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

Candidates promise fairness and engagement at Arab Chamber Iftar event March 13

March 14, 2025March 22, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Candidates promise fairness and engagement at Arab Chamber Iftar event March 13 By Ray Hanania More than a dozen candidates running for various local offices in the Chicagoland suburbs attended an Iftar dinner Thursday, March 13, 2025 hosted by the Arab American Chamber of Commerce and the Palestine Club at the Jerusalem Banquet Hall in…

Activism, American Arabs, Election, News

Arab Chamber and Palestine Club host Candidate Iftar March 13 in Bridgeview

March 11, 2025March 11, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Arab Chamber and Palestine Club host Candidate Iftar March 13 in Bridgeview The Arab American Chamber of Commerce of Chicagoland and the Palestine Club are hosting a “Candidate’s Iftar” on Thursday, March 13 beginning at 5:30 PM at Jerusalem Banquets, 8314 S. Harlem Avenue in Bridgeview. The event is open to all candidates and to…

Activism, American Arabs, Business, Christian & Muslim, Election, News

MBC GROUP unveils MBCNOW, its brand-new groundbreaking entertainment service aggregator

February 24, 2025February 24, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

MBC GROUP unveils MBCNOW, its brand-new groundbreaking entertainment service aggregator MBC GROUP’s revolutionary platform is set to offer a new era of digital and traditional content consumption across the region, bringing together the best of entertainment including MBC’s award-winning TV channels and Shahid, the world’s leading Arabic streaming platform. To celebrate launch, MBCNOW arrives with…

American Arabs, Arab World, Entertainment, Middle East, News, Saudi Arabia, Television

Celebration of 500th Interfaith Marriage Ceremony

February 14, 2025February 14, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Celebration of 500th Interfaith Marriage Ceremony Championing Unity, Love, and Pluralism Through Interfaith Weddings Washington, D.C., – Dr. Mike Mohamed Ghouse, a renowned interfaith wedding officiant, is preparing to celebrate a remarkable milestone—his 500th marriage ceremony. Over the past 15 years, Dr. Ghouse has officiated weddings that transcend faith, race, and ethnicity, fostering unity and…

American Arabs, Mike Ghouse, News, NewsWire, Press Releases

Israeli Settlement Expansion Continues for Fifth Consecutive Week: Plans to Advance 765 New Housing Units

December 31, 2024December 31, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Israeli Settlement Expansion Continues for Fifth Consecutive Week: Plans to Advance 765 New Housing Units On Wednesday, January 1, 2025, the Higher Planning Council (HPC) will convene to discuss the approval of a construction plan for 765 housing units in the settlement of Beitar Illit. Since December 2024, the HPC has been advancing housing construction…

American Arabs, Arab World, Christian & Muslim, Human Rights, International news, Israel, Middle East, News, Palestine & Jordan, Quick News, war crimes

A recipe on how to make Stuffed Grape Leaves with lamb, ox tail and rice

December 29, 2024April 26, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

A recipe on how to make Stuffed Grape Leaves with lamb, ox tail and rice #Read @RayHanania I love #MiddleEastern #Arab food recipes in addition to politics. Here’s my how to make Stuffed #GrapeLeaves with diced #lamb #steak #wariqDuwali #OxTail and #rice Read Ray Hanania’s columns on politics, life in general, and his love for…

American Arabs, Arab News, Arab World, ArabNewsColumn, Christian & Muslim, Culture, Europe, Features, Food, Health, immigrants, Lebanon, Middle East, News, Palestine & Jordan, Ray Hanania, recipe, Spotlight

All United launches to empower local community and drive political change

December 17, 2024February 12, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

All United launches to empower local community and drive political change ORLAND PARK, IL – Last week, All United, a newly established statewide Political Action Committee (PAC), launched its mission to build a powerful and inclusive political movement at its inaugural fundraiser—an event that demonstrated the strength, unity, and resolve of the communities it aims…

American Arabs, Christian & Muslim, Civil Rights, Election, Human Rights, News, NewsWire, Palestine & Jordan, Politics, racism, Ray Hanania, Spotlight, The Arab Street, US Arab Politics

CAIR condemns GOP selection of Genocidal anti-Palestinian racist Rep. Brian Mast as Chair of Foreign Affairs Committee

December 11, 2024December 11, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

CAIR condemns GOP selection of Genocidal anti-Palestinian racist Rep. Brian Mast as Chair of Foreign Affairs Committee The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned the GOP’s selection of genocidal anti-Palestinian racist Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.) as chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the next Congress….

American Arabs, ArabNewsColumn, Assyrian, Census, Christian & Muslim, Civil Rights, Classifieds, Congress, Education, Europe, Gulf States, Human Rights, International news, Israel, Joumana Kayrouz, Maria Khoury, Michigan, Mohammed Asad, News, Palestine & Jordan, US Arab Politics

Senator Hastings and Rep Nichols introduce commemoration resolutions for the late Nemer Ziyad

November 27, 2024December 11, 2024 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Senator Hastings and Rep Nichols introduce commemoration resolutions for the late Nemer Ziyad The resolutions were approved in the Illinois State Senate and the Illinois State House on November 11 and on November 13, 2024, memorializing his passing and acknowledging his achievements as a proud Arab American State Senator Michael Hastings and State Rep. Cyril…

American Arabs, Arab American History, ArabNewsColumn, Assyrian, Census, Christian & Muslim, Civil Rights, Classifieds, Congress, Education, Europe, Features, Food, immigrants, Maria Khoury, Mohammed Asad, News, NewsWire, Palestine & Jordan, Spotlight, US Arab Politics

CAIR-Chicago to Renew Calls for Senator Sara Feigenholtz to resign over her promoting Hatred of Muslims

November 20, 2024November 20, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

CAIR-Chicago to Renew Calls for Senator Sara Feigenholtz to resign over her promoting Hatred of Muslims Illinois State Senator Sara Feigenholtz has a history of anti-Arab and racist remarks and a bias against Arab Americans and yet she is not held accountable because her victims are Arabs and Muslims. CAIR and other organizations have been…

American Arabs, Christian & Muslim, News, NewsWire, racism

Arab American leaders to be saluted by Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas who will unveil Arabic language video, brochure

November 7, 2024November 8, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Arab American leaders to be saluted by Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas who will unveil Arabic language video, brochure WHO: Maria Pappas, Cook County Treasurer and Nada Draz, Consul General of Egypt in Chicago WHAT: Celebration of Arab American contributions at which Pappas will present certificates of recognition to community leaders, activists, and entrepreneurs and…

Activism, American Arabs, Event, Events, News, Press Releases

Jill Stein endorsed for President by largest Illinois Arab American coalition

November 3, 2024November 4, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Jill Stein endorsed for President by largest Illinois Arab American coalition Chicago, IL — The Arab American Democracy Coalition (AADC), formerly the Arab American Democratic Club, this week endorsed Dr. Jill Stein of the Green Party for President and released its endorsement list for Illinois House, legislative and countywide races on Nov. 5, 2024. AADC…

American Arabs, Civil Rights, Election, Human Rights, News, Palestine & Jordan, Politics, US Arab Politics

CAIR’s Final Election Poll Shows Stein and Harris Still Tied Among Muslim Voters, Trump Trailing

November 1, 2024November 1, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

CAIR’s Final Election Poll Shows Stein and Harris Still Tied Among Muslim Voters, Trump Trailing The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, Friday (Nov. 1, 2024) announced that the results of its latest and final poll of Muslim voter preferences in the 2024 presidential election show that…

American Arabs, Christian & Muslim, Election, News, Politics

Senator Tammy Duckworth tells Arabs and Muslims their concerns are irrelevant

November 1, 2024November 1, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Senator Tammy Duckworth tells Arabs and Muslims their concerns are irrelevant US Senator Tammy Duckworth claims to be fighter for victims of racism and discrimination and violence but when it comes to Israel, which has given her more than $782,000, she sets aside principle to pander to violent racist anti-Arab and anti-Muslim policies. Duckworth has…

American Arabs, Christian & Muslim, Civil Rights, Human Rights, Israel, Middle East, News, Palestine & Jordan, Spotlight

Arabs and Muslims condemn racist anti-Arab anti-Muslim comments of State Sen. Sara Feigenholtz

November 1, 2024November 1, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Arabs and Muslims condemn racist anti-Arab anti-Muslim comments of State Sen. Sara Feigenholtz Feigenholtz has a long history of making racial and discriminatory comments against Arabs and Muslims and has acted with impunity in the face of demands for apologies and resignation. Her colleagues including Gov. J.B. Pritzker condemn anti-Semitism but are often silent on…

American Arabs, Christian & Muslim, Human Rights, News, Politics, racism

Book Review: Arab author shares his anecdotes living in the United Kingdom

October 22, 2024October 22, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Book Review: Arab author shares his anecdotes living in the United Kingdom Arab Author and newspaper editor Faisal J. Abbas shares his experience of life in Great Britain, a nation that has had so much influence over the modern evolution of the Arab World, in his new book Anecdotes of an Arab Anglophile By Ray…

Arab News, Arab World, Book Review, Culture, Features, Middle East, News, Ray Hanania, Saudi Arabia, Spotlight

AHRC Announces its 2024 Spirit of Humanity Awardees

October 17, 2024October 17, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

AHRC Announces its 2024 Spirit of Humanity Awardees The American Human Rights Council (AHRC-USA) is pleased to announce its 2024 Spirit of Humanity awardees. The Award Ceremony will be held during the Annual AHRC Gala on Friday, October 18, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. in Dearborn. Despite the world’s unprecedented challenges, AHRC’s Gala is one important…

American Arabs, Event, Events, Human Rights, Middle East, News, Palestine & Jordan

Statement from State Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid on 5000 Palestinians killed prior to Oct. 7

October 9, 2024October 9, 2024 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Statement from State Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid on 5000 Palestinians killed prior to Oct. 7 Illinois State Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid condemns all violence and challenges lie that the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas massacre was a first of its kind unprecedented massacre of civilians, noting more than 5,000 Palestinians were killed prior to the militant assault over…

Activism, American Arabs, Christian & Muslim, Human Rights, Israel, Middle East, News, Palestine & Jordan, Spotlight, Terrorism, US Arab Politics, war, war crimes