Author Archives: Arab America

WHAT should Barack Obama, who is to visit Israel next Wednesday for the first time in his presidency, do about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? First, he must abandon the stale conventional wisdom offered by the New York-Washington foreign-policy establishment, which clings to the crumbling remnants of a so-called peace process that, in the 34 years since … Continued

The Obama administration is currently busy with three Mideast initiatives: reactivation of negotiations with Iran, an offer of “nonlethal” aid to the Syrian opposition and fulfillment of the long awaited president’s first visit to Israel, with short stops in the West Bank and Jordan, starting March 20. Iran and Syria are top concerns in Washington … Continued

When President Obama travels to Israel in mid-March, he will be following in the footsteps of American presidents, going back to 1978, who have nurtured an enduring bond with Israel while failing to negotiate peace in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Now, in his new book, BROKERS OF DECEIT: How the U.S. Has Undermined Peace in the … Continued

Just days ahead of his Mideast trip, President Barack Obama on Monday met with about 10 leaders of Arab American groups who encouraged him to deliver a message of hope to the Palestinian people even if he is unable to immediately deliver a peace plan with Israel. Obama met with the officials Monday, four days … Continued

I am an American English teacher in the occupied West Bank. I have 90 ninth-grade students. Like teachers everywhere, my days are filled with lesson plans, grading, and wrangling unruly teenagers into attentive groups. As a teacher, the daily emails I receive from students usually consist of questions clarifying homework or project assignments. I never … Continued

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) expressed concern that the U.S. government could abuse its powers against civilians, with Arab-Americans in Dearborn among those victimized. Paul, who is currently on the Senate floor speaking in a filibuster to protest the government’s authority to launch domestic drone strikes, referenced Dearborn’s Arab-American community in an interview with NBC. … Continued

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who is opposed to the federal government’s use of drones, mentioned Dearborn’s Arab-American community during his nearly 13-hour filibuster that started Wednesday and stretched into early Thursday morning. Paul held the filibuster as his way of blocking the Senate’s confirmation of John Brennan as the CIA director. Paul was responding … Continued

Where are you planning to be Thursday, June 13th through Sunday, June 16th? Your answer should be “in Washington, DC for the largest annual gathering of Arab Americans!” The <a href=”http://convention.adc.org/”>ADC National Convention</a> provides an opportunity for our members and supporters to come together annually to discuss issues and concerns facing the community, learn tools … Continued

NAAMA’s Volunteer Medical Mission for Syrian Refugees in Jordan WHAT: Medical mission to help Syrian refugees in Jordan WHEN: Depart the U.S. on Friday, March 22, 2013; Depart Jordan on Thursday, March 28, 2013 WHERE: General clinics in Amman, Irbid, Al Zaatari Refugee Camp; hospitals in Amman; spinal cord injury clinic in Amman WHO: NAAMA … Continued

Etched on ceramic plates or carved into glass cups, Arabic calligraphy designs, using a centuries-old art form that plays with the curves and horizontal lines of Arabic script, are gaining popularity across the Middle East. Scripts can decorate objects made from a range of materials, including acrylic glass, wood, clay, stone and copper. The availability … Continued

Former Senator Chuck Hagel’s confirmation as Secretary of Defense was important for several reasons, many of which have been exhaustively examined by media commentators. For Arab Americans, there was another reason why we celebrated the final vote: it represented vindication. I have known Chuck Hagel for many years, and while there are areas where we … Continued

Marwan Abouljoud, director of the Transplant Institute at Henry Ford Hospital and an internationally recognized pioneer in transplant surgery, will be honored as Arab American of the Year at the prestigious 42nd Annual ACCESS anniversary dinner on April 27, at the Marriott Detroit Renaissance Center. ACCESS confers to Arab American of the Year Awards annually … Continued