Next war may be over natural gas
BEIRUT — The discovery of large natural-gas reserves under the eastern Mediterranean could potentially mean a huge economic windfall for Israel and Lebanon, both resource-poor nations — if it doesn't spark new war between them. Hizbullah has blared warnings that Israel plans to steal natural gas from Lebanese territory and vows...
King Abdullah, Assad declare united support for Lebanon’s stability
July 30th, 20100 BEIRUT — The Saudi king and Syrian president emphasized their keenness to support the calm that Lebanon has been witnessing since the formation of a national unity Cabinet, the state-run Syrian National News Agency (SANA) said Thursday. Syrian President Bashar Assad (R) shakes hands with Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah in Damascus...Abdel-Hak hopes to bring diversity to city council
When Roy Pilot decided not to retain his seat on the Dearborn Heights City Council, a seat he was appointed to in July of 2010, Kathy Abdel-Hak, 46, responded to the number of people who asked her to run. "There comes a time when you just have to do, a time when talk is not enough," she said. Kathy Abdel-Hak,The co-owner of...Iraq political deadlock worsens
Iraq's parliament on Tuesday postponed indefinitely what would have been only its second session since a March election, extending a political deadlock that has plagued the country. "We are postponing the session until further notice because the political entities failed to reach any agreement," Fouad Massum, who as the oldest member of...Dearborn Heights council seat up for grabs
DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Kathy Abdel-Hak, Ned Apigan, and Robert Yahrmatter will be on the ballot in the August 3 primary for the Dearborn Heights city council seat currently held by Roy Pilot. The election will narrow down the race to two candidates for the city's general election in November. Pilot was appointed to the seat after the...
Israel’s fingerprints surface on the Hariri assassination
July 30th, 20100 In the Middle East, the link between political machinations, espionage and assassination is either clear as day, or clear as mud. As for the yet unsolved case of the February 2005 murder of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, mud might be giving way to daylight. A crackdown on Israeli spy rings operating in Lebanon has resulted in...3rd District State Senate Democratic Primary: Hood, Robinson, Okdie competing
Residents in the 3rd State senate district, which is composed of Dearborn, River Rouge and parts of Detroit will vote for a new senator in the general election this fall. With current Senator Irma Clark-Coleman term limited, three Democrats and one Republican are vying for her seat. The Republican party will not have a primary, as...AAPAC announces endorsements for Michigan primary election
DEARBORN - After a meeting that took approximately two hours and was punctuated by intense back-and-forth debates, the Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC) has agreed upon its endorsements for the 2010 Michigan primary election, which will take place on August 3 at polling stations across the state. Absentee ballots for the...AAPAC begins primary endorsement process
AAPAC members conduct an interview with Wayne County Commissioner District 3 candidate Martha Scott at The Arab American News office. PHOTO: Jessica Barrow/TAANDEARBORN - The Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC) hosted their first round of interviews for endorsements on Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. at the The Arab American...Fundraiser for Bernero held at local attorney’s house
A fundraiser event was held for current Lansing mayor and Michigan Democratic candidate for governor Virg Bernero at the Canton home of local prominent lawyer and Arab American Political Action Committee vice president Nabih Ayad on Monday, July 12. Bernero will compete with Michigan Speaker of the House Andy Dillon for the party's...Hizbullah ready to repel Israeli attacks
BEIRUT - Lebanon's Hizbullah resistance movement says it is fully prepared for any future Israeli attack, warning Tel Aviv of disastrous consequences of another conflict. Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim QassemThe movement's Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem said on Wednesday that Hizbullah stands ready for a...Allegedly abducted Iranian scientist arrives home
An Iranian nuclear scientist who said he was kidnapped by the U.S. has arrived home in Tehran vowing to reveal more details of his claimed abduction while on a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia last year. Speaking to Al Jazeera during a transit stop in Qatar, Shahram Amiri said he was interrogated by U.S. agents who refused to allow him...Lebanese general seeks court record in Hariri case
Maj. Gen. Jamil al-SayyedLEIDSCHENDAM, Netherlands – A former Lebanese army general asked an international court on Tuesday to release his secret case file in the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri to learn why he was jailed for nearly four years without charge. The hearing by the Special Tribunal...Tariq Aziz shifted to Iraqi custody
The Iraqi government says U.S. forces have handed over 55 former members of Saddam Hussein's government, including Tariq Aziz, his former foreign minister. Busho Ibrahim, Iraq's deputy justice minister, said on Wednesday that the detainees also include Saddam's former oil and culture ministers. The U.S. military in Baghdad...UK envoy’s praise for Lebanon Shi’a leader draws Israeli anger
Frances Guy BEIRUT - Israel has criticized Britain's ambassador to Lebanon for eulogizing a recently deceased Lebanese cleric said to have inspired Hizbullah. Frances Guy wrote on her personal blog that Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah was a "decent man" who rated among the people she most admired. An Israeli spokesman......
Death sentence for Israeli spy
BEIRUT - A Lebanese man accused of spying for Israel and giving the Jewish state security information it used during its 34-day war with Hizbullah in 2006 was sentenced to death yesterday. Ali Mantash appeared in court in Beirut on the same day that prosecutors charged Charbel Qazzi, a manager at the state mobile telephone company Alfa,...Saleh: No seventh war in Yemen’s north
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh stressed on Tuesday that no seventh war will take place in the impoverished country's tense north between the Sanaa government and Houthi rebels. "There are no indicators for a seventh war," Saleh told a news conference, saying that would be "totally unacceptable." The sixth war with the rebels, known...West Bank barrier a ‘health hazard’
Israel's separation barrier makes it difficult for Palestinians in the West Bank to obtain proper health care, according to a new United Nations report. Prepared by the Office of the Co-ordinator for Humanitarian Affairs, the report found that thousands of Palestinians have limited access to East Jerusalem hospitals because of the...Rahaf Abdallah crowned Miss Lebanon 2010
Rahaf Abdallah poses after being crowned Miss Lebanon 2010 in Adma, north of Beirut, July 9, 2010.BEIRUT- Rahaf Abdallah of Khiyam was crowned the 2010 winner of the Miss Lebanon competition on July 8, 2010 during the annual ceremony, which was 0aired by the Lebanese Broadcasting Channel (LBC) The 22-year-old winner beat out......
Woronchak vies to retain his commission seat
DEARBORN — Gary Woronchak (D-Dearborn) and Scott J. Saionz (R-Dearborn) are candidates competing during the state general election Nov.2. to serve the 13th district of the Wayne County Commission. Waronchak is the incumbent Wayne County Commissioner, and has served the district since 2004. District 13 represents Allen Park, Dearborn...Casino, health care issues miss Michigan ballot
Lansing - Citizen petition drives to expand casino gaming in Michigan and to give individuals the right to opt out of federal health care regulation failed to meet Monday's deadline for submitting signatures to put the issues before voters in November. Backers of two of the proposed constitutional amendments -- one to authorize seven......
Detroit City council President endorses Dillon for governor
Detroit — Detroit City Council President Charles Pugh has endorsed Democratic candidate for governor of Michigan Andy Dillon. Pugh said Dillon's experience in the state Legislature and past consideration of Detroit in significant decisions are reasons for his endorsement. This is Dillon's third term on the Michigan House of...Hamas lawmaker: Gaza flotilla did more than 10,000 rockets could have
Who now doubts that strategic nonviolent action can transform the politics of the Israel/Palestine conflict? Not Hamas parliamentarian Aziz Dweik, The Wall Street Journal reports: "When we use violence, we help Israel win international support," said Dweik, a leading Hamas lawmaker in the West Bank. "The Gaza flotilla has done more for......