The Arab American News
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FBI sting nets five arrests in Ohio bridge bomb plot
May 4th, 20120 CLEVELAND — Federal authorities have arrested and charged five men in a plot to bomb an Ohio bridge, calling them “anarchists” who are angry with the government and corporate America. Top Row (L-R): Wright, Baxtor, Hayne Bottom Row: (L-R): Stafford, Stevens The arrests came Monday night after the were provided with what they...Peace lost in the Libyan desert
KUFRA, Libya — The recent outbreak of violence between the largely segregated Zwai and Tabu tribes in Libya's remote Saharan town of Kufra shattered the uneasy calm that held since last February's clashes, resulting in more than 100 deaths. The clashes illustrate the challenges in building a new state.In the power vacuum following...
Michigan Peace Team banquet celebrates ‘Women of Conscience & Courage’
May 4th, 20120 DEARBORN – A year after a speech from Cindy Corrie, the mother of young American activist Rachel Corrie, who was killed while demonstrating against a house demolition in Gaza, the Michigan Peace Team hosted three similarly inspiring women at its 2012 annual banquet 'Women of Conscience & Courage, Women Who Challenge' at Greenfield...
Slain store owner was “model for community businessmen” in inner cities
May 4th, 20120 DETROIT — Another store owner became the victim of senseless violence on Tuesday, May 1 as 63-year-old Chaldean American liquor store owner Faraj "Freddy" Dally was robbed and shot twice in the head as he attempted to open his store, the Medicine Chest, at 9 a.m.Memorial balloons have been placed outside following his death while...
Hundreds march with Occupy Detroit on ‘May Day’ for international workers
May 4th, 20120 DETROIT – The Occupy Detroit movement returned to Grand Circus Park on Tuesday, May 1 just over five months since their permit to camp out expired in late November 2011. About 400 people participated in marches across the city that eventually reached the McNamara Federal Building and then proceeded to Grand Circus Park near...
Consistent quality, the driving force behind Al-Ajami’s success
May 4th, 20120 Keeping an Arabic restaurant thriving in Dearborn is especially hard, considering the number that neighbor each other in parts of the city. From left: Al-Ajami co-owner Ali Ajami, head waiter Naji Alassri, and restaurant employee Asam Alnakula. While Dearborn is nationally known for its large concentration of Arab Americans, its Arabic...Dearborn resident announces launch of campaign for state’s 12th Congressional District
DEARBORN — Karen Jacobsen, lifelong Michigan resident, mother, business owner and accountant announced her campaign to run for Michigan's 12th Congressional District and unseat incumbent U.S. Rep. John Dingell. On Thursday Jacobson was expected to hold a press conference at her home, with supporters, friends and family to discuss...Constan announces run for new 8th District seat on Wayne County Commission
DEARBORN HEIGHTS - State Representative Bob Constan last week announced his candidacy for the open 8th District seat on the Wayne County Commission, citing his vision for what he sees as the vital role of the Commission in Wayne County Government. Bob Constan“Our next Wayne County Commissioner must bring a new approach to the...American Muslim coalition from Detroit builds bridges with teachers union
WASHINGTON — A delegation of American Muslim leaders from areas including Metro Detroit visited with the American Federation of Teachers this past week in an effort to build a coalition with the national group.The trip was paid for by the AFT according to Victor Ghalib Begg, the senior adviser and chairman emeritus for the Council of...Man accused of mosque threat takes plea
DEARBORN — Roger Stockham, 64 of California, the man accused of making a terror threat against the Islamic Center of America, accepted a plea deal last Friday.Stockham had been arrested outside of the ICA last January after a local bar owner heard him mention a pending explosion at the center in a bar nearby to owner Joe...Arab International Festival still on for 2012 despite debate
DEARBORN — The City Council voted last week to grant the American-Arab Chamber of Commerce's request to continue to use Warren Avenue on the city's east side for its annual Arab International Festival according to officials. Mayor Jack O'Reilly spoke in favor of moving the festival to a closed site in order to cut down on...Nakba 64 commemoration featuring former CIA analyst set for May 20
DEARBORN — The Palestinian Cultural Office of Michigan and friends will present the Nakba 64 commemoration on Sunday, May 20 at the Dearborn Hyatt Regency, featuring keynote speaker Ray McGovern, a former CIA analyst, as well as singer and songwriter David Rovics. Nakba is an Arabic word meaning “Catastrophe” and refers to the...Report: Former State Rep. Polidori has advanced prostate cancer
DEARBORN – Gino Polidori, a state representative and former Dearborn Fire Chief and City Councilman, has advanced prostate cancer according to a report from the Dearborn Press & Guide. The information came from a TV news report in Indiana. Polidori is reportedly taking part in a University of Michigan health study and using...FBI: No Hizbullah camps in Metro Detroit
DETROIT — Speaking this week at a law enforcement conference in West Bloomfield, Michigan, FBI Special Agent Todd Mayberry, the head of "counter-terrorism" operations inside Michigan, insisted that there are no known active Hizbullah training camps in metro Detroit.Though there doesn't seem to have been any good reason to imagine this...
U.S. diplomats honored at ACCESS dinner as Arab Americans of the Year
May 3rd, 20120 Selwa “Lucky” RooseveltDETROIT — Ambassadors Selwa “Lucky” Roosevelt and Edward M. Gabriel accepted awards as 2012 Americans of the Year last Saturday. ACCESS, the largest Arab American human services nonprofit in the United States, bestowed the awards on the former diplomats in front of nearly 2,000 supporters at the......
Bint Jebail Cultural Center holds annual scholarship reception
May 3rd, 20120 A total of 60 scholarships were given out this year by the center, which has given over $500,000 total to deserving winners over the years. PHOTOS: Nafeh AbuNab/TAAN DEARBORN — The Bint Jebail Cultural Center held its 18th Annual Scholarship Ceremony on Friday April 27 where 60 high school students were given scholarship awards of...U.S. government building $2 billion facility in Utah to spy on citizens
The United States government is spending at least $2 billion to build a new spying megaplex in a quiet Utah mountain town, giving it the ability to sift through billions of communications between private citizens.Information about the top secret facility in Bluffdale, Utah is scarce according to a recent report from 'Wired' magazine, but......
UN accuses both sides in Syria of violating ceasefire
May 3rd, 20120 DAMASCUS — Both sides in the Syrian conflict are violating a ceasefire, a top UN official said, as a rights group on Wednesday accused the regime of committing atrocities in the province of Idlib.UN peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous said on Tuesday that Syrian troops have kept heavy weapons in cities, and that both the government and...
Preliminary hearing rescheduled for Dearborn Heights hit-and-run case
May 2nd, 20120 DEARBORN HEIGHTS - The preliminary hearing for Natalie Hassan, the 23-year-old Dearborn Heights woman who allegedly ran over another local woman with her 2001 Chevy Malibu after a dispute, has been rescheduled by Dearborn Heights Judge David Turfe in a mutual agreement involving all parties. The incident which occurred on April...Community holds farewell reception for Lebanese Consul General to Detroit
Dearborn Mayor Jack O’Reilly gives a city coin as an award to Diab (L) as LIBC President Nassib Fawaz looks on. PHOTO: Nafeh AbuNabDEARBORN – The Lebanese International Business Council (LIBC) held a farewell event for Lebanese Consul General Houssam Diab, whose term as Lebanese Consul General in Detroit will end on May 19....Dearborn man convicted in counterfeit merchandise case
DETROIT — A seventh conviction was reached in a case involving the sale of counterfeit goods across metro Detroit this past Friday.Hassan Aoun, 43 of Dearborn, was found guilty of conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods, along with three counts of trafficking in counterfeit goods as well, after a two-week trial.Prosecutors showed......
Holocaust survivor, Palestinian activist recalls thousands of heartfelt letters barred from Gaza
Hedy Epstein, an American political activist and Holocaust survivor known for her support of the Palestinian cause knows firsthand just how moving children's drawings can be. After all it was children's drawings that stood out to her the most among thousands of American written letters that never reached Gaza. EpsteinEpstein was on...Symptoms of a war that must end
“You can bomb the world to pieces, but you can’t bomb the world to peace.” This memorable quote from Michael Franti is fitting for the now decade-long war in Afghanistan. The façade of "progress" in Afghanistan is falling apart. A few days ago, The Los Angeles Times published pictures of U.S. soldiers posing with the......
Newt Gingrich to drop out of presidential race
WASHINGTON — Newt Gingrich is expected to withdraw next week from the U.S. Republican presidential contest, CNN said on Wednesday, a day after Mitt Romney added to his commanding lead in the Republican race with primary wins in five states. Newt GingrichGingrich will keep his scheduled stops in North Carolina, planned for this week and...Community urged to email CBS on 60 Minutes segment about Palestinian Christians
This past week, something rare happened: A major U.S. media outlet actually showed the effects of the Israeli occupation on Palestinians. But the candid reporting by '60 Minutes,' America's most respected news program, has unleashed a furious response from major pro-Zionist groups. According to the Jewish Voice for Peace Detroit chapter......