Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem
By Eileen Fleming Israel’s former ambassador to Washington, USA born Michael Oren exemplifies the latter and Kameel Nasr from Lebanon and Boston the former. Oren served as Israel’s ambassador in Washington from 2009 to 2013 and is now a Knesset member in Israel’s center-right Kulanu party. Launching his new book “Ally: My Journey Across the…
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Jordanian Supreme Court imprisons journalist for criticizing corruption By Ali Younes The Jordanian Court of Cassation made legal history yesterday when it reversed itself and convicted Jordanian journalist Husam Abdallat of trying to “ undermine the Jordanian regime” for his criticism of powerful government officials and close friends of King Abdallah II. The court which…
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When an American Arab was celebrated as contributing to the professional hockey Stanley Cup championship of the Chicago Blackhawks, you would think American Arabs would have recognized it as an opportunity to showcase their contributions to America. Other communities would be celebrating Saad, who happens to be a proud Syrian American of immigrant parents. Yet…
Read More “Arabs miss boat on Brandon Saad Blackhawks win” »
The Zionist Organization of America’s Morton Klein has expressed racist, anti-Arab hatred in posts from the New York based organization office. This week, he exposes his hypocrisy by blasting Lufthansa, demanding to know why it “discriminates” against passengers to Israel, but not against Arabs. No mention in his letter is made of how El Al, the…
The BDS movement (Boycott, Divest, Sanction) is a legitimate non-violent form of protest that most Israelis and American Jews should support. But the BDS movement itself is not defined and waffles between an extreme rejection of everything Israeli that calls for turning back the clock to 1948, to a focused campaign that targets Israeli extremist,…
Read More “BDS means different things to different people” »
Two leading Civil Rights organizations in Israel have challenged and condemned an internal investigation by the Israeli military that the killing of four children on a Gaza Beach on July 16, 2014 was not intentional but an “accident.” But eye witnesses say the Israeli soldiers intentionally targeted the four boys, aged 9 to 11 years…
Read More “Israeli report on Children killed at Beach flawed” »
American Arab player Brandon Saad made a critical goal for the Chicago Blackhawks in the 4th game of the Stanley Cup Play-offs against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The goal helped the Blackhawks gain momentum to tie up the series and then go on to win two more games taking the championship Monday night By Ray…
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By Eileen Fleming Everything is connected and when it comes to Israel Palestine: America is deeply connected! The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.-Gandhi Forgiveness is the intentional and voluntary process by which a victim undergoes a change in feelings and attitude regarding an offense and lets go of negative…
Read More “Healing Israel Palestine Requires Truth, Justice and Forgiveness” »
In 1969, two years after Israel invaded and occupied all of Jerusalem and the remaining areas of Palestine, it was clear that the Arab World was incapable of recovering the lands stolen by Israel’s colonization in 1948. The Palestinians stood up on their own and began to defend themselves against Israel’s brutal aggression. To commemorate the event,…
Read More “Al-Fatah Palestine Stamps: remembering the revolution” »
Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are among the world’s top 10 worst places when it comes to worker’s rights according to a new study released by the International Trade Union Confederation, but Egypt tops the MENA region as 3rd worst in the world. Study shows rights violations in Israel, and that workers…
Read More “Gulf States among worst places for workers rights” »
Turkey’s Democratic elections show that the HDP opposition can win support, but not enough to oust the AKParti, the party President Erdogan founded. But now the HDP is a more formidable voice in defining Turkey’s Democratic future. The vote suggests Turkish voters may want a multi-party coalition leadership By Abbdenour Toumi Ankara, Turkey — In order to…
Read More “In Turkish elections: Ağa Selahattin Dethrones “Sultan” Tayyip” »
Global support for Palestinian prisoner Khader Adnan grows as a Mass Solidarity Hunger Strike is organized to rally against Israeli civil rights violations and civilian abuses. Protestors target illegal policies of administrative detention and urge international support to free dissidents from Israel’s prison Gulag By Dezeray Lyn Members of the Palestine solidarity organization the International Women’s Peace…
Read More “Global support grows for hunger striking Palestinian prisoner” »
To normalize or not to normalize. How much is too much or too little? There is an in between called compromise.It’s clear that the direction most Israelis and Palestinians are headed is away from peace and actions that might help end the conflict. When the brutality of the Israeli occupation increases, the thought of reaching…
Read More “Peace in Israel, Palestine doesn’t come by building walls” »
The Dearborn School District recently named four candidates to fill the position of Schools Superintendent. But in a school district where American Arabs are among the largest constituents, none of the four candidates are of Arab heritage. Michigan’s ADC Chapter protested to the district’s board president that the failure of including an Arab candidate could be…
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By Eileen Fleming USS LIBERTY survivor Joe Meadors is a former U.S. Navy signalman who exemplifies the USS Liberty Survivors’ Creed: I will never quit. My nation expects me to be physically harder and mentally stronger than my enemies. If knocked down I will get back up, every time. I will draw on every remaining ounce of strength…
Read More “USS Liberty Survivor Onboard with FREEDOM Flotilla” »
The Holy Month of Ramadan for Muslims will begin June 17, or at the first sight of the new moon and will continue for 29-30 days depending on the complete cycle of the moon. It is a time of religious observation, recommitment to faith and a time of fasting for observant Muslims around the world….
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Book Release: Former Saudi Ambassador Robert W. Jordan published a new book Desert Diplomat on Saudi Arabia after 9/11. An inside look at US-Saudi diplomacy at a crucial time in American history In the spring of 2001 George W. Bush selected Dallas attorney Robert W. Jordan as the ambassador to Saudi Arabia. After the attacks…
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Al Jazeera English crowned ‘Outstanding Digital Team’ at Online Media Awards; Palestine Remix project wins outstanding digital team and best technical innovation; and, Al Jazeera wins best photography award for “Portrait of a yogi” Al Jazeera English online has won three awards at the prestigious Online Media Awards in London, for Best Technical Innovation, Best Use of…
Read More “Al Jazeera wins top honors at London Online Media Awards” »