Who Owns the Levant? DNA vs. The Settler Narrative

In this episode, we examine the "indigeneity paradox"—the idea that the more we try to define who belongs to a land, the more the logic of universal conquest begins to unravel. We delve into the shifting definitions of "peoplehood Zionism," the genetic links between modern Levantine populations and Bronze Age Canaanites, and the erasure of Mizrahi Jewish history in Western discourse. From the 2026 U.S. budget cuts affecting Native American tribes to the legal frameworks of UNDRIP, we ask: if everyone’s ancestors were once displaced, when does the clock of "rightful ownership" actually stop? By looking at the objective genetic data that links both Jews and Palestinians to the same ancestors, we challenge the standard settler-colonial binary. This conversation explores whether the term "indigenous" serves as a tool for justice or a weapon for exclusion, ultimately questioning if acknowledging shared roots can provide a path forward in one of the world's most intractable conflicts.