Author: rayhanania

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. 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. Click here to send Ray Hanania email. Follow RayHanania on Gettr.com, the uncensored Twitter Ray Hanania on Gettr, the new Twitter

A World Lost: Escape From Yarmouk

April 19, 2015June 12, 2019 rayhanania No Comments

By Alexandra Halaby Over the past four years war has ravaged the Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmouk. At no other time has the future looked so dismal for the community of refugees who have called it home. The overwhelming destruction and impact on humanity has left the remaining residents in a state of sheer terror. What was once…

Arab World, Bloggers, Commentary, Israel, Palestine & Jordan

Israel and its Apartheid-like policies

April 19, 2015April 19, 2015 rayhanania No Comments

Israelis insist that Israel is the only Democracy in the Middle East. But what kind of Democracy is a country that discriminates against people based on race and religion and continually reinforces that discrimination? More importantly, what kind of people live in an apartheid-like country and pretends that they do not discriminate? By Ray Hanania For years, I always avoided…

Arab World, Bloggers, Commentary, Israel, Palestine & Jordan, Ray Hanania

Hezbollah leader urges Sunni uprising against Al-Saud

April 18, 2015April 18, 2015 rayhanania No Comments

Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah is stepping up his criticism of Saudi Arabia and their military excursion in Yemen. Hezbollah and Saudi Arabia are historical bitter enemies. By Ali Rizk In his latest speech Hezbollah’s secretary general Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah essentially called for a Sunni uprising against Al-Saud, and more specifically against the policies of the Saudi…

Arab World, Bloggers, Commentary, Gulf States, News

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

April 16, 2015June 12, 2019 rayhanania 1 Comment

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….

American Arabs, Bloggers, Commentary, Editors Picks, Israel, Palestine & Jordan, Ray Hanania

UAE Sheikh Al Nahyan to meet with President Obama

April 15, 2015April 15, 2015 rayhanania No Comments

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Meet with US President Barack Obama United Arab Emirates Ambassador to the United States, H.E. Yousef Al Otaiba, today announced that His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, will meet with US President Barack Obama next Monday,…

Activism, Arab World, Editors Picks, Gulf States, News, Press Releases

GE urged to support fair employment in Palestine-Israel

April 15, 2015September 24, 2018 rayhanania 1 Comment

Shareholders Pressing GE and Corning to Adopt Principles to Ensure American Companies in Palestine-Israel Practice Fair Employment Shareholders concerned about fair employment by American companies in Palestine-Israel —especially national, racial, ethnic or religious minorities— will press two huge American corporations this month to adopt the Holy Land Principles to govern the way they treat their…

Activism, Arab World, Business, Editors Picks, News, Palestine & Jordan, Press Releases

Time to Control Israel’s Nuclear Hypocrisies

April 13, 2015September 24, 2018 rayhanania 2 Comments

Time to Control Israel’s Nuclear Hypocrisies Israel is doing everything it can to undermine any deal on nuclear energy with Iran, not to make the world safer but to preserve its hegemony in the world. Conflict is the engine that sustains and drives today’s Israel, which is governed by extremists and fanatics who thrive in…

Arab World, Bloggers, Commentary, Editors Picks, Israel, Opinion, Palestine & Jordan, Ray Hanania

Talking with Israeli journalists about Palestine-Israel

April 10, 2015April 10, 2015 rayhanania No Comments

Over the past few weeks, I have interviewed several Israeli journalists as well as Palestinian journalists to examine the challenges facing Palestine-Israel peace. Two Israeli journalists I interviewed are Seth Frantzman, the Op-Ed editor of the Jerusalem Post, and Ricky Ben David, the News Editor of the Times of Israel. By Ray Hanania One of the…

Arab World, Bloggers, Commentary, Editors Picks, Israel, Palestine & Jordan, Podcast, Ray Hanania, Spotlight

Middle East Orthodox Christians observe Easter

April 5, 2015June 12, 2019 rayhanania No Comments

Orthodox Christians, mainly from the Middle East or Mediterranean region, closely follow the same traditions as Catholics and Protestants, but in a fundamental origin that has been preserved over the two millennium. The Orthodox Easter observations and celebrations begin a week after mainstream Christians leading up to this year’s important Easter date, Sunday April 12, 2015 By…

American Arabs, Bloggers, Christian & Muslim, Commentary, Editors Picks, Palestine & Jordan, Ray Hanania, religion, Spotlight

Podcast: Aftab defends Mayor Emanuel; Sonia Khalil on her election

April 3, 2015April 3, 2015 rayhanania 1 Comment

Podcast: Talk of the Town Radio with host Ray Hanania on YahalaVoice.com Friday 3:30 PM CST Chicago time, on www.YahalaVoice.com (and second half broadcast on 1450 AM Radio (4-4:30 PM CST) At the top of the show, we speak with guest Salman Aftab, an influential Muslim American activist in Chicago politics describes why he supports…

American Arabs, Bloggers, Commentary, Editors Picks, Ray Hanania, US Arab Politics

That Upbeat Melody of Muslim-Bashing

April 3, 2015June 12, 2019 rayhanania No Comments

Rarely can anyone have a discussion that involves Muslims without a little bashing even when it has to do with boot stomping, dressing flaying Country music. Is Country music more patriotic, or does it intentionally fan the flames of Muslim-bashing? By Ray Hanania What do country music, Ted Cruz, terrorists and Muslims have in common? This week…

American Arabs, Bloggers, Christian & Muslim, Commentary, Editors Picks, Ray Hanania, religion

Arab and Israelis journalists analyze the Israeli elections

March 31, 2015 rayhanania No Comments

Journalists Mohammed Najib based in Ramallah and Seth Frantzman offer their analysis of the March 17, 2015 Israeli elections and what they mean. Najib, a Palestinian based in Ramallah, Palestine, and Frantzman, an Israeli based in Jerusalem, each discuss what they believe is the significance of the elections, the potential outcomes and the surprise performance…

Arab World, Bloggers, Commentary, Editors Picks, Israel, News Media, Palestine & Jordan, Podcast, Ray Hanania

Street named in Honor of Tearing Icon of Virgin Mary

March 30, 2015 rayhanania 1 Comment

Officials of Orthodox Christian Church commemorate the Miraculous Lady of Cicero, the Tearing Icon of the Virgin Mary, with an honorary street naming in front of the church located in Cicero, Illinois. By Ray Hanania Orthodox Church officials joined Archpriest Nicholas Dahdal and officials from the Town of Cicero in commemorating the miracle of the Tearing Icon…

American Arabs, Christian & Muslim, Editors Picks, News, Ray Hanania, Spotlight

Land Day report shows worsening discrimination in Israel

March 30, 2015March 30, 2015 rayhanania No Comments

As Palestinians and the world celebrate Land Day in recognition of the land rights stolen by Israel in occupied Palestine, a new report shows the Apartheid-like discrimination by Israel against Christian and Muslim citizens of Israel and especially against the victims of Israel’s Apartheid-like policies in the West Bank. By Ray Hanania A new report…

Arab World, Bloggers, Commentary, Editors Picks, Israel, News, Palestine & Jordan, Ray Hanania

Saudis vow to continue Yemen campaign against Houthis

March 30, 2015March 30, 2015 rayhanania No Comments

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz ordered troops to enter Yemen last week to confront the Houthis, armed militants accused of terrorism. The invasion is backed by 10 regional nations. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz today vowed that the Saudi-led coalition against Houthi rebels in Yemen will continue until…

Arab World, Gulf States, News

Middle East Christians in extreme danger Gemayel warns

March 28, 2015 rayhanania 1 Comment

Amine Gemayel, Lebanon’s former president, raised the “specter of genocide” in speaking of atrocities against Christians and other minorities in the Middle East. Gemayel says Middle East Christians have never been in more extreme danger By Managing Editor “I have never in my life witnessed Middle East Christians in such extreme danger,” Amine Gemayel warned on…

Arab World, Christian & Muslim, Editors Picks, Israel, News, North Africa, Palestine & Jordan, Press Releases, religion, Spotlight, Syria

GE Israel urged to embrace principles of fairness

March 28, 2015June 12, 2019 rayhanania No Comments

Citing an 85 percent increase in racial discrimination complaints in Israel according to a recent report by Israel’s Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Father Sean McManus, the head of the Holy Land Principles, urged GE Israel, one of the largest employers there, to adhere to workforce principles of fairness. By Managing Editor The giant American corporation GE has…

Arab World, Business, Editors Picks, Israel, News, Palestine & Jordan, Press Releases

Doctors protest 5 recent chemical attacks in Syria

March 26, 2015 rayhanania 1 Comment

Volunteer doctors with the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) have protested the use of chemical weapons targeting civilians in Syria. At least five bombings using chemical weapons have taken place over several Syrian cities during the past two weeks, SAMS officials report. By Ray Hanania Medical doctors and volunteers working with the Syrian American Medical Society…

Arab World, Bloggers, Commentary, Editors Picks, News, Spotlight, Syria