Author: Ray Hanania

Ray Hanania is an award-winning columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland. His award winning columns can be found at www.HANANIA.COM Subscribe FREE today Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing. Email Ray Hanania at [email protected]. Follow RayHanania at Twitter

CAIR-LA Raises Deep Concerns Regarding UC Settlement in Case Perpetuating False Narrative That UCLA Anti-Genocide Encampment Was Antisemitic

July 31, 2025July 31, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

CAIR-LA Raises Deep Concerns Regarding UC Settlement in Case Perpetuating False Narrative That UCLA Anti-Genocide Encampment Was Antisemitic The Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today raised concerns regarding a recent announcement by the University of California that it will pay to settle a federal lawsuit that stemmed from the…

Activism, Christian & Muslim, News, Palestine & Jordan, racism, religion

Israeli influenced US Government sanctions Palestinian government

July 31, 2025July 31, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Sanctioning Officials of the Palestinian Authority and Members of the Palestine Liberation Organization By Ray Hanania The U.S. State Department and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have sanctioned the Palestinian Authority in an effort to undermine its credibility and strengthen Israel’s violent war crime policies. The announcement by Rubio was made Thursday, July 31, 2025…

Human Rights, Israel, News, Palestine & Jordan, Politics, war crimes

Bernie Sanders launches “Fighting Oligarchy Tour” to help public understand political threats to government

July 31, 2025July 31, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Bernie Sanders launches “Fighting Oligarchy Tour” to help public understand political threats to government U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) next weekend will hit the road for the latest swing of his national “Fighting Oligarchy: Where We Go From Here” tour, which is focused on the takeover of the national government by billionaires and large corporations,…

Activism, News, Politics, Senate

Sanders: Trump Welcomes War Criminal to White House

July 9, 2025July 9, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Sanders: Trump Welcomes War Criminal to White House WASHINGTON — Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) released the following statement after President Donald Trump welcomed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House: “As President Trump and Members of Congress roll out the red carpet for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, let’s remember that Netanyahu has been…

American Arabs, Civil Rights, Human Rights, International news, Israel, News, Palestine & Jordan, Politics, Terrorism, US Arab Politics

War crimes probe urged against two Israeli snipers who intentionally killed civilian women, children

July 2, 2025July 2, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

War crimes probe urged against two Israeli snipers who intentionally killed civilian women, children FIDH, along with its Palestinian and French member organisations Al-Haq, Al Mezan, PCHR and the LDH, as well as the AFPS, are calling for the opening of an investigation against two French-Israeli soldiers, Sasha A. and Gabriel B. These two soldiers,…

Christian & Muslim, Civil Rights, Human Rights, International news, Israel, Middle East, News, Palestine & Jordan, racism, war, war crimes

CAIR Says Israel Turns Gaza into ‘Human Slaughterhouse’ as Killing of Civilians Continues

July 1, 2025July 1, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

CAIR Says Israel Turns Gaza into ‘Human Slaughterhouse’ as Killing of Civilians Continues The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today Tuesday, July 1, 2025, said Israel has turned Gaza into a “human slaughterhouse” after Israeli forces murdered at least 69 people, including 19 children, seven women…

Arab World, Christian & Muslim, Civil Rights, Israel, Middle East, News, Palestine & Jordan, racism, refugees

Emergency Court Motions to Stop Elbit Drone Parts Shipment via Frankfurt Airport

June 7, 2025June 7, 2025 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Emergency Court Motions to Stop Elbit Drone Parts Shipment via Frankfurt Airport Lawsuit intended to stop Israeli killings of innocent civilians, women and children in their ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip where more than 60,000 people have been indiscriminately murdered by Israeli forces using American made weaponry and backed by American taxpayer funding. The…

Activism, Arab World, Human Rights, International news, Israel, Legal, Middle East, News, Palestine & Jordan, racism, Terrorism

Documentary names soldier it says killed Shireen Abu Akleh in 2022

June 1, 2025June 1, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Documentary names soldier it says killed Shireen Abu Akleh in 2022 As the third anniversary of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh’smurder nears, a documentary offering new evidence about her killing highlights the failure of American and international authorities in investigating the case and securing justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said Thursday. The documentary…

American Arabs, Human Rights, Israel, Journalism, Media Bias, Middle East, News, News Media, Palestine & Jordan, Terrorism, war crimes

Jordan bans 12 news sites for ‘spreading media poison’ following corruption report

June 1, 2025June 1, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Jordan bans 12 news sites for ‘spreading media poison’ following corruption report People walk past street vendors outside a mosque in Amman, Jordan, in 2018. Jordan banned 12 websites for publishing “distorted” images of the country. The Committee to Protect Journalists urges Jordanian authorities to lift Wednesday’s ban (May 16, 2025) on a dozen online…

Arab World, Journalism, Middle East, News, News Media, Palestine & Jordan, Politics

CAIR Condemns MIT for banning Class President from Graduation Ceremony over Anti-Genocide speech

June 1, 2025June 1, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

CAIR Condemns MIT for banning Class President from Graduation Ceremony over Anti-Genocide speech The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, and its Massachusetts chapter (CAIR-MA) today condemned the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for reportedly banning MIT class of 2025 president Megha Vemuri from attending her undergraduate graduation…

Activism, American Arabs, Christian & Muslim, Civil Rights, Culture, Human Rights, Israel, Michigan, News, NewsWire, Palestine & Jordan, racism

ADC Condemns ADL, Rep. Torres’ Defamation of Dr. Lara Sheehi

June 1, 2025June 1, 2025 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

ADC Condemns ADL, Rep. Torres’ Defamation of Dr. Lara Sheehi Recent attacks on Dr. Lara Sheehi—including the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) pressure campaign targeting and trying to intimidate the American Psychological Association—are defamatory, an assault on her character, and a transparent attempt to silence voices critical of Israel. Multiple independent investigations have already cleared Dr. Sheehi…

Activism, American Arabs, Christian & Muslim, Civil Rights, Human Rights, Israel, News, Palestine & Jordan, racism

UN Special Committee on Israeli practices in occupied territories warns of a second Nakba

May 9, 2025May 9, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

UN Special Committee on Israeli practices in occupied territories warns of a second Nakba “Israel continues to inflict unimaginable suffering on the people living under its occupation, whilst rapidly expanding confiscation of land as part of its wider colonial aspirations. What we are witnessing could very well be another Nakba”, warned a UN Special Committee*…

Arab World, Christian & Muslim, Civil Rights, Human Rights, International news, Israel, News, Palestine & Jordan, Terrorism, United Nations

Pappas honors Arab American business and community leaders for Heritage Month

April 29, 2025April 29, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pappas honors Arab American business and community leaders for Heritage Month Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas hosted her annual celebration for Arab American Heritage Month, one of several dozen events her office sponsors to recognize the many contributions Cook County’s various ethnic and religious groups have made to society. By Ray Hanania Cook County Treasurer…

Activism, American Arabs, Christian & Muslim, Culture, Event, Events, News, NewsWire, Palestine & Jordan

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas recognizes Arab American Heritage Month by honoring business and community leaders

April 27, 2025April 27, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas recognizes Arab American Heritage Month by honoring business and community leaders WHO: Maria Pappas, Cook County Treasurer WHAT: Treasurer Pappas will celebrate Arab American Heritage Month by recognizing more than 30 business, civic, political and religious leaders from the Chicagoland community with Certificates of Excellence. WHEN: 2…

American Arabs, Christian & Muslim, Civil Rights, Culture, Event, Events, Human Rights, News, NewsWire, The Arab Street

Andrew S. Boutros Takes Oath of Office as United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois

April 7, 2025April 7, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Andrew S. Boutros Takes Oath of Office as United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois Andrew S. Boutros, who served as a federal prosecutor in Chicago for nearly eight years before entering private law practice, took the Oath of Office today as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. U.S….

American Arabs, Civil Rights, News, US Arab Politics

Palestinians demand investigation of Israeli war crimes in Gaza Strip

April 7, 2025April 7, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Palestinians demand investigation of Israeli war crimes in Gaza Strip On 18 March 2025, Israel launched a series of airstrikes on Gaza, killing at least 404 Palestinians and injuring 562 more, breaking the already fragile ceasefire. Since then, Israel has continued its genocidal campaign against the Palestinians, devastating every single sector of Palestinian life as…

Arab World, Civil Rights, Human Rights, International news, Israel, News, Palestine & Jordan, Terrorism, war, war crimes

Illinois Muslim Action Day Policies at April 9 Statehouse News Conference

April 7, 2025April 7, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Illinois Muslim Action Day Policies at April 9 Statehouse News Conference Muslim Leaders, Lawmakers to Discuss Illinois Muslim Action Day Policies at April 9 Statehouse News Conference Advocates representing the Muslim and immigrant communities across Chicagoland will travel to the Illinois State Capitol on Wednesday, April 9, to call for strengthening Illinois’ welcoming state policies…

American Arabs, Christian & Muslim, Event, Events, News, Palestine & Jordan, Politics, US Arab Politics

Investigation demanded into Israel slaughter of First Responder in Rafah on March 23, 2025

April 7, 2025April 7, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Investigation demanded into Israel slaughter of First Responder in Rafah on March 23, 2025 Palestine Red Crescent Society Calls for Independent International Investigation to Hold Those Responsible Accountable for the Crime of Targeting Ambulance Teams in Rafah on March 23, 2025 The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) affirms that the targeting of its ambulance convoy…

Arab World, Christian & Muslim, Civil Rights, Human Rights, International news, Israel, Middle East, News, Palestine & Jordan, Terrorism, war crimes