The Resistance Report

In this episode, we trace the turbulent history that links the Palestinian armed struggle, Israel’s 1982 invasion of Lebanon, and the emergence of Hezbollah as a powerful force in the region. From the PLO’s “state-within-a-state” in southern Lebanon to the devastation of Operation Peace in Galilee and the Sabra and Shatila massacres, we examine how cycles of repression and resistance reshaped the landscape of liberation movements. We explore the social and political conditions of Lebanon’s Shi’ite community, the influence of the Iranian Revolution, and how Hezbollah rose from the ashes of the PLO’s expulsion to become the first guerrilla group to force Israel from occupied territory.TimestampsIntro0:00 – 4:45 — IntroductionDIALECTICS OF REPRESSION & RESISTANCE | Framework for Interpretation4:45 – 14:06 — Overview of the dialectical relationship between colonial repression and anti-colonial resistanceTHE PLO & ISRAEL IN LEBANON | Context for the 1982 Invasion 14:06 – 34:46 — The PLO “State-Within-a-State”— ‘Eretz Israel’ Expansionism and Lebanon— The Sharon Plan— “...NOT OURS TO DESTROY” | Operation Peace in Galilee & PLO ExpulsionHEZBOLLAH FROM THE ASHES OF THE PLO 34:46 – 53:44— The Shi’ites of Southern Lebanon— The Iranian Revolution— The Party of God FormsTHE RESISTANCE IS HEZBOLLAH AND HEZBOLLAH IS THE RESISTANCE 53:44 – 1:13:52— The Resistance Priority & Logic— Breaking Prestige | The Aura of Invincibility Destroyed, 1985–2000— The Second Intifada, 2000–2005— “The Greatest Guerrilla Group in the World”Conclusion1:13:52 – 1:17:16 — Conclusion

In this episode of InSight by Al Fida'i Media Network (AFMN), host Anton Manley delves into the complex web of geopolitical struggles and the socio-economic ramifications of de-development in Syria and the broader Arab-Iranian region. He is joined by Patrick Higgins, Ph.D., a historian from the University of Houston specializing in U.S. imperialism in West Asia (“the Middle East”) and the Palestinian liberation movement. Originally recorded on January 19, 2025, this episode captures the cautious hope surrounding the announcement of a ceasefire in Gaza while setting the stage for a broader discussion on de-development, imperialism, and resistance—particularly in the context of Syria’s protracted internal conflicts over the past century. Anton and Patrick unravel the intricate layers of Syria’s political landscape, tracing the rise of the Ba'ath Party after 1963 and examining how imperialist powers imposed de-development regimes to stifle Syria’s economic and political sovereignty. Patrick brings his expertise on anti-imperialist struggles in the Arab world, drawing from his research on how Palestinian and Arab revolutionary movements from the 1940s to the 1970s understood and resisted U.S. intervention.  This episode seeks to deepen listeners' understanding of Syria’s ongoing strife while illuminating the broader geopolitical forces that shape the Arab-Iranian region. It offers a critical examination of Western policies and highlights the urgent need for coherent, theoretically grounded activism in support of true sovereignty and self-determination for oppressed nations. Patrick’s work explores the strategies and ideologies of key movements, including the Palestine Communist Party, the Movement of Arab Nationalists, the Nasserists, the Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party, and the constituent factions of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). For Patrick's writings on Syria see…  Gunning for Damascus: The US War on the Syrian Arab Republic The Enemy at Home: U.S. Imperialism in Syria The War on Syria Syria and the French Empire from WWI to Present The Tropes of Anti-Anti Imperialism, Part 1: The Rise of Imperialist Internationalism The Tropes of Anti-Anti Imperialism, Part 2: False Regionalisms The Tropes of Anti-Anti Imperialism, Part 3: Palestine and the War on Syria The Firmest Bonds: Arab Nationalism and the Left, Part 1 Victims of Propaganda: In Defense of the Palestinian Left Applied Internationalism: Arab Nationalism and the Left, Part 2 War Within a War

In this episode of Al Falasteniyeh Media Network (AFMN), host Anton Manley sits down with Dr. Max Ajl, scholar and author, to discuss the latest developments in Syria and their implications for the broader resistance axis. From shifting geopolitical dynamics to the steadfast resilience of anti-imperialist movements, they delve into how Syria’s struggles are intertwined with the broader fight against Western hegemony in the region. Join us for an in-depth exploration of the political, economic, and cultural dimensions of resistance, as well as what these developments mean for Palestine, Lebanon, and beyond.

In this episode of The inSight AFMN’s Lead Editor, Anton Manley, interviews researcher and founder of Hamra Books, Aldan Marki, regarding the martyrdom of Yahya Sinwar, who he was and the more general situation of the Axis of Resistance as it currently stands.

Welcome to our new sub-series, The inSight, where we cover breaking developments regarding the resistance against the zionist entity. This episode is an interview between AFMN's lead editor Anton Manley and Matteo Capasso, Marxist Academic and Chief Editor of Middle East Critique. In this debut episode, we cover the rapidly escalating situation in Lebanon by touching on the pager attack and the Martyrdom of Nasrallah as it relates to the military and strategic capabilities of Hezbollah.

In this episode, we explore the life and politics of the martyr Nizar Banat, the Palestinian activist who fearlessly critiqued corruption within the Palestinian Authority until his tragic death. We delve into Banat’s legacy, his calls for reform, adherence to support for the resistance and how his activism resonated with movements beyond Palestine. We then turn to Iran we take a critical look at the so-called “Women, Life, Freedom” movement in Iran, dissecting the political agendas behind it and its alignment with Western narratives that aim to destabilize the Iranian government.

In this episode, Abdullah Shehadeh is invited to discuss the martyrdom of Ismail Haniyeh and its ramifications on the region on the show ‘Guerrilla History' with Adnan Hussein, Henry Hakamäki and Matteo Capasso.

Haydar and Abdullah discuss “Our Narrative” a document released by the resistance detailing the historical context and motivations of the October 7th operation.

In this discussion Haydar appears on MAKC to talk about AFMN's approach and our efforts to uplift the analyses of Palestinians from Palestine to those in the diaspora. They discuss analysis of the resistance's position and of the unfolding genocidal depravity of the zionist occupation in Palestine. We talk about the suppression of AFMN as an outlet which has attempted to set up offices and develop correspondents in Gaza.

In an interview with The International Magazine, a Marxist media outlet, AFMN’s Political Analyst Abdullah Shehadeh discusses his experience growing up and what led him to his analysis and working with AFMN

We’re back! This episode was delayed due to technical issues with our recording equipment. Here we highlight the academic revolutionary Basil Al-Araj’s life and work in relation to the current aggression on Gaza. Also an update on the more general geopolitical situation in the region.

This episode Abdullah delves into the ceasefire and prisoner exchange highlighting the treatment of settlers taken into Gaza versus Palestinian prisoners in occupation jails.

Haydar and Abdullah discuss the history of ground invasions into the Gaza Strip to give more context regarding the situation on the ground today.

A discussion about October 7, 2023 and the month following. ----------------------------------------------- A podcast series that aims to: “Elevate the political consciousness of the Diaspora and its allies” Present the narrative of resistance to counteract mainstream media’s complacency in the occupation.  Diving into the history of Palestinian resistance  And analyzing and contextualizing current events