Category: Middle East

Politics in a Parallel Universe: Iraq’s Leadership Crisis and the Iran War

May 1, 2026May 13, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Politics in a Parallel Universe: Iraq’s Leadership Crisis and the Iran War By Harith Hasan The Iraqi government and the leaders of the country’s ruling political factions have every reason for alarm. The US–Israeli war on Iran—and its profound consequences for Iraq’s security, political stability, and economy—has produced a national crisis. Yet in Baghdad, political…

Arab Center Washington DC, Arab World, International news, Iraq, Middle East, News, NewsWire

24 members of Congress demand US probes of American Arabs killed by Israel

April 30, 2026May 14, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

24 members of Congress demand US probes of American Arabs killed by Israel By Ray Hanania As the one-year anniversary of the killing of an American Arab Khamis Ayyad by Israeli settlers approaches, 24 members of the U.S. Congress expressed frustration in a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Acting U.S. Attorney…

Activism, American Arabs, Christian & Muslim, Civil Rights, Congress, crime, Human Rights, Israel, Middle East, News, NewsWire, Palestine & Jordan, Politics, Ray Hanania

Publisher discounts offered on “Arabs of Chicagoland” book

April 21, 2026April 21, 2026 News Editor News Editor No Comments

Publisher discounts offered on “Arabs of Chicagoland” book Celebrate Arab American Heritage history month, April 2026, by learning about the history of Arab American settlement in Chicago. The book “Arabs of Chicagoland,” authored by award-winning Chicagoland journalist Ray Hanania, is available from the publisher at a special discounted rate The publishers of the book “Arabs…

Activism, American Arabs, Arab American History, Book Review, Chaldean, Christian & Muslim, Civil Rights, Culture, Egypt, Gulf States, Iraq, Lebanon, Middle East, News, NewsWire, North Africa, Palestine & Jordan, Photographs, Ray Hanania, refugees, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia

Israel’s death penalty law constitutes discriminatory regime of capital punishment: UN experts

April 9, 2026April 9, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Israel’s death penalty law constitutes discriminatory regime of capital punishment: UN experts Israel’s new law effectively providing for the death penalty solely against Palestinians constitutes a discriminatory regime of capital punishment and manifestly violates Israel’s obligations under international human rights law, UN experts* said today. “We condemn the Knesset’s adoption of this law and call…

Christian & Muslim, Israel, Middle East, News, NewsWire, Palestine & Jordan, racism, Terrorism

Arab Center Washington D.C. hosts conference on Trump upending democracy and diplomacy April 9, 2026

March 31, 2026April 5, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Arab Center Washington D.C. hosts conference on Trump upending democracy and diplomacy April 9, 2026 Chicago, IL — The Arab Center of Washington D.C. has a power-packed program to address the dramatic international foreign policy changes and policies being pursued by President Donald Trump. Trump was inaugurated to his second term in January 2025, succeeding…

American Arabs, Arab Center Washington DC, Arab Radio, Arab World, Arab World Politics, Christian & Muslim, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Middle East, News, NewsWire, Palestine & Jordan, Podcast, Politics, Radio Podcast, Ray Hanania, Spotlight, US Arab Politics, war, war crimes

Heeb Magazine offers new podcast, and join Heeb Media Guild

March 27, 2026March 27, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Heeb Magazine offers new podcast, and join Heeb Media Guild Your friends at Heeb have been busy! In this issue: It’s a podcast network! We found your long lost Heeb t-shirt Does Bibi belong in jail? A nostalgic newsletter for OG Heebsters Join the Heeb Media Guild Check it all out below! Introducing… the Heeb…

Activism, Commentary, Entertainment, Israel, Journalism, Middle East, News, NewsWire, Palestine & Jordan, Politics, Satire

Arab Center of Washington DC to release survey on Arab Public Opinion and Implications for Trump’s Policies in the Region

February 6, 2026February 6, 2026 News Editor News Editor No Comments

Arab Center of Washington DC to release survey on Arab Public Opinion and Implications for Trump’s Policies in the Region The Arab Center of Washington DC will host a panel discussion analyzing the results of the Arab Center’s 2025 Arab Opinion index on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, at the National Press Club. The Arab Center…

Arab Center Washington DC, Arab World, Event, Events, Middle East, News, NewsWire

The Legacies of the Middle East in 2025 Are Likely to Repeat in 2026

January 8, 2026January 8, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

The Legacies of the Middle East in 2025 Are Likely to Repeat in 2026 By Yara M. Asi, Daniel Brumberg, Elobaid Elobaid, Samia Errazzouki, Imad K. Harb, Marwan Kabalan, Nabeel A. Khoury, Laurie King, Assal Rad, Rend Al-Rahim, and Mtanes Shihadeh In 2025, the Middle East and North Africa saw Israel’s genocidal war on Palestinians and destabilizing military attacks across the wider region,…

Arab Center Washington DC, Arab World, Arab World Politics, Gulf States, Human Rights, immigrants, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Middle East, News, NewsWire, North Africa, Palestine & Jordan, Politics, Saudi Arabia, Spotlight, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey

Arab Center Analysis: Israel’s declining support among American Evangelicals

January 1, 2026January 1, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Arab Center Analysis: Israel’s declining support among American Evangelicals By Jonathan Kuttab for the Arab Center of Washington D.C. Evangelical Christian support for Israel and its policies has long been one of the bedrock factors behind backing for Israel in the United States. Such support pervaded all sectors of American decision-making at the executive and…

American Arabs, Arab Center Washington DC, Bloggers, Christian & Muslim, Civil Rights, Commentary, Congress, International news, Israel, Middle East, NewsWire, Opinion, Politics

Taybeh exposes claims Christians are “treated better in Israel” than in Arab countries

December 31, 2025December 31, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Taybeh exposes claims Christians are “treated better in Israel” than in Arab countries By Ray Hanania Chicago, IL – During a public speech days before the Christian celebration of Christmas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu bragged that “Israel is the only country in the Middle East that grants Christians full religious freedom … and is…

Arab World, Christian & Muslim, Civil Rights, Human Rights, Israel, Middle East, News, NewsWire, Palestine & Jordan, racism, Ray Hanania, Spotlight, Terrorism

ICYMI: Shaheen Secures Repeal of Caesar Act Sanctions on Syria in Annual Defense Bill

December 19, 2025December 19, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

ICYMI: Shaheen Secures Repeal of Caesar Act Sanctions on Syria in Annual Defense Bill U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, secured a provision to repeal Caesar sanctions on Syria in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which now heads to the President’s desk for…

Arab World, Christian & Muslim, Human Rights, International news, Middle East, News, NewsWire, Palestine & Jordan, Syria

Akram Baker remembered, worked at Orient House in Jerusalem with the late Faisal Husseini

December 12, 2025December 12, 2025 News Editor News Editor No Comments

Akram Baker remembered, worked at Orient House in Jerusalem with the late Faisal Husseini Obituary, 1966 – 2025 By Hady Amr Akram Ahmad Baker, 58, my longtime friend and colleague, passed away on December 11, following a valiant battle with disease. Akram was born in Norfolk, Virginia in 1966 to Palestinian-American parents from Bir Nabalah,…

American Arabs, Bloggers, Commentary, Middle East, Obits, Opinion, Palestine & Jordan, US Arab Politics

Arab Center Washington DC writer addresses UN Security Council vote on Gaza

November 19, 2025November 19, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Arab Center Washington DC writer addresses UN Security Council vote on Gaza The Arab Center Washington DC published an in-depth analysis of the impact and legal basis for the recent UN Security Council’s adoption of Resolution 2803, which defines how the Gaza Strip will be monitored moving forward. The Resolution was approved on Monday, Nov….

Arab World, Israel, Middle East, News, NewsWire, Palestine & Jordan, Politics, United Nations

UN Security Council resolution a violation of Palestinian right of self-determination and UN Charter, UN expert warns

November 19, 2025November 19, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

UN Security Council resolution a violation of Palestinian right of self-determination and UN Charter, UN expert warns A UN expert today Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, expressed serious concern with the Security Council’s adoption of Resolution 2803, warning that it runs counter to the Palestinian right to self-determination, consolidates Israel’s unlawful presence in the occupied Palestinian…

Arab World, Christian & Muslim, Human Rights, Israel, Middle East, News, NewsWire, Palestine & Jordan, United Nations

Standing Together brings Israelis, Palestinians, Iranians, Lebanese, Jews, Christians and Muslims together for peace

November 9, 2025November 9, 2025 News Editor News Editor No Comments

Standing Together brings Israelis, Palestinians, Iranians, Lebanese, Jews, Christians and Muslims together for peace By Ray Hanania The Illinois Chapter of the Israeli Arab-Jewish grassroots movement “Standing Together” hosted a gathering in Chicago on November 1 that brought Jews, Christians, and Muslims together for peace. The event, titled “Together in Sorrow, Together in Resolve, Holding…

Activism, American Arabs, Christian & Muslim, Event, Events, Features, Human Rights, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Middle East, News, NewsWire, Palestine & Jordan, Spotlight

Ranking Member Shaheen Opening Remarks at Nominations Hearing for Key State Department Positions

October 23, 2025October 23, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Ranking member Shaheen opening remarks at Nominations Hearing for key State Department positions Shaheen slams nomination of Amer Ghalib as Ambassador to Kuwait over his remarks regarding pro-Israeli exaggerations and propaganda regarding the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack. WASHINGTON – Today, Thursday Oct. 23, 2025, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate…

American Arabs, Arab World, Chaldean, Christian & Muslim, Human Rights, Israel, Michigan, Middle East, News, NewsWire, Palestine & Jordan, racism, US Arab Politics, war, war crimes

UN experts warn against continued violations of ceasefire in Lebanon and urge protection of civilians

October 17, 2025October 17, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

UN experts warn against continued violations of ceasefire in Lebanon and urge protection of civilians Expressing dismay at the devastating impact on civilians of continuing Israeli air and drone strikes in Lebanon despite an agreed ceasefire on 27 November 2024, UN experts* today urged all parties to fully adhere to the cessation of hostilities agreement…

Arab World, Christian & Muslim, Israel, Lebanon, Middle East, News, NewsWire, Terrorism, United Nations

Microsoft worker of 9 years resigns in protest via mass video to tens of thousands of workers

October 15, 2025October 15, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Microsoft worker of 9 years resigns in protest via mass video to tens of thousands of workers Supports Palestine Solidarity event at Microsoft Dublin Campus, “No Azure for Apartheid,” in support of Palestinian rights Dublin, Ireland – Earlier today, (Wednesday, October 15, 2025) Zille Eizad, a Principle Software Engineer who has been with Microsoft for…

Activism, Christian & Muslim, Human Rights, Israel, Middle East, News, NewsWire, Palestine & Jordan, racism, Technology, war crimes