Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem
ADC Condemns New Visa Freeze Using ‘Public Charge’ Criteria to Deny Entry and Separate Families The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) on Jan. 14, 2026 strongly condemns the State Department’s action freezing visa processing for nationals from 75 countries under an expanded and deeply troubling interpretation of the “public charge” doctrine. Unlike prior travel bans that…
American Arab Chamber of Commerce releases endorsements in key Illinois races Press Release/Chicago, IL – The American Arab Chamber of Commerce, the longest and largest Arab Chamber in Illinois, today released its list of endorsements for candidates running in key contests have been responsive to the community. In a statement, the AACCUSA Board said the…
Read More “American Arab Chamber of Commerce releases endorsements in key Illinois races” »
Islamic Scholarship Fund ISF Scholarship & Program Applications are Open! The ISF is excited to announce that applications are open now through March 21st for ISF’s upcoming 2026-2027 internships, fellowships, and scholarships. These programs are designed to provide mentorship, financial resources, and professional development opportunities for the next generation of leaders, and we are looking…
Read More “Islamic Scholarship Fund ISF Scholarship & Program Applications are Open!” »
Zakat Foundation of America honors memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Zakat Foundation of America honors MLK legacy by providing aid and assistance to the poor and needy in Chicago area, 8 states and 48 service events in locations around the country. In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King the Zakat Foundation of America has initiated a National Day of Service program across…
Read More “Zakat Foundation of America honors memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr” »
The Legacies of the Middle East in 2025 Are Likely to Repeat in 2026 By Yara M. Asi, Daniel Brumberg, Elobaid Elobaid, Samia Errazzouki, Imad K. Harb, Marwan Kabalan, Nabeel A. Khoury, Laurie King, Assal Rad, Rend Al-Rahim, and Mtanes Shihadeh In 2025, the Middle East and North Africa saw Israel’s genocidal war on Palestinians and destabilizing military attacks across the wider region,…
Read More “The Legacies of the Middle East in 2025 Are Likely to Repeat in 2026” »
Challengers in Illinois’ 6th and 10th Congressional Districts Face Voters on The Lightning Strike Voters in two closely watched Illinois congressional districts heard directly from Democratic primary challengers on Sunday morning January 4, 2026 during a candidates’ forum broadcast on The Lightning Strike, the weekly progressive radio program airing on WCPT 820 AM Radio. The…
Arab Center Analysis: Israel’s declining support among American Evangelicals By Jonathan Kuttab for the Arab Center of Washington D.C. Evangelical Christian support for Israel and its policies has long been one of the bedrock factors behind backing for Israel in the United States. Such support pervaded all sectors of American decision-making at the executive and…
Read More “Arab Center Analysis: Israel’s declining support among American Evangelicals ” »
Mayor-Elect Mamdani Appoints Education Veteran Kamar Samuels as Schools Chancellor To Deliver Educational Excellence Samuels will partner with the Mayor-elect to raise outcomes in reading and math, confront school segregation, invest in educators, combat student homelessness, and deliver educational excellence for every student. As Superintendent in Manhattan and Brooklyn, Samuels has improved students’ literacy scores…
Taybeh exposes claims Christians are “treated better in Israel” than in Arab countries By Ray Hanania Chicago, IL – During a public speech days before the Christian celebration of Christmas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu bragged that “Israel is the only country in the Middle East that grants Christians full religious freedom … and is…
Read More “Taybeh exposes claims Christians are “treated better in Israel” than in Arab countries” »
ICYMI: Shaheen Secures Repeal of Caesar Act Sanctions on Syria in Annual Defense Bill U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, secured a provision to repeal Caesar sanctions on Syria in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which now heads to the President’s desk for…
Read More “ICYMI: Shaheen Secures Repeal of Caesar Act Sanctions on Syria in Annual Defense Bill” »
Secretary of State Rubio rebuffs Rule of Law and defends war crimes by Israel Rubio sanctions ICC Judges for issuing war crimes indictments against Israeli government criminals. Twisted Rubio statement below. Rubio act violates US Laws and defends international war crimes, exposing American soldiers to prosecution and allowing war criminals to target Americans Today, I…
Read More “Secretary of State Rubio rebuffs Rule of Law and defends war crimes by Israel” »
CAIR LDF, MLFA, SPLC and Akeel & Valentine Sue Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Over ‘Blatantly Unconstitutional’ Executive Order Akeel & Valentine, CAIR Legal Defense Fund (CAIR LDF), the Muslim Legal Fund of America (MLFA) and the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) announced on Monday Dec. 15, 2025 the filing of a federal lawsuit challenging Florida…
Akram Baker remembered, worked at Orient House in Jerusalem with the late Faisal Husseini Obituary, 1966 – 2025 By Hady Amr Akram Ahmad Baker, 58, my longtime friend and colleague, passed away on December 11, following a valiant battle with disease. Akram was born in Norfolk, Virginia in 1966 to Palestinian-American parents from Bir Nabalah,…
Union leader Fayez Khozindar honored for defense of limo and Uber Black drivers O’Hare prayer tent The American Arab Chamber of Commerce honored 80 individuals, leaders, activists and journalists for their contributions to the community during its annual “Best of the Best” dinner at the Orland Civic Center Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, including a champion…
Illinois Arab Chamber presents “Best of the Best” awards honoring community leaders and activists The American Arab Chamber of Commerce honored 80 individuals for their contributions to the community during its annual “Best of the Best” dinner at the Orland Civic Center Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. Orland Park Mayor Jim Dodge, the event keynote speaker,…
Arab American Chamber of Commerce Honors Mr. Halil Demir for his Humanitarian Leadership Chicago, IL — Halil Demir, the Executive Director of the Chicago-based Zakat Foundation of America, was honored on Tuesday December 9th by the American Arab Chamber of Commerce for his life-long work and dedication to humanitarian relief in the United States and…
CAIR Urges Congress to Demand Rep. Randy Fine’s Resignation After His Call for a Genocide of All ‘Mainstream Muslims’ The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on U.S. House leaders and members to demand the resignation of Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL) after he posted a “deranged’…
CAIR denounces defamatory namecalling of racist Ron DeSantis CAIR, CAIR-Florida Tell racist Ron DeSantis ‘See You in Court’ After Unconstitutional and Defamatory ‘Israel First Political Stunt’ The Florida chapter and national headquarters of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, announced Monday, Dec. 8, 2025 plans to…
Read More “CAIR denounces defamatory namecalling of racist Ron DeSantis” »