The Arab American News
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The importance of a successful Annapolis summit
The skeptics have unassailable arguments: History and a consistent record of failure are on their side. Weak Israeli and Palestinian governments, an American president in the last stretch of his second term, dysfunctional Israeli and Palestinian body politics, and cynical media coverage, all dampen any reasonable expectations of success...The importance of a failed Annapolis summit
Do not belittle the Annapolis summit. Despite all the prophecies of failure, justified as they are, this summit could still make an important contribution to the history of Israeli-Arab negotiations: For the first time, it will become crystal-clear who aspires toward peace and, more important, who flees from it as if from fire. Israel...U.S. energy challenge is Michigan’s economic opportunity
During November, I will be traveling around the state with my economic development team, talking to local business leaders who are growing a new industry right here in our backyard. We’ll be visiting cities where the alternative energy sector is growing jobs and helping to reduce our reliance on foreign oil. And I will be listening to...Will a new Lebanese president make a difference?
Today the Christian community of Lebanon retains a political privilege from the past, privilege that comes at a heavy cost. Lebanon is on the verge of collapse if a strong and respected presidential leader does not emerge by November 24. Elections are scheduled for November 12, but they may be postponed again, this time only for a...Cheney tried to stifle dissent in Iran intelligence report
WASHINGTON (IPS) — A National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on Iran has been held up for more than a year in an effort to force the intelligence community to remove dissenting judgments on the Iranian nuclear program, and thus make the document more supportive of U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney's militarily aggressive policy toward...Israel escalates campaign against IAEA , ElBaradei
Israel escalated its campaign Thursday against the winner of the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize, Mohamed ElBaradei, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), by describing him as a "danger to world peace" and calling for his dismissal for what it says are his policies towards Iran's nuclear program. The call by Israel's Deputy...A spiritual first in Baghdad
BAGHDAD — There is neither a cross nor a sign on the heavy metal gate to indicate that this is the official residence of one of the country's most prominent Christians, the first in Iraq in modern times to be elevated to cardinal by the Roman Catholic Church. The simple structure, in a dilapidated neighborhood of this capital, opposite...Big entertainment weekend in Detroit
DEARBORN — He strolls through Shatila Pastries with an entourage, and instantly you know something special's going on. Yep, it's Lebanese favorite Marcel Khalife, in town for a weekend of concerts with Al Mayadine Ensemble. The line at the register? A cashier in the middle of a transaction runs over to get her picture taken...Torture ruling in Egypt boosts rights
CAIRO (IPS) — Anti-torture activists in Egypt scored a rare win this week when an Egyptian judge handed down three-year prison sentences in a high-profile case to two police officers filmed last year abusing and sodomizing a man in custody with a broomstick. Torture is not uncommon in this country whose regime is known for its...‘Engaging the Other’ focuses on dialogue
People from various backgrounds and cultures came together to participate in open dialogue during the "Engaging the Other" conference, on October 25-28, at the Dearborn Inn Marriott. The conference entitled "The Power of Compassion" included various panels and interactive group discussions that covered a wide variety of subjects,...Our choices for November 6, 2007
The Arab American News urges its readers to vote for Hussein Berry for the Dearborn Board of Education on Tuesday, November 6, 2007. With the loss of incumbent Mary Lane, who was a good friend to this community, it is more important than ever that we electe another friend to the Board. On the sale of the Dearborn Towers in...Rice against ‘compromises’ with pro-Syrians
SHANNON, Ireland (AFP) — U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Friday warned against diplomatic moves to solve Lebanon's serious political crisis by compromising with the country's pro-Syrian opposition. "I think there is a lot of talk right now about compromise," she told journalists on a plane taking her to Ankara for talks with...Edwards takes the debate from Hillary
It was supposed to be the night Barack Obama took Hillary Clinton down. But, when all was said and done, Obama was a bystander. The opening question in Tuesday's Democratic presidential debate was a softball pitch from NBC's Brian Williams to the senator from Illinois. Noting Obama's interview in the Sunday New York Times, in which...Bellydance Superstars to hit Detroit!
Miles Copeland Miles Copeland certainly didn't invent bellydancing. Nor does he claim to have discovered the art form in America. But it would be difficult to find anyone better able to take the exotic oriental dance form mainstream. That's because Copeland has a healthy respect for Arab culture as well as the record mogul...Turfe gives to UM-Dearborn
DEARBORN — There's a saying by French mathematician Jean D'Alembert that Al Turfe is fond of passing on to his mathematics students at the University of Michigan-Dearborn: Algebra is generous; she often gives more than is asked of her. Yet, it's Turfe himself who has been generous this year, giving back much more to his students than......
Canadian Conservatives bow to Islamophobia
There are problems with Canada's electoral laws. As currently written, in order to vote a person has to have a street address. The authors of the law did not stop to think that, as written, the law would disenfranchise large numbers of rural voters who have only a post office box number. It would also take the right to...Engaging Hamas and Hizbullah
Nothing could be easier in the present atmosphere than to accuse anyone who calls for recognition of and dialogue with Hamas, Hizbullah and other Islamist movements of being closet supporters of reactionary "extremism" or naive fellow travelers of "terrorists." This tactic is not surprising coming from neoconservatives and Zionists. What...Please let’s prioritize Palestinian dignity
Mahmoud Jnaid recently doused himself in fuel and tried to set himself on fire before other Palestinian on-lookers overpowered him. "I am Mr. Nobody," he said in an October 19th Reuters article. "When I poured the petrol on my body I felt life was the same as death," the 25-year-old said while sitting next to his wife and...Last chance for two-state solution
The prevailing worldwide view of how to resolve politically the conflict of two nationalisms in Israel/Palestine is the so-called two-state solution — that is, the creation of two states, Israel and Palestine, within the boundaries of the onetime British Mandate of Palestine. Actually, this position is not at all new. One might argue......
Egypt challenges Israeli smuggling claims
CAIRO (IPS) — Throughout October, Israeli officials reiterated longstanding claims that Egyptian authorities were failing to prevent weapons from being smuggled into the Gaza Strip, which has been governed by Palestinian resistance faction Hamas since June. According to many local commentators, however, the Israeli accusations are...Kucinich seeks honesty, reconciliation in foreign policy
DEARBORN — Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich, while meeting with editors of The Arab American News on Sunday at a Dearborn restaurant, said that if elected, he would be willing to meet with anyone in order to work for peace in the Middle East. Even, he said, if it meant talking to groups currently designated by the......
AAPAC kicks off election season with grand banquet
November 3rd, 20070 Event dubbed largest Arab American political gathering in state DEARBORN — About 625 people gathered at a banquet hall in Dearborn on Friday to celebrate ten years of services from an influential group of community organizers. The Arab American Political Action Committee's 10th Annual Dinner was scheduled right before local elections,...
Palestinians freed after 20 years of legal battles
November 3rd, 20070 After a twenty-year legal ordeal, Palestinian-American activists Khader Hamide and Michel Shehadeh can finally rest. The two were part of the "LA 8," a group of seven Palestinians and a Kenyan activist based in Los Angeles. The government wanted to deport them for their activism, saying at first that they were promoting......