Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem
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…
By Ray Hanania Civil rights activists from around the country are targeting a convention being held by RE/MAX Realty in Las Vegas beginning March 2 to protest their ongoing support of illegal Jewish-only settlements in occupied Palestine that discriminate against Christians and Muslims. The annual convention will bring RE/MAX representatives from around the world to…
Read More “Civil rights activists target RE/MAX convention in Vegas” »
By Ray Hanania Israel’s Supreme Court on Wednesday overwhelming ruled that Palestinian member of the Knesset Haneen Zoabi has an absolute right to run for re-election, reversing the State’s election board which has been steadily embracing Apartheid-like policies against non-Jews in order to exclude them from the election process. Last week, the Central Election Committee…
Read More “Israel’s Supreme Court reinstates Haneen Zoabi candidacy” »
By Mohammed Asad Millions in promised aid from the International community to support the rebuilding of thousands of Palestinian civilian homes in the Gaza Strip destroyed during Israeli military terrorism continues to be delayed. The delays come at the worst time for hundreds of thousands of civilians who are struggling to live without proper homes,…
Read More “Photos: Children, civilians continue to suffer in Gaza” »
By Alexandra Halaby Over the past few months an international team of humanitarians have been organizing a project which would bring solar power to Gaza. Gaza engineer, Naji Abu Shaaban, along with his group of engineers in Gaza have been working around the clock to make this solar project a reality. Outside of Gaza are…
Read More “Humanitarian Organization to Bring Solar Energy to Gaza” »
By Ray Hanania Talk of the Town Radio for Friday Feb. 13, 2015 features a discussion on the Chapel Hill shootings, the murder of American peace activists Kayla Mueller and the celebration of her killing by Israelis and American Jewish activists, and also remembering the killing by Israel of another American, Rachel Corrie. Guests include Alexandra…
Read More “Radio Podcast: Alexandra Halaby on Chapel Hill, Kayla Mueller and more” »
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” »
By Eileen Fleming The real impact of Jon Stewart and how the bogus anchor influenced real anchors is a story in progress; but for this reporter it all began when The Daily Show went back on the air nine nights after THAT DAY we call 911. Watch it HERE Jon began by asking, “are…
New American group hires Palestinian consulting firm to promote bilateral U.S.-Palestine businesses linkages With a clear eye on a post-occupation Palestine, the effort expects these linkages will contribute to ending the Israeli military occupation that stifles Palestinian economic growth (January 21, 2015 – Chicago, USA & Ramallah, Palestine) – The newly established U.S. non-profit organization, Americans…
Read More “Press Release: Group to promote bilateral US-Palestine business ties” »
By Eileen Fleming On Monday at a Likud election rally in Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ignored the increasing congressional efforts to dissuade him from speaking before the U.S. Congress on March 3rd claiming: “A bad deal with Iran is forming in Munich that will endanger Israel’s existence. … Therefore I am determined…
Read More “Netanyahu and Congress: Let’s Talk Israel’s Nukes @nytimes” »
By Jafar M. Ramini I am in a quandary, torn like no other time before between throwing in the towel and calling it a day or continuing on the same path with no end in sight. What brought this state of confusion and uncertainty in my mind and heart is the wall-to-wall media coverage of…
Read More “Future of Middle East: Between a rock and a hard place” »
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” »
By Ali Rizk The latest developments in the ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel leave little room for doubt that a full scale war between the two enemies is highly unlikely. As we move ahead the issue to keep an eye on will be the intelligence/assassination war and how recent events may alter Israeli assassination…
Rabbis for Human Rights protests Israel’s collective punishment By Ray Hanania Rabbis for Human Rights, the only rabbinical based human rights organization in Israel, issued a statement this week calling on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the practice of punishing families and relatives of individuals accused of violent crimes by destroying their homes….
Read More “Rabbis for Human Rights protests Israel’s collective punishment” »
By Eileen Fleming On Tuesday Amnesty International emailed this update and action request in support of a free Mordechai Vanunu: Once again, the Israel High Court of Justice (HCJ) has rejected Vanunu’s petition against restrictions on his freedom of movement, association and expression, in their decision dated 25 January 2015. In summary, the judges basically…
Read More “Amnesty International Calls for Action to Free Vanunu” »
By Eileen Fleming John Boehner’s latest boner –meaning a clumsy or stupid mistake- was inviting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address a joint Session of Congress two weeks before the Israeli elections in March. Boehner’s invite inserted Bibi into the middle of the dispute between the President and Republicans over Iran’s nuclear program which…
Read More “Boehner’s Boner Bibi’s Toast Vanunu’s Freedom Soon or Later” »
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…
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By Ray Hanania Well, one Arab-Israeli war won’t be fought this year, but there will be much debate over the messages in the controversial film American Sniper, the story of an American soldier during the illegal war in Iraq. Unlike in several past broadcasts of the Academy Awards, no Oscars have been nominated this year…