Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem
First Lady Michelle Obama is traveling to Qatar and Jordan and penned this first blog post about the State Visit from November 1 through November 7, 2015. Mrs. Obama will post daily on her trip. This is her first post By First Lady Michelle Obama (Nov. 2, 2015, Qatar, UAE) — This post is part…
Ray Hanania presents an overview of the importance of humor and the significance of strategic communications Humor is a powerful form of communications and can be used to help bring tensions down in societies, change perceptions and separate those who really hate from those who appear to hate because they can’t control heir fears, apprehensions an…
Read More “The Power of Humor in the Palestine-Israel conflict” »
The Middle East is erupting into more and more violence, and hatred is increasing as racist candidates like Ben Carson and Mike Huackabee are promoting divisions and bigotry. But sometimes, humor is the only way to stay sane. And maybe it can help others By Ray Hanania I entered comedy back in 2001 right after…
Read More “Not easy doing humor when the world is so violent” »
Plight of Syrian refugees traveling through Europe documented in video by Israeli journalist Seth Frantzman By Ray Hanania Israeli journalist and writer Seth J. Frantzman has produced an insightful video documentary on the challenges of the plight of Syrian refugees called “The Human Face of the European Union Refugee Crisis.” The documentary is a collection…
Read More “Israeli journalist reports on challenges of Syrian refugees” »
“The Secret”: An Improbable Friendship: The Remarkable Lives of Israeli Ruth Dayan and Palestinian Raymonda Tawil and Their 40-Year Peace Mission By Anthony David When Ruth Dayan phoned me up and promised to share a secret with me, I was teaching at Al Quds University in the occupied West Bank. Why would the wife of Moshe Dayan, the…
Jordan nominates “Theeb” for 88th Academy Awards Award–winning Jordanian feature narrative “Theeb”, by director Naji Abu Nowar, is Jordan’s official submission for the Best Foreign Language Film category of the 88th Academy Awards, the Royal Film Commission (RFC) announced recently. The selection was made by a committee of Jordanian artists and craftspeople involved in the…
Read More “Jordan nominates “Theeb” for 88th Academy Awards” »
While Americans are among the most traveled people on the planet, one place they are avoiding is the Middle East and Arab countries. At one time, the Middle East was a favored destination to Americans but these days with the rising Islamic extremism, the violence and continued conflicts, tourism to the Arab World from the…
Read More “Americans are not traveling to the Middle East” »
How do you explain to the Israeli Authorities the ancient unbroken Christian traditions that should be carried out for pure witness and faith? Christians lucky enough to have permits to enter Jerusalem gathered from all corners of the Holy Land for the annual procession of the icon for the Holy Virgin Mary three days before the special…
Read More “What are Christians Doing Today in the Holy Land?” »
Love doesn’t involve divinity — sometimes it takes a visit to a mystic place to realize the depth of tolerance. In Konya just to stop at the tomb of Jalal Eddine Rumi one can vehemently feel the love for humanity. By Abdennour Toumi Konya, Turkey — In the heart of Anatolia in the middle of its great wild…
In the award-winning documentary The Wanted 18, directors Amer Shomali and Paul Cowan bring to life a remarkable story of nonviolent resistance during the First Intifada. The animated documentary speaks to the reality of the Israeli occupation on Palestinian civilian life. You need to support it By Ray Hanania The Wanted 18 recreates an astonishing true…
Read More “Palestinian Film “The Wanted 18” speaks to Israeli occupation” »
Matt VanDyke, a timid 26-year-old with obsessive-compulsive disorder, left home in Baltimore in 2006 for what he called a “crash course in manhood.” He bought a motorcycle, a video camera and set-off to film himself on a multi-year, 35,000-mile odyssey through North Africa and the Middle East. When revolution broke out in Libya, he joined…
Read More “American man joins Libyan revolution in ‘Point and Shoot’” »
How you trim your mustache can have meaning in terms of your politics in some areas of the Arab and Islamic World, but especially in Turkish politics. Your mustache could be as much about your political views as it is about fashion. Maybe the correct phrase is “political fashion.” By Abdennour Toumi Ankara, Turkey — The mustache is not…
Read More “The Quintessential Mustache: Facial Hair in Turkish Politics” »
Egyptian American Hollywood actor Rami Malek stars in a new hit series “Mr. Robot” on high tech computer warfare and hacking broadcast on the USA Network on Cable Television. Malek joins a small exclusive club of American Arabs who have made it to Hollywood movie and television series fame. By Ray Hanania Every time I…
Read More “Egyptian American stars in new Cable series on Hacking” »
A new documentary by directors Ovidio Salazar and Mazen AlKhayrat explores the cultural and religious practices of women who cover their hair not just in the Middle East but around the world. Titled “The Tainted Veil,” the documentary explores why there is a controversy Anasy Media, a United Arab Emirates production company has completed post-production on…
Read More “Documentary explores the covering of womens’ hair” »
A former Syrian journalist forced to flee in the face of oppression and increased violence is rebuilding his life and helping farmers in the Arab World to irrigate drought-ridden farmlands and crops. Ayman Abdel Nour has submitted a patent for his new invention a sub-surface irrigation system to counter the region’s growing shortage of water. By Ray…
Read More “Syrian refugee invents system to irrigate drought” »
On the Campaign Trail with AKParti Candidate Mr. Yüksel YENI in northwestern Anatolia. By Abdennour Toumi Bursa, Turkey — On Saturday I got aboard the AKParti “conquer caravan” for two days on the campaign trail with Mr. Yüksel YENI touring the province of Bursa in the Marmara region of northwestern Anatolia. Bursa is the fourth most populous city…
Veteran Lebanese American Arab writer Maureen Abood has just released her debut book and of course, it is about the richness of Lebanese and Arab foods. “Rose Water & Orange Blossoms” is not just a book of recipes but the story of Arabian life which revolves around great tasting foods By Ray Hanania Michigan writer…
Read More “Maureen Abood details her love affair with Lebanese food” »
When the West created the Arab States after their colonization and occupation of the Middle East region after World War I, did they abandon their promises of implementing Democracies? Today’s Arab countries are not Democratic and have never been in a large part because of the failures of the Democratic West. By Abdennour Toumi Ankara, Turkey…