Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem
It’s not about the money, but the PR power After winning a popular American TV reality series on cooking, actor Kal Penn recently donated $25,000 to the UNRWA which helps Palestinian refugees. It may not sound like a lot of money but it has significant PR power to help educate Americans about the truth of…
Farewell to a brilliant First Lady, Michelle Obama Michelle Obama rose from obscurity to become one of the most admired, influential women in America, not just for African Americans but for everyone Published Jan. 12, 2017 Des Plaines Valley News, Southwest News-Herald, The Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers By Ray Hanania It’s amazing how individual…
Without Arab World action, Kerry’s truths mean nothing US Secretary of State John Kerry has once again exposed Israel’s rightwing government as the true obstacle to peace in the Middle East. As secretary of state, his words have true meaning. But his indictment of Israel’s failure to support peace means nothing unless the Arab World…
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A tribute to my friend David J. Steiner Many people do not know someone like David Steiner, who spent much of his life as an activist for peace. A Jew, Steiner reached out to Palestinians and Arabs to build bonds that would help overcome the divide that angrily keeps the two peoples apart Published in the…
UN vote a slap at Netanyahu than defense of peace Rather than do what she has done repeatedly during the Obama administration UN Ambassador Samantha Power abstained from a critical vote condemning Israel’s racist and illegal Jewish-only settlements. But the vote is irrelevant in the face of America’s do-nothing policies and the do-nothing policies of the Arab…
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An expensive television Christmas Story A new generation’s “Christmas Story,” not about Santa Claus or the spirit of kindness, but about the way our utilities control our lives with no accountability and definitely no really good service. This one is about Comcast/Xfinity but it could be about them all Published in the Des Plaines Valley…
Fires Damage two homes in Orland Park, Il Fires hit two homes in Orland Park over the Christmas Holidays, one on Christmas Day related to a fireplace and a second one the following day linked to a Christmas tree Orland Fire Prevent District officials reported. Here are the two reports: Fireplace fire in Orland Park…
Skimming through the Obits and life The obituary section of the old more informed newspaper era was an obsession with my father back in the 1950s and 1960s. Today, the newspapers are anorexic but the Obit section is still growing strong. And, I understand why my father paid attention to it so much now that I…
Arab Americans prepare to celebrate Christmas About half of Arab Christians celebrate the religious and secular holiday along with most mainstream Christians on Dec. 25, but the other half celebrates Christmas according to the old calendar two weeks later on Jan. 7. By Ray Hanania Christmas is both a time of Christian religious renewal as well…
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Pioneering Middle East Magazine publisher dies One of the most influential journalists who contributed enormously to the understanding of the true facts and issues of the Middle East and the Palestine conflict, passed away this week. Ambassador Andrew Ivy Killgore, a veteran American diplomat moved by the injustices he witnessed to publish the Washington Report on…
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Zalatimo offers great tasting Arabic sweets with free serving dish In 1860, Mohammed Zalatimo opened a small pastry shop in the Old City of the Holy City of Jerusalem, within the ancient Walls of the city surrounded by the world’s most important religious icons including the Roman built Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Zalatimo began…
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Local writer documents history of EMS services Writer, celebrated investigator and Reavis High school graduate Paul Ciolino has penned a new book that documents the creation of the public paramedic system, EMS, which has saved countless lives since it was implemented in 1972 Originally published in the Des Plaines Valley News, Southwest News-Herald, The Regional…
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Israel’s Arabs remain key to peace @Arab_News The Pen is Mightier than the sword, for Israel, but the vote is Mightier than the Pen for Israel’s oppressed Arab Palestinian citizens. Arabs in Israel can vote, strengthen their population and change Israel’s increasingly apartheid-like racism from the inside. Published in the Arab News Thursday Dec. 15, 2016….
CPJ: Record 259 journalists jailed around the world A total of 259 journalists are currently in jails in 31 countries, including 53 jailed in the Middle East. The report from the Committee to Protect Journalists notes that Turkey has the largest number of jailed journalists, 81, followed by China, with 38. Despite political criticism of Russia, that…
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Random thoughts from Taiwan to flag burning Columnist Ray Hanania looks at a range of issues and random thoughts from the controversy over President-elect Trump’s phone call from Taiwan and the issue of Chinese corruption, to the offensiveness of the “liberty” of allowing anyone to burn the American Flag. Originally published in the Des Plaines…
American Arabs share in 75th Pearl Harbor remembrance Millions of American Arabs have much to be proud of as the United States commemorates the 75th anniversary of the surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941 which pushed America into World War II. More than 15,000 American Arabs served during that war and represented a consistent stream…
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Prominent Muslim group denounces AJC-led coalition The American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) Monday called on the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) “to sever ties with the faith-washing Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council,” which was launched on Nov 14 to address Muslim-Jewish relations. By Ray Hanania The American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) Monday called on the Islamic Society…
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Kerry warns Israel-Palestine relations “getting worse” In speaking to the pro-Israel Saban Forum organized by the Brookings Institution’s Center for Middle East Policy this past week (Dec. 2, 2016), outgoing Secretary of State John F. Kerry said that the situation for peace “is “getting worse.” And, he cautioned, no peace with the Arab World can…
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