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 Calls Van Jones Apology for Joking About Slaughtered Palestinian Children a ‘Positive But Insufficient’ Step

October 5, 2025October 5, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

CAIR Calls Van Jones Apology for Joking About Slaughtered Palestinian Children a ‘Positive But Insufficient’ Step The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today said an apology issued by CNN commentator Van Jones after he mockingly and falsely dismissed images of slaughtered Palestinian children on social media as…

American Arabs, Christian & Muslim, Human Rights, Israel, Middle East, News, News Media, NewsWire, Palestine & Jordan, racism

CPJ calls on Israel to release journalists detained on the Global Sumud Flotilla

October 2, 2025October 2, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

CPJ calls on Israel to release journalists detained on the Global Sumud Flotilla New York, October 2, 2025 – The Committee to Protect Journalists demands Israeli authorities immediately and unconditionally release the humanitarian crew of the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla, which includes at least 32 journalists, after the vessels were seized on October 1 and 2. “Detaining members of the…

Activism, Arab World, Christian & Muslim, Human Rights, Israel, Journalism, Middle East, News, News Media, NewsWire, Palestine & Jordan, Politics, racism, refugees, war, war crimes

Arab Center of Washington DC Fellows and affiliates analyze Palestine State recognition

October 2, 2025October 21, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Arab Center of Washington DC Fellows and affiliates analyze Palestine State recognition Washington, DC – The Arab Center Washington DC (ACW) this week released a detailed position paper on the momentum growing to recognize a Palestine State during the 80th meeting of the United Nations General Assembly. The analysis, titled “Recognizing a Palestinian State as…

American Arabs, Arab World, Arab World Politics, Human Rights, Israel, Middle East, News, NewsWire, Palestine & Jordan, Spotlight

Video Interview Delinda Hanley of the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs

September 27, 2025September 27, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Video Interview Delinda Hanley of the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs Arab Americans are demonized by the biases in the mainstream American news media and complain often about it., But they fail to take the first, most important step to end that bias by fully supporting the existing Arab American news media, which is…

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ADC to issue awards for community leadsership at Convention

September 19, 2025September 20, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

ADC to issue awards for community leadership at Convention The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) is proud to announce the distinguished recipients of the ArabCon 2025 Awards. ArabCon—ADC’s annual national convention—runs September 25–28, 2025 in Dearborn, MI, under the theme “We’ve Been Here Before.” The four-day program convenes advocates, scholars, elected officials, artists, business leaders, students,…

American Arabs, Christian & Muslim, Civil Rights, Culture, Event, Events, Middle East, News, NewsWire, Palestine & Jordan, Spotlight, The Arab Street, US Arab Politics

CAIR Wins Injunction Ordering U. of Missouri to Permit Mizzou Students for Justice in Palestine into Homecoming Parade

September 19, 2025September 19, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

CAIR Wins Injunction Ordering U. of Missouri to Permit Mizzou Students for Justice in Palestine into Homecoming Parade The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today said it won an injunction requiring the University of Missouri to allow Mizzou Students for Justice in Palestine (MSJP) into the…

American Arabs, Christian & Muslim, Civil Rights, Education, News, NewsWire, Palestine & Jordan, racism

Orland Township board shows concern for District 230 students

September 16, 2025September 16, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Township board shows concern for District 230 students By Ray Hanania While High School District 230 has been dragging its feet on deciding whether to approve the addition of Arabic as a “World language” instruction for its students, the Orland Township Board approved a resolution supporting the idea, because they seem to care more…

American Arabs, Education, News, Ray Hanania

UN experts urge US to grant visas to Palestinian officials, uphold diplomacy for peace

September 9, 2025September 9, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

UN experts urge US to grant visas to Palestinian officials, uphold diplomacy for peace UN experts* urged the United States on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025 to grant Palestinian leaders visas ahead of the UN General Assembly in New York in September, and lift the discriminatory suspension of processing visitor visas for all Palestinian nationals. “The…

Human Rights, Israel, News, Palestine & Jordan, United Nations

HE Turki Alalshikh joins opening faceoff ahead of Fight Week for blockbuster Canelo-Crawford clash in Las Vegas

September 8, 2025September 8, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

HE Turki Alalshikh joins opening faceoff ahead of Fight Week for blockbuster Canelo-Crawford clash in Las Vegas Las Vegas, United States, September 9, 2025: The Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas set the stage this evening (Monday) for the opening head-to-head of the week between reigning undisputed super middleweight champion Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez and undefeated four-division…

Arab News, Entertainment, Event, Features, News, NewsWire, Saudi Arabia, Sports, Spotlight

Microsoft fires a Jewish worker for taking part in the “Liberated Zone”

September 8, 2025September 8, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Microsoft fires a Jewish worker for taking part in the “Liberated Zone” On Friday, August 29th, Microsoft fired a Jewish worker for taking part in the Liberated Zone protests that took place on August 26th. During this protest, seven now-former Microsoft workers and community members staged a sit-in inside Microsoft executives’ Building 34, while others, including the…

American Arabs, Christian & Muslim, Human Rights, Israel, News, Palestine & Jordan, racism, US Arab Politics

J Street among many Jewish groups supporting justice for Palestine and Israel

September 7, 2025September 7, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

J Street among many Jewish groups supporting justice for Palestine and Israel Here is a letter from Jeremy Ben Ami of J Street that is so important to read and support: For decades, the United States and Israel have had a special relationship, a bond my generation was raised to believe rested on shared interests…

Activism, American Arabs, Israel, Middle East, News, Palestine & Jordan, Politics

Mo Amer’s “Mo” on Netflix is more than just a great comedy series

September 6, 2025September 15, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Mo Amer’s “Mo” on Netflix is more than just a great comedy series By Ray Hanania The Netflix series “Mo,” starring Arab American comedian Mo Amer is not only one of the best comedy series streaming on cable, but it is a deep dive into the tragic reality of what Palestinians face not just in…

American Arabs, Bloggers, Christian & Muslim, Commentary, Culture, Entertainment, Features, Humor, Israel, Middle East, NewsWire, Opinion, Palestine & Jordan, Politics, racism, Spotlight, Television

Turki Alalshikh Announces Multiple Bouts as Part of Public Workout Ahead of Canelo vs. Crawford Showdown

September 6, 2025September 6, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Turki Alalshikh Announces Multiple Bouts as Part of Public Workout Ahead of Canelo vs. Crawford Showdown Las Vegas, United States, September 6, 2025: His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA) and President of the Saudi Boxing Federation, announced the staging of several bouts during the Public…

American Arabs, Arab News, Arab World, Entertainment, News, Saudi Arabia, Sports

Orland Park passes revised Gaza Ceasefire resolution

September 3, 2025September 6, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Park passes revised Gaza Ceasefire resolution By Ray Hanania After 20 months since former Mayor Keith Pekau rejected a Gaza Ceasefire resolution and told the Arab American sponsors that if they didn’t like it, they could “Go to another country,” his successor, Mayor Jim Dodge, pushed through a resolution that was approved by the…

Activism, American Arabs, Christian & Muslim, Civil Rights, Human Rights, Israel, News, NewsWire, Palestine & Jordan, Politics, Ray Hanania, The Arab Street, US Arab Politics, war crimes

US Arab Radio Partners with Arab Center Washington DC to Expand National Outreach

September 2, 2025October 21, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

US Arab Radio Partners with Arab Center Washington DC to Expand National Outreach US Arab Radio (ArabRadio.us) is pleased to announce a new partnership with Arab Center Washington DC (ACW), aimed at strengthening national communications with Arab-American audiences nationwide and enhancing dialogue on critical issues affecting the community and American society at large. This collaboration…

Activism, American Arabs, Arab Radio, News, News Media, NewsWire, Radio Podcast, The Arab Street

California Lawmakers Advance Costly SB 771 in Closed-Door Session; Impose “Israel Tax” on Financially Strapped Constituents

August 31, 2025August 31, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

California Lawmakers Advance Costly SB 771 in Closed-Door Session; Impose “Israel Tax” on Financially Strapped Constituents Earlier on Sunday, August 31, 2025, a small group of compromised lawmakers in California secretly advanced Senate Bill 771 which, if passed, will infringe on the First Amendment Rights of all Americans. In an undemocratic process, the lawmakers made…

American Arabs, Civil Rights, Human Rights, News, Politics, racism, US Arab Politics

O’Hare Airport inspector threatens to dismantle Muslim prayer tent authorized in 2022

August 26, 2025August 26, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

O’Hare Airport inspector threatens to dismantle Muslim prayer tent authorized in 2022 A Prayer tent authorized in 2022 to accommodate prayers for Muslim Uber/Lyft drivers at O’Hare Airport is being threatened with removal. The tent is located at 10400 W. Johnson Road in Des Plaines in a side area of the vehicle staging lot that…

American Arabs, Christian & Muslim, Civil Rights, Culture, News, NewsWire, Ray Hanania, Spotlight

Israel kills Al Jazeera journalists in targeted Gaza City airstrike

August 14, 2025August 14, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Israel kills Al Jazeera journalists in targeted Gaza City airstrike New York, August 10, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists is appalled by Israel’s killing in Gaza on Sunday of four Al Jazeera staff — correspondents Anas al-Sharif and Mohammed Qreiqeh and camera operators Ibrahim Zaher and Mohammed Noufal — and two freelancers, Moamen Aliwa and Mohammad al-Khaldi. The six journalists were killed and two others were injured by…

Arab World, Christian & Muslim, Civil Rights, Israel, Journalism, Media Bias, Middle East, News, News Media, NewsWire, Palestine & Jordan, racism, Terrorism, war crimes