The Arab American News
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Obama’s one-sided embrace of Israel angers Palestinians
March 22nd, 20130 RAMALLAH- U.S. President Barack Obama insisted on Thursday a two-state solution was still viable, but disappointed his Palestinian hosts by failing to take a clear stance on freezing settlement activity.On the second day of a historic visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories, Obama traveled to the West Bank's political capital to...Mosque suicide bombing kills prominent cleric
DAMASCUS - A suicide bombing rocked a Damascus mosque on Thursday, killing at least 42 people including Syria's most prominent Sunni cleric, state media and a watchdog group said.The bomber blew himself up inside the Iman Mosque in central Damascus as the cleric, Mohamed al-Bouti, addressed religious students, in an attack that echoed...U.S. looks to overhaul massive immigration detention system
WASHINGTON - Rights groups and government officials here have been testifying in a string of hearings, before both bodies of the U.S. Congress, on how to overhaul the United States’ huge immigration detention system, the scope of which has expanded massively in recent years in ways that some suggest impinge on civil and human...
Iraq once more on the brink of war
March 22nd, 20130 KIRKUK, Iraq (IPS) — Driving into the city of Kirkuk, one is greeted by the view of a huge sea of grey concrete houses from which laundry has been hung out to dry in the wind and be blackened by smoke rising from the surrounding oil wells.Only the turquoise flags fluttering from lampposts and balconies break the monochromatic view,...The undying shame of the Iraq war
Ten years ago, in March of 2003, Iraqis braced themselves for the anticipated “Shock and Awe” attacks that the U.S. was planning to launch against them. The media buildup for the attack assured Iraqis that barbarous assaults were looming.I was living in Baghdad at the time, along with other Voices in the Wilderness activists...Syrian delegates push for peaceful resolution of conflict
UNITED NATIONS (IPS) — Amidst ongoing violence between the Syrian regime and opposition forces, and serious international discourse on arming the opposition, some Syrian civil society leaders are insisting upon a non-violent approach toward conflict resolution.Dr. Haytham Manna and Dr. Rim Turkmani traveled to New York and Washington...
Accusations swirl over Syrian chemical attack
March 22nd, 20130 A day after an alleged chemical weapon attack in Syria Tuesday, international actors weighed in on the event, as the Syrian government and insurgents exchanged accusations over who was responsible for the death of at least 25 people as a result of the toxic chemicals.Syrian state media reported Tuesday that "terrorists fired rockets...Of hope and pain: Rachel Corrie’s Rafah legacy
“Hi Papa .. Don’t worry about me too much, right now I am most concerned that we are not being effective. I still don’t feel particularly at risk. Rafah has seemed calmer lately,” Rachel Corrie wrote to her father, Craig, from Rafah, a town located at the southern end of the Gaza Strip.‘Rachel’s last email’ was not dated on...College students visit Honduras; bring relief to impoverished residents
DEARBORN — Five Arab American Wayne State University students spent their spring break in Honduras working on projects that bring relief to impoverished people, such as revitalizing current infrastructure and establishing an entirely new framework to improve the quality of life in rural areas. The projects included dam...
Hotline established by ACRL in wake of abrupt, unexplained bank account closures of Arab Americans
March 22nd, 20130 DEARBORN — A local civil rights group is taking action in response to the overwhelming number of complaints it has received from Arab Americans who say their bank accounts were closed abruptly with no reasonable explanation. At a press conference Tuesday, the Arab American Civil Rights League (ACRL) announced that it established...Judge David Allen to chair ADC-Michigan Advisory Board
Judge David J. AllenDEARBORN — The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) of Michigan announced that long term advisory board member, the Honorable Judge David Allen will now serve as the ADC Advisory Board Chairman for the 2013/2014 term. Judge David J. Allen of Wayne County Circuit Court has worked in the...
Michigan Civil Rights Commission celebrates 50 years; local Arab leaders ask for better representation
March 22nd, 20130 LANSING — This week, the Michigan Civil Rights Commission (MCRC) celebrated a landmark with its 50th anniversary milestone. The commission has been a prominent advocate since the 1960's, when it defended the civil rights of African Americans, and comes full circle today in a post 9/11 era, with issues pertaining to the Arab and Muslim...
Candidates pull petitions for Dearborn Heights Mayor, City Council
March 22nd, 20130 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — The municipality race in Dearborn Heights is picking up steam as candidates have begun to pull their petitions before the May 14 deadline. Positions up for election this year are Mayor, four of the seven City Council seats, Treasurer and City Clerk.So far, three candidates have pulled petitions for city mayor. Daniel...New resignations show more cracks within Syria’s National Coalition
At least 12 key members of Syria's National Coalition said Wednesday they had suspended their membership in the main opposition body amid a row over the deeply divisive election of the first rebel prime minister.The group of 12 included the Coalition's deputy Soheir Atassi and spokesman Walid al-Bunni.Their decision came amid bitter...Syria state media attack Hitto: American pawn who avoided military service in Syri
DAMASCUS — Syria's state media on Wednesday slammed rebel forces for electing Ghassan Hitto as opposition premier, saying he was a pawn of foreign nations complicit in a "conspiracy" against Syria.Al-Watan daily said Hitto had been "appointed" by Turkey and Qatar, which both back the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, along......
Dearborn Police seek information on Mar. 20 hit and run
DEARBORN — On March 20 at approximately 8:20 pm a 38 year old male pedestrian was struck by a vehicle in the City of Dearborn on Ford Road in the area of Auto Club. The Dearborn resident had stepped out of his disabled vehicle and was in the roadway when a white Sedan struck him and then fled the scene. The victim was...Warning issued on Dish Network phone scam
Calls are being made to homes with Dish Network satellite service where residents are being asked to participate in a promotion, which is really a scam. The problem is the caller ID shows “Dish Network 800.333.3474” which incidentally is the correct number for Dish. This makes it appear legitimate. Once someone......
Dearborn in planning stages of merging fire departments with Melvindale
DEARBORN — Last month during his state of the city addresses, Mayor Jack O'Reilly discussed plans of possibly merging the Dearborn Fire Department with neighboring city Melvindale's Fire Department. Now that merge seems to be almost a done deal, according to Melvindale and is expected to be finalized by May. The move is expected...Arab owner fights off armed robbers at smoke shop
GARDEN CITY — Hussein Almawa, store owner of Smoker's Depot in Garden City, was almost caught in the middle of an Armed Robbery when two caucasian suspects, ages 18 and 20, had come into the store in an attempt to pull off a robbery. a still image of the attempted robbery earlier this week.But their plans were interrupted when Almawa...Snyder signs Blue Cross Blue Shield reform
DETROIT — Legislation that will improve residents’ access to quality health care by transforming Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) into a not-for-profit mutual company was signed Monday by Gov. Rick Snyder. In addition to playing an important role in providing better access to health care, the plan includes a...Billboards in Metro Detroit promote tolerance for immigrants
MACOMB COUNTY — Welcoming Michigan has unveiled a media campaign to send the message, “When Michigan welcomes immigrants, Michigan thrives.” Billboards on Hall Rd. in Utica and on Dequindre in Warren, as well as bus shelter ads on Van Dyke in Sterling Heights, urge local residents to welcome newcomers. Bus shelter posters......
Abdul Hussein Bazzi receives prestigious award from GM
Dearborn Heights resident Abdul Hussein Bazzi has been announced as the 2013 recipient of the teamGM Recognition program, a noteworthy award created by GM's Executive Operations Committee that recognizes employees who are taking action to lead GM as a competitive innovative company.Bazzi, who has been with GM for five years, works with...Wayne County Prosecutor speaks out against budget cuts
DETROIT — On Wednesday Wayne County Prosecutor Kim Worthy spoke out about the budget cuts made to her office by Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano. In 2012 Ficano (L) proposed a $25.6 million budget to Worthy’s office, she sued in response saying she was promised a minimum of $34 million. She said Ficano’s cuts will result......
Riverside Academy West students receive UM-Dearborn scholarships
Alrayas.DEARBORN — Rabab Alrayas and Noor Alhuda çboth seniors at Riverside Academy West in Dearborn have been chosen to receive the University of Michigan-Dearborn’s Opportunity Scholarship, valued at more than $46,000 over four years. Both girls were nominated from nearly 200 eligible, incoming students on the basis of...Fordson student earns rotary club’s Hugh Archer Scholarship
DEARBORN — Mohamed Hussein Ghandour, a senior at Fordson High School, was awarded the $4,500 2013 Hugh Archer Memorial Scholarship during Dearborn Rotary’s annual youth month program. The Dearborn Rotary Club, through the Dearborn Rotary Foundation, awards this annual college scholarship. Fordson High School senior......