‘Assad must go’: Western-Gulf intransigence bulwarks peace in Syria
For anyone who has been critical of the Western narrative on Syria, the ongoing diplomatic circus begs a very basic question: How can the countries that have bankrolled and armed the insurgency honestly broker a meaningful peace deal? Well, they can’t.The joint effort recently announced by Moscow and Washington to bring the government...International Court examines Israeli raid on Gaza flotilla
THE HAGUE — The International Criminal Court's prosecutor said on Tuesday that she would open a preliminary examination into events surrounding the 2010 Israeli raid on a humanitarian aid flotilla bound for the Gaza strip, in which nine Turkish activists were killed.The prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, said in a statement that she was...Detroit prepares for a different kind of municipality election
DETROIT — For nearly 100 years, since 1918, Detroiters have been electing their entire city council, which serves as the City's legislative body, at large. However, this year, as a result of the passage of the City's new charter, seven members of the nine-person council will be elected by district. The charter divided Detroit into...Dearborn candidates gear up for Primary Election
DEARBORN — The City of Dearborn's Municipality race is shaping up to be a hefty one. For the first time in years, enough candidates have filed for the Mayoral, City Clerk and City Council positions to warrant a Primary on August 7.The deadline for filing for any one of the three positions was Tuesday, May 14 at 4:00 p.m....Arab American seeks mayoral seat in Hamtramck
HAMTRAMCK — May 14 marked the last day that candidates were able to submit petitions to run for office for the City of Hamtramck’s 2013 elections. Any candidates, who wish to withdraw their petitions, must do so by May 17. The City of Hamtramck is governed by a council manager form of government. The City's elected mayor is the...
Arab American community shows support at Benny Napoleon campaign fundraiser
May 14th, 20130 DEARBORN-On Monday evening, hundreds of local Arab American leaders, businessmen and dignitaries gathered at Byblos Banquet Hall to support Wayne County Sherriff Benny Napoleon in his race for mayor of the City of Detroit. Guests packed the fundraising event, which included a 20-minute video, showcasing the support of local Arab...
Hope, skepticism over U.S.-Russian Accord on Syria conference
May 10th, 20130 WASHINGTON — The surprise accord reached by the U.S. and Russia in Moscow Tuesday to try to convene an international conference to resolve the two-year-old civil war in Syria as soon as the end of this month has been greeted with equal measures of hope and skepticism.If nothing else, the agreement apparently persuaded at least one key...A Lebanon echo in Syrian war
Expressions of angst over Syria have entailed several themes, one of which concerns possible “spread” of the Syrian civil war into nearby states. Lebanon, for reasons of physical and ethnic geography, is most often mentioned as a locale of such spreading.But at least as useful as speculation about what the Syrian civil war may do to...City council candidate: Diversity is what makes Dearborn great
DEARBORN — Dearborn City Council Candidate Colette Richards says Dearborn’s diversity is what makes it unique. She is running for office because of her admiration for the City and her aspirations to help make Dearborn a better place to live for future generations. “I absolutely love the City and its diversity,” Richards...
Rare painting of Prophet’s footprints to be auctioned
May 9th, 20130 LONDON - A rare 18th century painting of the footprints of the Prophet Muhammad, painted during the 18th century Ottoman Empire, will take center stage at British auction house Mullock’s on the 21st of May.According to written and oral sources, Prophet Muhammad left imprints of his bare feet on a number of stones. Some of these...Film Festival to commemorate Al Nakba anniversary
TORONTO - On Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at 7:00 PM, the Toronto Palestine Film Festival (TPFF) will commemorate Al Nakba’s 65th anniversary with the North American premiere of Ahmed Damen’s documentary "The Red Stone". The premiere will take place at Beit Zatoun, 612 Markham St., Toronto, ON. Admission is a $5 suggested donation.Al...Syrian forces tighten noose on rebels in Homs
Damascus — Syrian regime forces were on Thursday tightening the noose on rebels holed up in a key area of the central city of Homs, the Syrian Observatory for Human rights watchdog said."The Syrian army, supported by back-up forces and expert officers from Iran and Hizbullah, has taken control of large parts of the Wadi al-Sayeh...
UN: April deadliest month in Iraq since 2008
May 3rd, 20130 BAGHDAD - April was Iraq's bloodiest month for almost five years, with 712 people killed in bomb attacks and other violence, the United Nations Iraq mission said on Thursday.Tensions are at their highest since US troops pulled out in December 2011.The number of attacks increased sharply after security forces raided a protest camp near...Jerusalem mosque to be partially demolished, Israeli court rules
Jerusalem - An Israeli court has rejected an appeal to stop the partial demolition of a mosque in Ras al-Amoud in East Jerusalem, the mosque's imam said. Israeli border policemen stand guard as a Palestinian performs Friday prayer on a street in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Ras al-Amud on April 5, 2013. PHOTO:...UN Envoy Brahimi ponders resignation
CAIRO — UN-Arab League peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi is thinking about stepping down as the Syrian war becomes more intractable, but is likely to stay on until at least mid-May, a senior aide said on Thursday.UN and Arab diplomats said on Wednesday the veteran envoy was on the verge of quitting over his frustration with......
The price of pursuing truth about Israel-Palestine
I am withdrawing from the battlefield of the war for the truth of history as it relates to the making and sustaining of the conflict in and over Palestine that became Israel, and the following is an explanation of why.More than three decades ago, when I made my commitment to this war effort — with the full knowledge that it would make...Arab League land-swap offer angers Palestinians
Earlier this week, a media storm erupted in Israel and the U.S. over an Arab League announcement that the Palestinians have agreed to the possibility of land swaps with Israel as opposed to a rigid conformation to the "Green Line" or pre-1967 borders.While Israeli officials such as Tzipi Livni, chief negotiator with the Palestinians,...
Official: Human trafficking probe at Saudi diplomat’s home
May 2nd, 20130 WASHINGTON - Federal authorities are investigating a potential case of human trafficking at the suburban Washington home of a Saudi diplomat, officials said Wednesday. Authorities were called Tuesday afternoon to an upscale neighborhood in McLean, Virginia, where they "removed two potential trafficking victims," U.S. Immigration and...First-ever West Bank marathon includes vigil for Boston victims, highlights Palestinians’ plight
Bethlehem, West Bank — Winding through the steep, narrow streets of Bethlehem in the West Bank, more than 650 runners braved the cold and rain as they tested their endurance in one of the oldest cities in the world. The Danish organisers of Sunday's race, Laerke Hein and Signe Fischer, worked with their Palestinian counterparts to......
Lebanese drone scare grounds Netanyahu’s helicopter
BEIRUT - An Israeli fighter plane shot down a drone from Lebanon over the Mediterranean Sea on Thursday as it was approaching the Israeli coast, the military said.Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu was inside an Israeli army helicopter when he was given the news of the drone, and was then forced to land until it was shot down.The unmanned...Syria says backing rebels risks new attacks on America
DAMASCUS - U.S. support for Syrian rebels may lead to more attacks on American soil like those of September 11, said a senior Syrian official who warned that Islamist fighters would spread "the fire of terrorism" around the world.Western powers are alarmed at al Qaeda militants joining a revolt that began two years ago with rallies for......
Nearly 50 killed as sectarian violence flares in Iraq
MOSUL - Nearly 50 people were killed in clashes on Thursday here, sources said, on the third day of the most widespread violence in Iraq since U.S. troops withdrew in December 2011.More than 100 people have been killed in fighting since Tuesday, when troops stormed a Sunni protest camp, triggering clashes that quickly spread to other...Pressure builds up on Hizbullah to withdraw fighters from Syria
BEIRUT - Lebanon's Shi'a Hizbullah movement came under increasing pressure over accusations it is backing regime troops in Syria, as a rebel leader warned of the risk of sparking a sectarian war.Inside Syria soldiers seized a key town near Damascus from rebels following weeks of fierce clashes, a monitoring group said, and each side......