Hey, I'm Noam Weissman and this is Unpacking Israeli History, the podcast that takes a deep dive into some of the most intense, historically fascinating and often misunderstood events and stories linked to Israeli history.

This episode of Unpacking Israeli History is generously sponsored in honor of Dr. Andrew and Marcy Spitzer.

If you want to sponsor an episode of Unpacking's early history or even just say what's up,

be in touch at Noam at unpack.

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Okay, yala.

Let's do this.

I'm notherzimba. Okay, Yala. Let's do this.

We, the people of Israel, are prepared and anxious to meet the representatives of our neighbors without any preconditions.

There are people in Israel elsewhere say it's impossible to make peace between the Arabs and Israel or the Jewish people.

I think they're home.

A couple weeks ago, we released our two-part episode on Palestinian statehood. It was a banger, and it started many conversations.

We traced the history, the politics, and the competing visions for what statehood has meant

and still means for Palestinians and Israelis.

The conversations with each of my guests were riveting, at least for me.

So we're bringing you the conversations in full as special bonus content.

Today's episode is my conversation with my friend Samar Sainajlawi.

Samar is a Palestinian activist and political leader from East Jerusalem who shared with me a vision,

a vision of the future that really stuck with me.

For Samar, the question of statehood isn't just about what happens at the United Nations or what's written on a diplomatic resolution.

...