National Symbol of Resistance and Growing Up Under Occupation | Ahed Tamimi | Ep 47

In this episode, Shamim Sarif and Hanan Katan speak with Ahed Tamimi, the Palestinian activist whose childhood confrontations with Israeli soldiers became widely known around the world. Ahed reflects on growing up in Nabi Saleh in the occupied West Bank, where imprisonment, military raids, protests and resistance were part of everyday life from childhood. She shares personal memories of visiting her father in prison, hearing family stories about the occupation, and growing up in a community where resistance was woven into childhood. She also discusses the experience of confronting soldiers as a young teenager, the importance of Palestinian dignity and representation, and how she understands the relationship between Judaism, Zionism and the Israeli occupation based on her own upbringing and experiences. The conversation explores the Nakba, Palestinian history, occupation, apartheid, freedom of movement and Palestinian sovereignty, as well as Ahed’s vision of a future where Palestinians can live with full rights and dignity. Ahed also talks about life beyond the image of the young activist seen around the world — her dreams, education, restrictions on her movement, and what it means to be a young Palestinian trying to imagine an ordinary life under extraordinary circumstances. In this episode: 👉 Ahed Tamimi’s childhood in Nabi Saleh 👉 Growing up with occupation, imprisonment and military raids 👉 The Nabi Saleh weekly protests 👉 Her experiences confronting Israeli soldiers 👉 Palestinian childhood, dignity and representation 👉 Ahed’s understanding of Judaism, Zionism and occupation 👉 The Nakba and Palestinian historical memory 👉 Apartheid, sovereignty and Palestinian self-determination 👉 Imagining a free Palestine 👉 Life beyond the image of the activist 👉 Movement restrictions and access to education 👉 The importance of international solidarity 👉 Ahed’s hopes for freedom and a normal life Watch, subscribe, share this episode and keep the conversation about Palestine going. 0:00:00 – Introducing Reverend Mitri Raheb 0:04:00 – Palestinian Christianity and life under occupation 0:10:00 – Bethlehem, Jerusalem and the Christian community 0:16:00 – Christian heritage and Palestinian identity 0:23:00 – Jerusalem, coexistence and the future of the Holy City 0:32:35 – Life in the West Bank and Bethlehem’s economic crisis 0:36:40 – The ongoing Nakba and Gaza 0:40:20 – Christ in the Rubble: faith, suffering and solidarity 0:43:28 – Western churches and the silence over Gaza 0:49:00 – A vision of equality and a just future for Palestine 0:53:36 – Bethlehem Institute for Peace and Justice 0:56:06 – What can people do for justice in Palestine? 0:58:40 – Human rights, international law and our collective humanity 1:01:26 – “We will rise and stand up again” Ahed’s Work: 📘 They Called Me a Lioness: A Memoir → https://www.amazon.com/They-Called-Me... Dena Takruri on Social Media: Instagram →   / denatakruri   X (Twitter) → https://x.com/dena Facebook →   / denatakruri   Enlightenment Podcast Social Media: https://feedlinks.link/enlightenmentp... #TheEnlightenmentPodcast #AhedTamimi #TheyCalledMeALioness #PalestinianResistance #FreePalestine #BirzeitUniversity #YouthActivism #LegalAdvocacy #JusticeForPalestine #LifeUnderOccupation #DecolonizeNow #PalestinianVoices #EndTheOccupation #PalestinianLiberation #SymbolOfResistance