Skip to content
  • Image
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Podcasts
  • Email
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Opinion
  • News
  • Features
  • Comment
  • Store
The Arab Daily News

The Arab Daily News

Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem

  • About
    • About
    • Our Writers
    • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
    • Book Store
    • Contact
    • Submit Book Reviews, Press Releases
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Corrections Policy
    • Profile on Ray Hanania
    • Submit Press Release
  • Features
    • Food
    • Book Review
    • Humor
    • Movies
    • Travel
  • Arab Stores Targeted
  • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Heritage America resources
    • Directory
      • Groups & Organizations
      • Mosques, Churches
      • Restaurants
      • 2008 & 2014 Arab Media Directories
    • National Arab Heritage Month
    • Video: Chicago Arab History
    • Video: Photo Array of Chicago Arabs
    • Overview of Arabs in America
    • Hanania standup comedy
    • Arabs on the Titanic
    • Obituaries
  • Podcasts
    • Ray Hanania on Politics Podcast
    • Arab News Ray Hanania Radio
    • Arab Radio Podcast intro
    • Radio Baladi Detroit
  • Hanania on Tiktok
  • Subscribe to eNewsletter
  • Toggle search form
  • Iowa Arab American Legislator Sami Scheetz
    ‘We Can’t Stop Now’: Sami Scheetz Announces Re-Election Bid for Iowa House District 78 American Arabs
  • American Middle East groups oppose granting Visa Waiver approval to Israel Sept. 27 , 2023
    American Middle East organizations protest against granting Israel Visa Waiver approval American Arabs
  • Alderman Lopez helped the Arab Community, now the Arab community should help Ald. Lopez American Arabs
  • Bavaria non-Alcoholic
    Ziyad Brothers congratulates brewers of Bavaria non-alcoholic beer for receiving international award Business
  • ADALAH confronts racist laws
    Civil Society Organizations to the Israeli Supreme Court: Cancel the Racist Admissions Committees Law Activism
  • The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, announced Tuesday (Sept. 19, 2023) the filing of a lawsuit with a dozen plaintiffs seeking an end to the government’s secret watchlist that almost exclusively targets Muslims for harassment and humiliation when they travel.
    CAIR Announces Lawsuit in D.C., Mass., N.J., Mich. Seeking End to Secret Government Watchlist American Arabs
  • Furquan Ahmed serves as the Wayne County Community College District’s (WCCCD) Senior Vice Chancellor and President of the Northwest Campus.
    AHRC’s Announces its 2023 “Spirit of Humanity” Gala Awardees American Arabs
  • Congresswoman Debbie Dingell Wikipedia
    Flooding slams Wayne County in Detroit Michigan: Dingell releases statement of support Michigan
  • MBC launches new satellite channel focused on Saudi Culture
    Saudis launch new Satellite TV channel dedicated to Saudi Culture Arab World
  • The names and faces of the 14 Palestinian engaged in an open hunger strike to demand freedom from administrative detention, imprisonment without charge or trial. Graphic by Samidoun. You can join Samidoun's campaign here and find useful resources.
    Palestinians mount hunger strike campaign against administrative detention Arab World
  • “A Call to Conscience: Defending Freedom & Human Rights,” McCormick Place, August 14-18, for the largest, worldwide gathering of global, faith-based, and social change leaders. 
    Largest global interfaith gathering coming to Chicago this week Christian & Muslim
  • State rep. Cyril Nichols, Democrat, 32nd Illinois House District
    Relationship between Arab Americans and African Americans needs more balance, Black State Rep says American Arabs
  • Syropotamia Online Magazine logo
    SYROPOTAMIA online magazine launched to Illuminate Arab American Stories American Arabs
  • Detroit’s true freedom fighters, activist, trailblazer, and leader Rev. Dr. JoAnn Watson who died on July 10, 2023
    AHRC Mourns the passing of Rev. Dr. JoAnn Watson, Freedom Fighter and Detroit Icon American Arabs
  • Abed Ayoub ADC National Director (Aug. 2022)
    ADC launches Arab American Business Advisory Council American Arabs

Don’t Expect Middle East Peace to Be a Presidential Campaign Issue

Posted on April 16, 2015June 12, 2019 By rayhanania 1 Comment on Don’t Expect Middle East Peace to Be a Presidential Campaign Issue
SHARE ...
          
 
  

  • Tweet

Loading

As the American presidential campaign gets into swing, there will be a big focus on the battle among the larger field of conservative and extremists Republicans like Cruz, Rand, Rubio and maybe a half dozen more, and they won’t be talking Middle East peace. But neither will Hillary Clinton or any Democrats who challenge her. The election campaign is like a season of “Who loves Israel more”

By Ray Hanania

RayHanania03-2015NameThmbOnce again, it’s “American Presidential Election Time” and the candidates’ roadshows will offer spectacular acts in which candidates jump through hoops of political fire to convince you they stand for America.

Or, they just might throw buckets of mud, slander and libel attacking their foes in the hopes of tearing them to pieces to make themselves look better.

That’s American democracy for you. Jelly wrestling with mud drenched rhetoric and promises that, after the election will be broken like Social Security in 20 short years.

One issue that won’t come up in a positive way will be Middle East peace. None of the candidates, Republicans or Democrats, will campaign on a platform of ending the Palestine-Israel conflict in a peaceful way.

There are a lot of topics that will get attention from the candidates. Some will trash immigration reform. Others will demand restrictions on same-sex marriage. Many will seek to undo the Iranian nuclear deal. And most will demand an end to Obamacare.

But they won’t try to bring peace to the Middle East. And they definitely won’t address ending the Palestine-Israel conflict. In fact, I would be surprised if any candidate — Republican or Democrat — will even utter the word “Palestine.”

That’s what happens in American elections. Honesty goes out the window as the media airwaves and social media will be flooded with promises that won’t be kept.

So as an American-Palestinian, I won’t be disappointed with the presidential candidates when they don’t address, in a substantive way, Palestine and the growing crisis building with Israel.

Official portrait of United States Senator (R-KY).
Official portrait of United States Senator Rand Paul (R-KY). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Israel is a sacred cow issue that takes on an even greater prominence during the election.

But it will be after the election when some candidates back away from their rambunctious campaign promises and threats and, hopefully, settle into a more moderate approach to America’s role in the outside world.

Hating foreigners during an election helps to get votes in America, not loving them.

I don’t expect many Republicans to soften on Middle East peace. If Israel and its powerful lobby in America direct that peace with the Palestinians is bad, no serious Republican candidate will challenge them.

But, neither will Hillary Clinton, the Democrat who is the wife of former President Bill Clinton who pushed hard to forge a Palestinian-Israeli peace accord.

After all, peace killed Egypt’s Anwar Sadat and Israel’s Yitzhak Rabin. (Radiation killed Yasser Arafat.) Practical politics isn’t about doing good. It’s about winning votes.

Hillary Clinton is not going to say or do anything that will jeopardize her chances of becoming the first woman president of the United States.

It doesn’t mean she doesn’t care about Palestine.

She does. But American politics isn’t about saying what you want to do. It is about telling your audience what they want to hear.

For some strange reason, people in the Middle East believe the BS propaganda that American democracy is about championing the rights of the people and they are always disappointed in the candidates who compete to show who is more pro-Israel.

Hillary Rodham Clinton, January 2007
Hillary Rodham Clinton, January 2007 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Don’t make me laugh. American democratic elections are about elevating oneself to the highest level of power. And you don’t get there by “doing the right thing.” At least not during the election campaign.

Once in office, however, you can do good. But, not before.

That’s how Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu won his majority powerbase in Israel’s March 17 election. During the campaign, he lashed out at the Arabs in the most racist manner, pointing to them and warning Jews in Israel basically, “If you don’t support me, the Arabs will be taking over Tel Aviv!”

Netanyahu even rejected the two-state solution, which I honestly don’t believe he ever supported to begin with.

But not supporting it during an election is good for his right-wing fanaticism and popularity in Israel, and winning votes. Rejecting it once you are in the office only causes international problems, which is why Netanyahu reversed himself after several days after winning.

And the truth be told, that’s what good ol’ American politics is all about.

Politicians say whatever it takes to win office. And once in office, they do what they really feel is best, or what they can get away with.

Which brings me back to Hillary Clinton.

I don’t expect her to show her love for Palestine or peace any time soon. She’ll compete with her growing Republican field of candidates — which includes U.S. Senators Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio and Rand Paul — to show excessive love for Israel.

Before the election, the battle will be about who loves Israel more. But after the election, the better candidate will settle back into reality and push for Palestinian statehood as the only way to bring lasting peace for Israel.

So when Hillary Clinton starts to bash Palestinian extremism while saying nothing about Israeli violence, terrorism, apartheid oppression or extremism, I won’t get upset. I’ll still support her. Because of all the candidates, Hillary Clinton is the only one who so far has a chance to win and be more likely to deflate her pro-Israel pre-election “Rah Rah” that will fill the airwaves, headlines and social media frenzy from now until Nov. 8, 2016.

Ray Hanania is an award-winning Palestinian American columnist managing editor of The Arab Daily News at www.TheArabDailyNews.com. Follow him on Twitter @RayHanania. To find out more about Ray Hanania and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2015 CREATORS.COM

Photo by JeepersMedia

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
rayhanania
rayhanania
Op-Ed writer, author, radio host, podcaster at The Arab Daily News
RAY HANANIA — Op-Ed writer, author, radio host, podcaster

Ray Hanania is an award winning political and humor columnist who analyzes American and Middle East politics, and life in general. He is an author of several books.

Hanania covered Chicago Politics and Chicago City Hall from 1976 through 1992 at the Daily Southtown and the Chicago Sun-Times. He began writing in 1975 publishing The Middle Eastern Voice newspaper in Chicago (1975-1977). He later published “The National Arab American Times” newspaper (2004-2007).

Hanania writes weekly columns on Middle East and American Arab issues as Special US Correspondent for the Arab News ArabNews.com, at TheArabDailyNews.com, and at SuburbanChicagoland.com. He has published weekly columns in the Jerusalem Post newspaper, YNetNews.com, Newsday, the Orlando Sentinel, Houston Chronical, and Arlington Heights Daily Herald.

Hanania is the recipient of four (4) Chicago Headline Club “Peter Lisagor Awards” for Column writing. In November 2006, he was named “Best Ethnic American Columnist” by the New American Media. In 2009, Hanania received the prestigious Sigma Delta Chi Award for Writing from the Society of Professional Journalists. He is the recipient of the MT Mehdi Courage in Journalism Award. He was honored for his writing skills with two (2) Chicago Stick-o-Type awards from the Chicago Newspaper Guild. In 1990, Hanania was nominated by the Chicago Sun-Times editors for a Pulitzer Prize for his four-part series on the Palestinian Intifada.

His writings have also been honored by two national Awards from ADC for his writing, and from the National Arab American Journalists Association.

Hanania is the US Special Correspondent for the Arab News Newspaper, covering Middle East and Arab American issues. He writes for the Southwest News newspaper group writing on mainstream American issues.

Click here to send Ray Hanania email.

Follow RayHanania on Gettr.com, the uncensored Twitter Ray Hanania on Gettr, the new Twitter
rayhanania
Latest posts by rayhanania (see all)
  • ‘We Can’t Stop Now’: Sami Scheetz Announces Re-Election Bid for Iowa House District 78 - September 27, 2023
  • American Middle East organizations protest against granting Israel Visa Waiver approval - September 27, 2023
  • Alderman Lopez helped the Arab Community, now the Arab community should help Ald. Lopez - September 27, 2023

  • Tweet

SHARE ...
          
 
  
 
          
 
 Tweet 
American Arabs, Bloggers, Commentary, Editors Picks, Israel, Palestine & Jordan, Ray Hanania Tags:AIPAC, Democrats, DOnald Trump, Elizabeth Warren, Hillary Clinton, Iran, Israel, Israeli–Palestinian conflict, Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, pro-Israel, Rand Paul, Republican candidates, Ted Cruz, yitzhak rabin

Post navigation

Previous Post: UAE Sheikh Al Nahyan to meet with President Obama
Next Post: Forever Young with Bob Dylan and Frank Sinatra

Related Posts

  • Nobel Laureate Mairead Maguire with Love Peace and Nonviolence Arab World
  • Dear French President Macron: Anti-Zionism Is NOT a Form Of Anti-Semitism Arab World
  • Real threat facing the Middle East is Iranian extremism Arab News
  • USS Liberty Remembrance Day Invitation To: POTUS, Congress, New York Times and YOU Arab World
  • International Women’s Day, Alfred Nobel and Mother’s Day American Arabs
  • Fundraiser for Congresswoman Marie Newman Dec. 29, 2021
    Arab community hosts fundraiser for Marie Newman Dec. 29, 2021 American Arabs

More Related Articles

Photo Essay: Gaza children begin school amid devastation caused by Israeli violence Arab World
Pamela Geller is not for free speech – donors beware Bloggers
Spiritual Progressive Responds to U.S. Attorney General William Barr Arab World
Witch-hunts, USS LIBERTY and If Americans Only Knew! American Arabs
Palestinians injured while protesting in support of hunger strikers at the Gaza border with Nahal Oz. Photo copyright Gaza Strip Photographer Ahmad Hasaballah Israel rules it is not liable for civilian casualties in Gaza Arab World
University of Illinois fires professor for expressing views critical of Israel’s war crimes in Gaza American Arabs

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • Alderman Lopez helped the Arab Community, now the Arab community should help Ald. Lopez
    September 27, 2023
  • Ali Mohamed Ahmed Osman Charge d’Affaires Embassy Sudan Tokyo
    The RSF mutiny’s resonance in Sudan: Understanding some of its impacts on regional and global dynamics
    September 23, 2023
  • Windows at many American Arab owned stores were broken the day after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. 14 Americans who "looked' Middle Eastern were murdered in the six months after the terrorism by Americans, most of whom were never prosecuted. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Disrespecting the memory of the 2,977 murdered victims of Sept. 11, 2001 by fueling a hatred of Arabs and Muslims
    September 11, 2023
  • Magdi A. Mofadal is the ambassador of Sudan to Austria
    Factors Stalling the Peace Process in Sudan
    August 28, 2023
  • grab634.jpg
  • Ziyad-300x300FIndStore.jpg
  • NEWS
  • Iowa Arab American Legislator Sami Scheetz
    ‘We Can’t Stop Now’: Sami Scheetz Announces Re-Election Bid for Iowa House District 78
    September 27, 2023
  • American Middle East groups oppose granting Visa Waiver approval to Israel Sept. 27 , 2023
    American Middle East organizations protest against granting Israel Visa Waiver approval
    September 27, 2023
  • Alderman Lopez helped the Arab Community, now the Arab community should help Ald. Lopez
    September 27, 2023
  • Bavaria non-Alcoholic
    Ziyad Brothers congratulates brewers of Bavaria non-alcoholic beer for receiving international award
    September 22, 2023
  • NEWSWIRE
  • American Middle East groups oppose granting Visa Waiver approval to Israel Sept. 27 , 2023
    American Middle East organizations protest against granting Israel Visa Waiver approval
    September 27, 2023
  • The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, announced Tuesday (Sept. 19, 2023) the filing of a lawsuit with a dozen plaintiffs seeking an end to the government’s secret watchlist that almost exclusively targets Muslims for harassment and humiliation when they travel.
    CAIR Announces Lawsuit in D.C., Mass., N.J., Mich. Seeking End to Secret Government Watchlist
    September 19, 2023
  • Furquan Ahmed serves as the Wayne County Community College District’s (WCCCD) Senior Vice Chancellor and President of the Northwest Campus.
    AHRC’s Announces its 2023 “Spirit of Humanity” Gala Awardees
    September 18, 2023
  • MBC launches new satellite channel focused on Saudi Culture
    Saudis launch new Satellite TV channel dedicated to Saudi Culture
    August 18, 2023

Creative Commons License
All work on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

Events

  • Amer Zahr's 1001 Laughs Palestine Comedy Festival returns in 2023
    Amer Zahr's 1001 Laughs Palestine Comedy Festival returns in 2023
    16 Sep 23
  • Huna al Quds exhibit opens at Museum of the Palestinian People
    Huna al Quds exhibit opens at Museum of the Palestinian People
    29 Sep 23
    Washington D.C.
  • Light in Gaza: Born of Fire Upcoming Book Tour Dates for Portland & Washington State
    Light in Gaza: Born of Fire Upcoming Book Tour Dates for Portland & Washington State
    30 Sep 23
  • US Council of Muslim Organizations to hold 10th anniversary Fundraiser
    US Council of Muslim Organizations to hold 10th anniversary Fundraiser
    15 Oct 23
    Oak Brook
  • Arab American Democratic Club to host 40th Anniversary celebration Nov. 1
    Arab American Democratic Club to host 40th Anniversary celebration Nov. 1
    1 Nov 23
    Bolingbrook

POPULAR POSTS

  • AHRC’s Announces its 2023 “Spirit of Humanity” Gala Awardees AHRC’s Announces its 2023 “Spirit of Humanity” Gala Awardees The American Human Rights Council (AHRC-USA) is pleased to announce its ... posted on September 18, 2023
  • The RSF mutiny’s resonance in Sudan: Understanding some of its impacts on regional and global dynamics The RSF mutiny's resonance in Sudan: Understanding some of its impacts on regional and global dynamics By Ali Mohamed Ahmed ... posted on September 23, 2023
  • Disrespecting the memory of the 2,977 murdered victims of Sept. 11, 2001 by fueling a hatred of Arabs and Muslims Disrespecting the memory of the 2,977 murdered victims of Sept. 11, 2001 by fueling a hatred of Arabs and Muslims ... posted on September 11, 2023
  • Arab-American influencers Furrha Family share secrets of their success Arab-American influencers Furrha Family share secrets of their success Salem Furrha and his eight children @theFurrhaFamily on TikTok and Instagram represent ... posted on February 6, 2021
  • Factors Stalling the Peace Process in Sudan Factors Stalling the Peace Process in Sudan By Magdi A. Mofadal Sudan’s partners are sounding the alarm over the deteriorating ... posted on August 28, 2023
  • Regional and International Stakes in Sudan’s Stability Regional and International Stakes in Sudan’s Stability By Magdi A. Mofadal Sudan has been grappling with the gravest catastrophe in ... posted on July 14, 2023

Recent Posts

  • ‘We Can’t Stop Now’: Sami Scheetz Announces Re-Election Bid for Iowa House District 78
  • American Middle East organizations protest against granting Israel Visa Waiver approval
  • Alderman Lopez helped the Arab Community, now the Arab community should help Ald. Lopez
  • The RSF mutiny’s resonance in Sudan: Understanding some of its impacts on regional and global dynamics
  • Ziyad Brothers congratulates brewers of Bavaria non-alcoholic beer for receiving international award
  • BOOK REVIEWS
  • Glory to God int he Lowest by Author Rev. Donald Wagner
    Book Review: Glory to God in the Lowest: journeys to an unholy land
    February 18, 2023
  • Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    October 24, 2022
  • ENTERTAINMENT
  • Comedian Ahmed Ahmed at The Comedy Bar in Chicago June 9 - 11, 2023
    Comedian Ahmed Ahmed performs in Chicago June 9-11, 2023 at The Comedy Bar
    June 9, 2023
  • Ziyad Food item
    Essential recipes and ingredients during Ramadan 
    April 4, 2023
  • Hussam al-Mayman, The Mayman Show, podcast Arab News
    Arab News launches third season of The Mayman Show podcast
    December 15, 2022
  • Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    October 24, 2022
  • Comedian Ramy Youssef courtesy of his Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ramysfaceboo/
    “Ramy” cable series melds Arab world reality with every day American life
    October 22, 2022
  • New-iTunes-1400-x-1400-The-Ray-Hanania-Show-Podcast-Icon-300-x-300.jpg
  • powerpr300x300ad.jpg
  • Podcast-iTunes-Logo-Chi-City-Hall-1985.jpg
  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png
  • terroristbookcover-300-x-300.jpg
Arab News Newspaper Logo
Read the Arab News, the leading English language newspaper in the MIddle East

Follow Ray Hanania at Gab.com, MeWe.com and IDobbinate.com, the alternatives to Facebook and Twitter Censorship.

Click here to get information on The Ray Hanania Radio Show and its podcasts

Copyright © 2023 The Arab Daily News.

Powered by PressBook Premium theme