Category: Spotlight

Analysis by Arab Center Washington DC: Iran’s Nuclear Leverage Survives the War

July 8, 2026July 8, 2026 News Editor News Editor No Comments

Analysis by Arab Center Washington DC: Iran’s Nuclear Leverage Survives the War By Sina Azodi When President Donald Trump, in close partnership with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, attacked Iran on February 28, 2026, he anticipated the total capitulation of the Islamic Republic. Although the opening phase of the campaign inflicted significant damage on Iran’s military and nuclear…

Arab Center Washington DC, Iran, Israel, News, NewsWire, Politics, Spotlight

Peace activist and ecumenical Christian leader condemns Israel’s human rights violations

July 4, 2026July 4, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Peace activist and ecumenical Christian leader condemns Israel’s human rights violations “While America Celebrates Freedom, I Was Denied Entry to My Homeland Palestine and the Promise of Liberty,” Sir Rateb Y. Rabie, KCHS, HCEF founder says in newsletter statement. Click here to read more. Israel consistently violates Visa Waiver Program agreement it made with United…

American Arabs, Christian & Muslim, Human Rights, Israel, News, NewsWire, Palestine & Jordan, racism, Spotlight

Visit Türkiye Without Leaving Chicago: The Turkish Festival Returns to Tinley Park This August

July 3, 2026July 3, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Visit Türkiye Without Leaving Chicago: The Turkish Festival Returns to Tinley Park This August Free entrance to a massive Grand Bazaar, live performances, authentic cuisine, and five round-trip flights to Istanbul headline the mid-summer cultural celebration. Experience the magic, energy, and unmatched hospitality of Türkiye right in the Chicago area. The highly anticipated Turkish Festival…

Culture, Entertainment, Event, Events, Food, News, NewsWire, Spotlight

Arab Center analyzes prospects for an effective Arab Joint List in Israeli elections

June 8, 2026June 9, 2026 News Editor News Editor No Comments

Arab Center analyzes prospects for an effective Arab Joint List in Israeli elections Arab Center of Washington D.C. Executive Director Khalil Jahshan has authored an analysis of the prospects for an effective Arab Joint List in the upcoming Israeli elections. Jahshan writes that the three Palestinian Arab Parties in Israel announced that they would run…

Activism, Arab World, Election, Israel, News, NewsWire, Palestine & Jordan, Politics, Press Releases, Spotlight

New expo in New Jersey to focus on Arab and Middle Eastern foods

May 13, 2026May 16, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

New expo in New Jersey to focus on Arab and Middle Eastern foods A new food expo to be held in New Jersey June 22 – 24, 2026, will, for the first time, put the focus on Arab and Middle East foods, and features Greek, Iranian, Indian, Turkish foods, making it easier for North American,…

American Arabs, Business, Culture, Event, Events, Food, News, NewsWire, Palestine & Jordan, recipe, Spotlight

AHRC: Mental Health Month Renews Calls for Bold, System‑Wide Action on Mental Health:

May 7, 2026May 7, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

AHRC: Mental Health Month Renews Calls for Bold, System‑Wide Action on Mental Health: The American Human Rights Council (AHRC) joins the nation in recognizing May as Mental Health Month, which has been observed annually since 1949. This month honors the millions of people living with mental health conditions—circumstances no one chooses, yet many still endure…

American Arabs, Christian & Muslim, Civil Rights, Culture, Health, Human Rights, immigrants, Michigan, News, NewsWire, Spotlight

Hearing this week on bill to repeal Illinois’ discriminatory BDS bill

April 27, 2026April 27, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Hearing this week on bill to repeal Illinois’ discriminatory BDS bill Statement from State Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid on the drive to repeal the discriminatory anti-BDS Bill in Pringfield: The Illinois Human Rights Advocacy Protection Act, HB 2723, is officially in committee, and the hearing is scheduled for Thursday. Our bill repeals Illinois’ 2015 anti-boycott law,…

American Arabs, Christian & Muslim, Civil Rights, Culture, Islamophobia, Israel, News, NewsWire, Palestine & Jordan, Politics, racism, Spotlight

Chicago to dedicate street in honor of Arab American businessman Jamil “Jimmy” Ayesh

April 23, 2026April 23, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Chicago to dedicate street in honor of Arab American businessman Jamil “Jimmy” Ayesh Jamil “Jimmy” Ayesh owned a grocery store that helped all of the neighbors in the Back of the Yards community. In honor of his legacy, Chicago will install an honorary sign recognizing his humanity. The street sign placement will be dedicated on…

American Arabs, Business, Christian & Muslim, Culture, immigrants, News, NewsWire, Palestine & Jordan, Photographs, Spotlight

National Arab American Heritage Month Launches April 1, 2026—Arab America Foundation Unites Communities Nationwide

April 1, 2026April 1, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

National Arab American Heritage Month Launches April 1, 2026—Arab America Foundation Unites Communities Nationwide April 2026 is National Arab American Heritage Month in the United States WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 1, 2026)— The Arab America Foundation (AAF) is leading the nationwide celebration of National Arab American Heritage Month (NAAHM) this April, uniting communities across the United States…

American Arabs, Christian & Muslim, Culture, Event, Events, Features, News, NewsWire, Palestine & Jordan, Spotlight

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

CAIR-Chicago Stands with Mayor Brandon Johnson in Affirming Equal Protection Against All Hate Crimes

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

CAIR-Chicago Stands with Mayor Brandon Johnson in Affirming Equal Protection Against All Hate Crimes (CHICAGO, IL, 3/27/2026) — The Council on American-Islamic Relations, Chicago office (CAIR-Chicago), today expressed its strong support for Mayor Brandon Johnson’s position that all hate crimes must be addressed with equal urgency and seriousness, amid ongoing public debate following the resignation of…

American Arabs, Christian & Muslim, Civil Rights, Human Rights, Islamophobia, Media Bias, News, NewsWire, Palestine & Jordan, Politics, racism, Spotlight

Ruzevich race for Congress showcases challenges facing pro-Arab candidates

March 23, 2026March 23, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Ruzevich race for Congress showcases challenges facing pro-Arab candidates By Ray Hanania One of the few races that many people in the Arab American community were very hopeful about was the challenge to unresponsive Congressman Sean Casten in the 6th Congressional District by Joseph “Joey” Ruzevich, political consultant and deputy campaign manager Sawsan Abubaker said…

American Arabs, Christian & Muslim, Election, News, NewsWire, Palestine & Jordan, Politics, racism, Ray Hanania, Spotlight, The Arab Street, US Arab Politics, Women's rights

Ray Hanania joins Marc Sims podcast on censorship, Bad Bunny and racism

February 12, 2026February 12, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Ray Hanania joins Marc Sims podcast on censorship, Bad Bunny and racism Marc Sims talks with journalist Ray Hanania about censorship and fear. Ray Hanania is an American journalist of Palestinian descent. Hanania talks with Sims about social media censorship against critics of Israel’s government, such as AIPAC Tracker, and the growth of racism reflected…

Activism, American Arabs, Baby Boomers, Christian & Muslim, Civil Rights, Election, Human Rights, Israel, News, NewsWire, Opinion, Palestine & Jordan, Podcast, Politics, Ray Hanania, Social Media, Spotlight

Dark money super PAC dumps cash into TV ads to influence 2nd Congressional District Illinois

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

Dark money super PAC dumps cash into TV ads to influence 2nd Congressional District Illinois PRESS RELEASE — A dark money super PAC dubbed “Affordable Chicago Now!” which filed a statement of organization just last week and is believed to be funded by the right-wing group AIPAC, but has yet to disclose a single donor, has…

Activism, Congress, Election, Israel, News, NewsWire, Palestine & Jordan, Politics, Spotlight, Terrorism, US Arab Politics, war crimes

American Arab Chamber of Commerce releases endorsements in key Illinois races

January 14, 2026January 14, 2026 News Editor News Editor No Comments

American Arab Chamber of Commerce releases endorsements in key Illinois races Press Release/Chicago, IL – The American Arab Chamber of Commerce, the longest and largest Arab Chamber in Illinois, today released its list of endorsements for candidates running in key contests have been responsive to the community. In a statement, the AACCUSA Board said the…

Activism, American Arabs, Election, News, NewsWire, Politics, Spotlight

Islamic Scholarship Fund ISF Scholarship & Program Applications are Open!

January 13, 2026January 13, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Islamic Scholarship Fund ISF Scholarship & Program Applications are Open! The ISF is excited to announce that applications are open now through March 21st for ISF’s upcoming 2026-2027 internships, fellowships, and scholarships. These programs are designed to provide mentorship, financial resources, and professional development opportunities for the next generation of leaders, and we are looking…

Activism, Christian & Muslim, Culture, Education, News, NewsWire, Spotlight

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

Challengers in Illinois’ 6th and 10th Congressional Districts Face Voters on The Lightning Strike

January 6, 2026January 6, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Challengers in Illinois’ 6th and 10th Congressional Districts Face Voters on The Lightning Strike Voters in two closely watched Illinois congressional districts heard directly from Democratic primary challengers on Sunday morning January 4, 2026 during a candidates’ forum broadcast on The Lightning Strike, the weekly progressive radio program airing on WCPT 820 AM Radio. The…

Activism, American Arabs, Arab Radio, Congress, Election, Journalism, News, News Media, NewsWire, Politics, Radio Podcast, Spotlight, US Arab Politics