Mik Jordahl is a practicing attorney who lives in Sedona. As a plaintiff he successfully challenged the enforcement of an Arizona law requiring him, as a condition of receiving a government contract, to sign an oath stating he would not boycott businesses profiting from the Israeli occupation (2017). As an attorney he has helped strike down three other unconstitutional Arizona laws. These included Arizona’s prohibition on same sex marriage (2014), a law prohibiting peaceful begging (2013), and a state law preventing cities from raising their own minimum wages (2015). Mik has been to Palestine and Israel on two extended trips.

Mohyeddin is a Palestinian Arab American who immigrated to the United States in 1978 and has lived in Tucson since then. Mohyeddin was born in Emwas (Emmaus), a village in Palestine that existed for 3000 years until it was completely bulldozed by the Israeli military in 1967. Emwas has been replaced by a public park for Israelis only called Canada Park. Mohyeddin is happily retired after working for the University of Arizona and the Arizona Court of Appeals for more than 30 years. Mohyeddin has been an activist for justice, equality, human rights and peace all of his life. He serves on the board of directors of Borderlands Theater and the Asylum Program of Arizona. Mohyeddin is a cofounder of the Arizona Palestine Solidarity Alliance and an active participant in other peace and justice organizations. He enjoys life with the grandchildren, organic gardening and playing tennis among other things.

David Higgins grew up in the Los Angeles area at a time when the understanding of Palestine/Israel was largely determined by an extreme media bias towards Israel and the popular but disingenuous fictional narrative of Leon Uris’s book—Exodus. After military service and receiving a BFA at ASU, he moved to the New York metropolitan area and worked as a prototype maker.In 1990, cracks in the above-mentioned narrative began to appear after David came across the newly published book By Way of Deception: The Making and Unmaking of a Mossad Officer by Victor Ostrovsky. Further reading of well-cited, reputable sources (mentioned in AzPal’s Sources page) revealed to him that almost everything the average American knows about Israel is an orchestrated falsehood. After returning to Arizona in 1998 and becoming a political donor to the ADP and DCCC in 2008, David discovered that most American politicians are career-dependent on sustaining Israel’s political agenda at the expense of American interests.

Maher Nawaf Arekat is a distinguished Palestinian entrepreneur and advocate for freedom and democracy, who has called the United States home for over five decades. His remarkable journey began as a refugee following the aftermath of the 1967 war, when he sought refuge in the United States. Since then, he has built a successful business career while remaining deeply committed to his Palestinian heritage.

Maher's story is one of resilience, hard work, and unwavering dedication to making a difference. He has channeled his passion for justice and equality into various charitable organizations, actively engaging with multiple 501(c) nonprofits dedicated to humanitarian causes, especially those aimed at supporting Palestinian refugees and promoting peace in the Middle East.

Beyond his business acumen, Maher Nawaf Arekat is a tireless advocate for the values of freedom and democracy. He believes in the power of diplomacy and dialogue to create a more just and equitable world. Over the years, he has worked tirelessly to bridge divides, foster understanding, and advocate for human rights, embodying the spirit of unity and cooperation that transcends borders.

Maher's life is a testament to the American dream, the enduring human spirit, and the potential for positive change when one person's commitment to justice and democracy transcends both time and place.

Jim is currently a student at ASU studying philosophy. From a very young age, he learned about the persecution and famine imposed on people in Ireland, where the majority of his family has ancestry. Since then, he has been aware of the role of colonial powers in denying fundamental rights to people throughout history. When he got to Arizona State University in 2018, he learned about the lasting tradition of solidarity between the Irish and the Palestinians, which inspired him to become a vocal supporter of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement. Since 2019, he has been an active member of Students for Justice in Palestine, where he has developed an understanding of the Palestinian struggle for liberation and how it directly relates to the struggles of nations around the world living under settler-colonialism.

Mike Bradley is a retired teacher living in Scottsdale. He worked as a reporter-photographer for a year after graduating from the University of Arizona. He later studied politics at the University of Southern California, where he began to study the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The efforts of pro-Israel groups to spread deceitful propaganda in the U.S. about Israel and the Palestinians are shameful. Elected U.S. politicians remain heartlessly supportive of Israel’s apartheid policies. Mike has taught American Politics in community colleges, at a K-12 school on the Navajo Nation, and at a K-8 school in Phoenix. He works to educate people about ways they can influence the U.S. government to stop funding Israel until Israel stops stealing Palestinian land, complies with international law, and dismantles its apartheid policies. All human beings deserve dignity, respect, security, and human rights.