Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem
Invoking God’s affiliation in Mideast conflicts A close look at the tenuous relationship between Lebanon and Hezbollah. Hezbollah is neither a unique “state-within-a-state” phenomenon in the region nor the only entity proclaiming to be a “Party of God”. One can see analogous dynamics in Israel settlers’ movement. By Ghassan Michel Rubeiz In Arabic “Hezbollah” stands for…
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Hariri shelves his resignation: conditional good news for Lebanon By Ghassan Michel Rubeiz A sigh of relief in Lebanon: On November 22 Prime Minister Saad Hariri put on hold his November 4th resignation in a cabinet which includes Hezbollah Party, in order to negotiate terms for Lebanon’s neutrality in Arab affairs. “Neutrality,” “dissociation” and “self…
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Lebanon turmoil stoked by pro-Iranian extremists The murder of Rafic Hariri weighs heavy over freedom in Lebanon, 12 years later. And the same forces of violence and extremism are seeking to enforce more change through terrorism. Hariri’s son Saad faces threats of violence from Syria, Iran and Hezbollah extremists By Ray Hanania If people want…
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Hariri’s resignation sign of more trouble for Lebanon and the region By Ghassan Michel Rubeiz The resignation of Prime Minister Saad Hariri last week has serious implications for Lebanon, the region, and beyond. Hariri’s withdrawal from political office was shocking in form and substance. The televised resignation speech was delivered in Riyadh, not in Beirut. …
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Futility of Gulf Cooperation Council diplomacy towards Qatar By Ghassan Michel Rubeiz Shunning Qatar undermines a precious structure of pan-Arab diplomacy. The blockade imposed by Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt against Qatar is more about relations with Iran than alleged links to terrorism. Unlike Saudi Arabia, Qatar has good relations with Iran…
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Emerging optimism for Lebanon’s political deadlock Will the Lebanese living abroad visit their homeland in large numbers this summer? By Ghassan Michel Rubeiz A disastrous civil war that lasted fifteen years (1975-1990) nearly obliterated Lebanon’s image as the “Switzerland of the Middle East.” Since the end of the civil war Lebanon has been reconstructed, physically,…
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Trump urges Arab world to fight terrorism harder President Trump vows to work closely with Arab and Muslim nations, denounces Hezbollah, Iran and Syria as terrorist organizations, and promises to support the Arab World’s fight against religious extremism in a speech to a summit of Arab and Muslim leaders in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia By Ray…
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Unpredictable Trump is just what the Arab World needs My column at the Arab News this weeks discusses the reality of President Donald Trump and how his unpredictability is exactly what the Arab World needs today to undermine the fanatics, destroy the terrorist regime of Bashar al-Assad and achieve peace between Palestine and Israel By…
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Trump, Jordan King focus on Palestinian State President Donald Trump and Jordan’s King Abdullah II met this week, their second meeting at the White House since Trump’s election, and discussed ways to achieve peace through the establishment of a State for Palestinians. Trump and King Abdullah II also discussed regional issues including confronting Syria’s butcher Bashar…
With limited expectations, Lebanon to elect a president After two years and a half and 45 previous attempts the Lebanese parliament is finally expected to elect 81 year old Michel Aoun as president. With a controversial background in the civil war – which ended in 1990- Aoun is an ambitious and tenacious Christian leader. More…
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Real threat facing the Middle East is Iranian extremism Published in the Arab News, Oct. 13, 2016 By Ray Hanania Although much is made of the rising threat of ISIS and al-Qaeda in the Middle East, one axis more threatening, is the violent coalition of Syria and Hezbollah, led by Iran. Iran is one of…
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ADC head walks fine line to make Michigan chapter effective. Fatina Abdrabboh might be the one person who can navigate successful among the many diverse and conflicting voices and interests in the widely divided American Arab community to achieve the primary goal in America, to stand up for the civil rights of Arabs and Muslims. But it won’t…
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