My Middle East is back with a third series! Season 3 kicks off with a deeply personal conversation with the Rev Dr Mae Elise Cannon. She shares her surprising journey to working on issues related to Israel-Palestine and talks openly about the joys and challenges she faces in her calling.

In this episode, Tim speaks to Suhaila Tarazi, the director of Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza. Born and bred in Gaza, Suhaila explains why she has chosen to stay and work there. She shares the enormous challenges that people face in Gaza, yet explains why she remains hopeful for the future.

In this episode, Tim speaks to Elizabeth Harris Sawczenko. Liz has spent much of her life living in Israel, and experienced the violence of the Intifadas first-hand. She has dedicated her life to helping improve the rights of Arab Israelis and to foster balanced and nuanced discussion of Israel Palestine, and her work has led to her receiving an award from the Archbishop of Canterbury in official recognition of her contribution towards positive interfaith relationships. Liz now works for the Abraham initiatives, promoting a shared society in Israel between Jews and Arab Palestinians. In this episode, Liz speaks about her experiences of growing up as a Jewish girl in North West London, and how her experience of moving to Israel during a turbulent time in history has helped to shape her life and work.

This episode, Embrace CEO Tim Livesey speaks to Sister Bridget Tighe, General Secretary of Caritas Jerusalem and a Franciscan Missionary sister. Sister Bridget has served almost 40 years in the Middle East, working with Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Jerusalem and Gaza. She now leads the Caritas Jerusalem medical centre in Gaza. In this episode, Sister Bridget reflects on her relationship with and love for this unique and beleaguered land.

In the second episode of Embrace the Middle East’s brand new podcast ‘My Middle East’, Embrace CEO Tim Livesey speaks to Sylvia Haddad, executive director of the Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon. Sylvia came to Lebanon as a Palestinian refugee in 1948. Sylvia has dedicated her life to helping refugees in Lebanon. This episode, she tells us of her journey into humanitarian work and how her faith continues to inspire her.

In the pilot episode of Embrace the Middle East’s brand new podcast ‘My Middle East’, Embrace CEO Tim Livesey speaks to our very own Connie Musallam about her dual identity as a British Palestinian, and what ‘home’ means to her.