Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem
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…
The Government of Israel continues to destroy lands owned by Palestinian farmers and villagers along the green line, built a wall to separate the village of Bil’in from their rightful lands, and even arrested, imprisoned, shot and killed their residents to prevent Palestinians from protesting Israel’s actions. But justice trumps evil and Israel’s Jewish-only nature will lose By Ray…
Read More “Israel continues violence and land theft at Bil’in” »
The Greene Space at WNYC & WQXR presents MUSLIM/AMERICAN, a five-part event series kicks off with special advance screening of Aasif Mandvi’s “Halal in the Family” on Thursday, April 9th New York City is home to over 600,000 Muslims, many with strong family ties rooted in cultures from all over the world–Southeast Asia to North Africa, Europe to…
Read More “Muslim Americans focus of 5-part live performance” »
“A Pissed off Saint” finds strength; Middle Eastern woman offers hope through journey to freedom in her book “A Pissed off Saint.” According to the U.S. Department of State, approximately 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders every year. In order to break the silent struggle of these men, women and children, a survivor of this…
Read More “New book details forced marriage of Arab woman” »
Chicago painter leaves mark in United Arab Emirates American artist Anastasia Mak is known for her bright expressionist paintings of world destinations, including Rome, Istanbul, Paris, and her home Chicago. Thanks to collaboration between Al Qasimi Foundation and the U.S. Mission in the United Arab Emirates, she can now add UAE-inspired works to her portfolio,…
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British graffiti artist known only as Banksy has helped bring some life to the people of the Gaza Strip who have been living in devastation as a result of Israel’s blockade of international aide to help the more than 100,000 civilians left homeless by Israeli military brutality and terrorist attacks. By Mohammed Asad The anonymous…
Read More “Banksy British artist spotlights devastation in Gaza” »
Come celebrate the Taybeh Vinfest this weekend, Feb. 27-28, 2015, in Taybeh, Palestine. The festival will feature local and regional entertainment and art. By Maria C. Khoury, Ed. D. The Taybeh Vinfest is a wine festival happening this weekend on 27- 28 February at the new Taybeh Winery in Palestine. It aims to introduce the new Palestinian…
A look back at the Oscars and the Academy Awards night from 1978 when Palestine and Israel clashed on stage for the first time. Here’s one of several columns I published over the years reflecting on that moment, this one published in 2006. By Ray Hanania A very special Oscars Night BY RAY HANANIA (Originally…
By Ray Hanania A full-length documentary on the challenges facing peace between Palestinians and Israelis, “A People without a Land” was named as the winner of the “Best Documentary Category” at the 2015 Pasadena International Film Festival. The documentary is produced by the husband and wife team of Eliyahu and Pennie Ungar-Sargon and explores the issue of the…
Read More “Film on Israel-Palestine wins Best Documentary in Pasadena” »
Art Dubai announces Global Art Forum 2015 2015 Global Art Forum takes on the theme of technologies, and their impact on the world of art, culture and beyond. 50 local and international contributors participate in the ninth edition, codirected by Turi Munthe and Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi, with Shumon Basar as Director-at-Large The Global Art Forum begins, for…
Read More “Technology will theme Art Forums in Kuwait and Dubai” »
By Ray Hanania The decision by Israel’s Arab political parties to create a “joint list” in the upcoming March 17 Israeli Knesset elections has put the spotlight on Israel’s historic contradictions claiming on one hand to be a “Democracy” but in reality embracing racist and discriminatory practices. In the past, the majority of Arab Israeli…
Read More “Arab election unity puts spotlight on Israeli racism & discrimination” »
The truth is that President Al-Sisi of Egypt can move his nation forward both as a strongman and as a hero of the Arab Spring by learning the lessons of past failures of Democracy in the Middle East and understanding that George Orwell’s book 1984 cast tyranny in the wrong way. By Ray Hanania In the…
Read More “Egypt and the need to overcome Radical Islam, a 1984 re-do” »
By Ray Hanania While the Middle East and issues related to Arab countries dominate the attention of Americans through news media and national security, most Americans are avoiding travel to Middle East countries. A recent study by Hotels.com shows that of the top 50 destinations where Americans are traveling, only one Arab Middle East destination, Dubai in…
Read More “Americans shun Middle East as travel destination” »
By Abdennour Toumi On Monday, according to local sources of Kurdish media, fighters of the YPG entered the city of Kobani, united with the forces of the Kurdish Alliance, and now together they control 90% of the town and its environs. The city of Kobani has been seen as a major testing-ground for the Kurdish…
Read More “Kurds celebrate Kobani victory with musicfest in Seruç, Turkey” »
By Ray Hanania Saudi Arabia’s moderate leader and monarch, King Abdullah ibn Abdul Aziz al-Saud, 90, who has ruled the powerful Arabian kingdom for nearly a decade since 2005 when he succeeded his brother King Fahd, died Friday. His Majesty King Abdullah was succeeded by his brother, Crown Prince Salman who was named the kingdom’s new…
Read More “Moderate Arab World mourns loss of Saudi King Abdullah” »
By Ali Younes With the passing of King Abdullah Bin Abdel Aziz, King of Saudi Arabia, in the early hours of Friday, Saudi Arabia has now a new King in Salman Bin Abdel Aziz, the half brother of late King Abdullah. King Salman was born in 1935 and is the 25th son of the Kingdom founder. At…
Read More “Who is King Salman Bin Adel Aziz, Saudi Arabia’s New King” »
By Mohammed Asad Palestine Strawberries from the Gaza Strip are ranked as being among the world’s best. Every year, the Palestine Strawberry industry employs hundreds of farmers to harvest the strawberry crops to pick, package and ship the popular fruit to locations around the world. Despite exporting restrictions imposed by Israel’s military occupation, which controls the flow of…
Read More “Strawberry harvest continues in Gaza Strip, Palestine” »
By Maria C. Khoury, Ed. D. It was simply a most glorious celebration of the Epiphany on the Jordan River today according to the Old Julian calendar. There were hundreds of priests, nuns and thousands of people from all walks of life coming to the precious site where over 2,000 years ago “…the heavens were…
Read More “Celebrating the Baptism of Christ on the Jordan River” »