If you want to go beyond mainstream media, who can you trust to provide reliable information on the Israel/Palestine conflict? Here are some digital sources CTIP finds well informed and trustworthy. Some are pro-Palestinian, some are just “independent” and some are well, hard to classify. But all are interesting and in our judgement, reliable. Check them out….

Pro Palestinian sources

The following sources, in no particular order, have an openly declared anti-Zionist, pro-Palestinian bias.

• Mondoweiss. Mondoweiss is a news website that began as a general-interest blog written by Philip Weiss on The New York Observer website. It subsequently developed into a broader collaborative venture after fellow journalist Adam Horowitz joined it as co-editor.
• The Electronic Intifada The Electronic Intifada is an online Chicago-based publication covering the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. It describes itself as not-for-profit, independent, and providing a Palestinian perspective. Its editor is Ali Abunimah, an articulate Palestinian American.
• The Gray Zone The Gray Zone is a news website and blog, founded and edited by American journalist Max Blumenthal. CTIP finds the collaboration between Blumenthal and Canadian journalist Aaron Maté very powerful.
• Chris Hedges is a former NYT columnist who spent many years in the middle east. he has now emerged as a powerful and well researched voice for justice in the Israel/Palestine conflict. A search on YouTube will quickly bring up interviews and speeches he has given. Here is one in which he interviews an expert on Hamas.
• Katie Halper is a Jewish American writer and political commentator. She is the host of the podcast The Katie Halper Show  and co-host of the podcast Useful Idiots with Aaron Maté.
• Mahmood OD has recently emerged as a very well informed commentator on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. A Palestinian born in Haifa but now based in the UK, every day he prepares a 10 – 12 minute video on some of the most interesting developments – Gaza/Lebanon/West Bank/Israel. He appears to be very knowledgeable about Israeli politics.

Independent “centre- left” sources

A different set of interesting sources fall into the realm of independent journalism, usually of a “left liberal” or “liberal zionist” perspective. They are not specifically “pro-Palestinian” but are quite willing to question/challenge the dominant narrative from the White House or Israel.

• Owen Peter Jones is a British newspaper columnist, commentator, journalist, author and political activist. He writes a column for the Guardian. He does a podcast series, doing excellent interviews with people like Gideon Levy and Norman Finkelstein. Here is one with an 87 year old holocaust survivor
• Breaking Points is a US video journalism site. Its two main commentators Krystal Ball and Sagar Enjeti, are experienced journalists who bring a fiercely independent look at US politics including a focus on the current swirling debates over Israel/Palestine – both in Congress and in universities. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVzgxthLVuE&t=446s
• Rising – the Hill. An interesting journalist combo with Briahna Joy Gray taking leftist positions while her co-host Robby Soave speaks from a libertarian conservative point of view. They review current events, taking clips from other sources, sometimes interviewing other commentators. The debate between the two co-hosts is interesting, and sometimes even tense, but always well informed. Here is an example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-wV_8urySA (Breaking News: Briahyna Joy Gray, who was previously press secretary for US Senator Bernie Sanders, was been fired by “Rising” on June 6th apparently because she was deemed too critical of Israel. We will have to see if Rising still maintains its independent stance.)
• Novara Media is a British political commentary channel hosted by Michael Walker and Ash Sarkar. Often focused on the British debate over Israel/Palestine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfgSkjHp5R8&t=241s
• The Majority Report with Sam Seder is a left wing, progressive internet talk radio program and podcast hosted by U.S. based Sam Seder.

Other interesting sources

Some other sources are harder to qualify, but interesting none theless

• Tucker Carlson is hard to qualify. An American conservative political commentator who is willing to go against the American mainstream. His interview with Evangelical Palestinian Pastor Munther Isaac is a hard hitting attack on American Christian Zionists who support Israel.
• Judge Andrew Peter Napolitano is an American former jurist and syndicated columnist who served as a New Jersey Superior Court judge. His platform is called “Judging Freedom”. A self-described libertarian he interviews a range of “anti establishment” commentators such as Max Blumenthal and former US marine Scott Ritter.
• Danny Haiphong is an American journalist, contributor to Friends of Socialist China publications, and as a founding member of the international campaign No Cold War. Many of his interviews, like this one, focus on America-China tensions as they play out in the middle east.
• Piers Morgan is an overtly right wing British television commentator, formerly editor of Rupert Murdoch’s Daily Mirror. Morgan defends Israel, but has shown himself increasingly uncomfortable with Israel’s conduct in Gaza. He has the great virtue of being willing to engage with pro Zionists and anti zionists like Norman Finkelstein in open serious debate.

Conclusion

This list is far from exhaustive. CTIP does not always agree with any of these alternative media sites. But they are always interesting. CTIP regularly checks in with all of them for informed, thoughtful commentary. So if are looking for ways to expand your news coverage beyond the National Post, CBC or NYT and CNN, try some of these other ways to get the news.

Canada Talks Israel Palestine (CTIP) is the weekly newsletter of Peter Larson, Chair of the Ottawa Forum on Israel/Palestine (OFIP). It aims to promote a serious discussion in Canada about Canada’s response to the complicated and emotional Israel/Palestine issue with a focus on the truth, clear analysis and human rights for all. Readers with different points of view are invited to make comment.
Want to learn more about us? Go to Ottawa Forum on Israel/Palestine.ca