” — Ahmad Moore (18:58)

4. Tensions Around Statehood, Legitimacy, and the National Liberation Project

(Timestamps: 18:59–22:10)

• The discussion within Palestinian and pro-Palestinian communities has moved towards critiquing the concept of the nation-state system and the limitations of statehood as a solution after catastrophic violence.
• Ahmad questions the effectiveness of statehood as a strategy:

  “I don’t believe that a state which has been colonized out of existence...is going to yield real benefits for the people on the ground now.” — Ahmad Moore (21:49)

• Both speakers agree that while international legal frameworks are of some tactical use, they cannot substitute for the transformative change needed on the ground.

5. Diaspora Experiences, Identity, and Activist Organizing Models

(Timestamps: 26:29–30:40)

• The Palestinian American diaspora is highly integrated and successful by some markers (education, professional achievement), but has lacked “aggression and organization” in political advocacy due to career risks and social costs.

  “Where the diaspora hasn’t...done as effective a job...I don’t know that we’re as aggressive and organized as we could be.” — Ahmad Moore (27:13)

• Intersectionality among activist coalitions has grown, and today’s most dynamic organizing emerges from multi-issue, multi-ethnic movements rather than solely Palestinian organizations.

  “I'd say that the most potent discussions around Palestine are coming from left organizing groups, not exactly Palestinian organizing groups.” — Ahmad Moore (28:51)

• There's a healthy self-critique about ingratiating with established political powers instead of demanding power or setting new terms, as more radical groups have done with noticeable impact.

6. Limitations of the Movement and Reflections on Strategy

(Timestamps: 31:06–34:30)

• There's a call to focus locally, prioritize principle over deference to divided or ineffective leadership, and pursue arms embargoes, sanctions, and cultural boycotts as part of a principled American stance.
• A somber reflection that, despite gains, Western advocacy did not prevent the genocide, and the continuity of Palestinian life inside historic Palestine remains gravely threatened.

  “I used to believe in one state for everybody with equal rights. Today, I think the writing is on the wall for the Palestinians in Palestine. The ethnic cleansing of Palestine is proceeding.” — Ahmad Moore (32:38)

• Hope must be balanced with radical self-reflection and a willingness to envision new solutions.

  “Nothing we did…actually stopped that. And that is a very hard pill to swallow. I hope…that will allow us to get to the place of self reflection about what radical solutions look like.” — Donna Elkerd (34:30)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On generational political disillusionment:
  “That was…the generational awareness that we’ve been lied to…We were lied into that war.” — Ahmad Moore (05:39)
• On the transformation of Palestine discourse:
  “Palestine went from being a niche issue…to being really part of the American story today.” — Ahmad Moore (08:17)
• On coalition-building:
  “[Today] activists have a much more complete sense of how you almost have a social quilt and a compression on one part of it will impact everything else that's…related to it.” — Ahmad Moore (28:51)
• On the failure to stop the genocide:
  “We never were able to prevent that genocide. Nothing we did…actually stopped that. And that is a very hard pill to swallow.” — Donna Elkerd (34:30)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Introduction & Context: 02:23–05:07
• War on Terror & Generational Politics: 05:07–09:51
• Academia, Censorship, & Democracy: 10:07–11:12
• Taboo-Breaking & Organizing Shifts: 14:52–18:58
• Statehood Debate & Legitimacy: 18:59–22:10
• Diaspora and Intersectional Organizing: 26:29–30:40
• Movement Limitations & Future Strategies: 31:06–34:30

Conclusion

This episode offers a nuanced, critical look at the evolution of the pro-Palestine movement in America after two years of ongoing violence in Gaza and the West Bank. Donna Elkerd and Ahmad Moore map the changed analytical frameworks, the growth of intersectional coalitions, the limits of state-based solutions, and the deep political realignments taking place in the US. The conversation ends with a call for radical honesty and reflection, recognizing both successes and heartbreaking failures—and the increased urgency for bold, principled strategies moving forward.