ASHIRA DARWISH — NAZA: THE FILM THAT PROVIDES COVER FOR GENOCIDERS

ASHIRA DARWISH — YOUR GOOD CONSCIENCE COSTS US OUR LIVES Why does it take an Israeli or Western voice for Palestinians to be heard? Can we claim to stand in solidarity with people while refusing to listen to their anger? In this episode of The Modern Elephant, Alexis Poulin and Félix Marquardt welcome Ashira Darwish, a Palestinian journalist, founder of Catharsis Holistic Healing, and a central participant in the documentary Where Olive Trees Weep, which also features Gabor Maté. From the standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival to Western newsrooms, Ashira challenges a hierarchy of credibility: Palestinians have been telling their stories for decades, yet their testimony still needs someone else’s stamp of approval. She questions a form of solidarity that celebrates its own heroes while asking Palestinians to keep their anger in check. She reflects on her own experience, recounts a disagreement with Gabor Maté, and examines the contradictions she sees among some Israelis who identify as anti-Zionist. She also challenges the idea that Netanyahu alone is responsible, leaving the system that made these atrocities possible beyond scrutiny. The conversation then turns to colonial legacies, intergenerational trauma, and her approach to healing: rebuilding community, reconnecting with collective memory, and reclaiming the right to speak. For Ashira, personal recovery cannot be separated from the political and social conditions that shape suffering. A conversation about what our clear conscience allows us to ignore — and the price others pay for it. 📌 IN THIS EPISODE • Palestinian voices and the Western media. • Venice Film Festival: who gets applauded, and why? • Gabor Maté, solidarity, and the right to speak for yourself. • Beyond Netanyahu: changing leaders without changing the system. • Colonialism, dehumanization, and intergenerational trauma. • The right to be angry — including with your allies. • Collective healing, spirituality, and rebuilding connection. 🎙️ FOLLOW OUR GUEST AND HOSTS Ashira Darwish • Instagram: @premashira Félix Marquardt • X: @Feleaks • Instagram: @feleaks Alexis Poulin • X: @Poulin2012 • Facebook: @alexispoulinofficiel 🐘 EXPLORE OUR PARTNER CHANNELS The Black Elephant Experience • YouTube: ‪@ModernElephant‬ and @TheBlackElephantExperience • Instagram: @blcklphnt Le Monde Moderne • YouTube: @LeMondeModerne • Website: Le Monde Moderne 🎬 EXPLORE FURTHER Where Olive Trees Weep — the documentary 🎧 ORIGINAL ENGLISH INTERVIEW This is the original English-language conversation. A French version on @TheBlackElephantExperience , dubbed using artificial intelligence, is also being produced. 🐘 SUPPORT THE MODERN ELEPHANT Subscribe, turn on notifications, and share this interview to help these conversations reach a wider audience. Your comments and shares help our channel grow. 🎬 CREDITS Hosted by: Félix Marquardt and Alexis Poulin Production : Amine 🐘