The Arab American News
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Poll backs greater U.N. role in Mideast peace
WASHINGTON (IPS) — A majority of global publics say their governments should "not take either side" in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, instead supporting a call for the United Nations to play a greater role in regional peace, according to a new international poll of 18 countries released here Tuesday. World publics gave low...Is Doha unraveling in Lebanon?
BEIRUT — Unresolved disputes and sectarian rancor have bubbled to the surface in Lebanon this week, jeopardizing the brief respite provided by the Doha agreement to end the 18-month political crisis. Having filled a six-month presidential void by the election of Michel Suleiman on 25 May, the country may be on the brink of yet...Big trouble for Big Three automakers
America's automobile industry may be facing the biggest turnaround challenge in its history, a problem punctuated Tuesday as the carmakers released monthly sales results. Times were tough enough in Detroit before gasoline hit $4 per gallon, but in the past two months the outlook has taken a turn for the worse. Shares of...
Resolutions amount to declaration of war
July 5th, 20080 Non-binding resolutions in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate to demand that President Bush impose "stringent inspection requirements" on trade with Iran — language that leaves the door open for a military blockade — will likely come to a vote this week or next, according to sources close to Congressional leadership. The...
Group rallys against sweatshop labor
July 5th, 20080 More than 40 people gathered on the Michigan State Capitol's south lawn in Lansing on Tuesday, July 1, to rally against the state's purchasing of employee uniforms through companies that use sweatshop labor practices. The rally, attended by members of various social and religious groups as well as students, coincided with the...
Comcast opens first ever bi-cultural office
July 5th, 20080 DEARBORN — Local dignitaries officially dedicated the first-ever Arabic-English customer service center in the United States at Comcast's new office at 5070 Schaefer Road in Dearborn. Dozens of guests crammed into the new center for Arabic food and speeches that emphasized the importance of the new center's commitment to the Arab...
NAYA symposium tackles community concerns
July 5th, 20080 DEARBORN — The National Association of Yemeni Americans held a two-day community symposium in Dearborn on June 28 and 29, bringing together community organizations, government officials and academics. The group hosted panel discussions on health and social services, youth and second-generation integration into American culture,...
Hizbullah affirms prisoner swap
July 5th, 20080 BEIRUT — Hassan Nasrallah, the secretary-general of Hizbullah, has announced his group's agreement to a prisoner exchange deal with Israel. In a televised speech on Wednesday, the Hizbullah leader said he expected the swap to take place in one to two weeks. He said that the exchange should include the release of Samir Kantar, a...
Second annual Muslim Unity Picnic draws huge crowd
July 5th, 20080 DEARBORN — Picnic-goers didn't let rain stop them from having fun at a massive celebration of community at Ford Field Park in west Dearborn on June 29. Lead organizer of the second annual Muslim Unity Picnic, Mohamed Beydoun, said the group never considered packing up and going home in the face of initial bad weather. "The show...The madness of attacking Iran
DUBAI — History, language and culture might separate Iran from the rest of the Middle East. But physically and geographically, the Arab world and Iran are very close – closer than they might like to think. When the last big temblor hit the Islamic republic, flattening the ancient city of Bam and killing 26,000 people in December...
Jerusalem Archbishop visits Detroit area
July 5th, 20080 An outspoken, high-ranking Orthodox Church figure from Jerusalem, known for speaking out in defense of Palestinians and for Christian-Muslim unity, visited Detroit area homes, religious institutions and Arab American organizations last week. Archbishop Theodosios Atallah Hanna of the Jerusalem Patriarchate addressed crowds at St....
New TSA airport scanners raises privacy concerns
July 5th, 20080 Since April 2008, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has been introducing millimeter wave scanners at airports around the nation under a new program called "Checkpoint Evolution." In the past few years, when new technology was introduced at airports across the country, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination...Sewage plant named after Dubya?
Some presidents get carved into Mt Rushmore; others have airports, motorways, and even entire cities named in their honor. But when George Bush leaves office, his most visible memorial may be a moldering patch of human effluent. In November, alongside casting their ballot for the next president, the people of San Francisco will...
Voters may apply for absentee ballots
July 5th, 20080 Applications available for both primary and general elections DEARBORN — Dearborn voters who are unable to make it to the polls for the August 5 state primary election may apply for an absentee ballot. If you cannot make it to the polls due to age, disability or other legally acceptable reasons, you can request an absentee...
Acupuncture is a safe alternative therapy
June 27th, 20080 DEARBORN — Dr. Mostafa Belkhalfia came to Dearborn from California to practice acupuncture and Oriental medicine. For years, he worked for pharmaceutical companies making drugs to treat different diseases. But he believes that a person should not be hooked on drugs. It is better, he says. to seek a natural and holistic way to......
Hider family has recipe for success
June 27th, 20080 Because it's a mixture of different foods from all over the world, American cuisine should by definition have the ability to bring different groups of people together. And when the Hider family brought hamburgers to Beirut, Lebanon, that's exactly what it did. Civil war hit Lebanon in 1974, but that didn't stop...Nader takes aim at Obama
WASHINGTON — Legendary Arab American consumer advocate Ralph Nader's remarks about Barack Obama's campaign and race garnered wide media attention. Last week, the third party candidate said the Democratic nominee for president was not challenging the white power structure and was feeding off of "white guilt." On Wednesday,......
Sadollah crushes competition, wins The Ultimate Fighter Finale
June 27th, 20080 LAS VEGAS — Amir Sadollah continued his incredible and unexpected run with a win over C.B. Dollaway on Saturday, June 21 in Las Vegas in The Ultimate Fighter Finale for middleweights. Sadollah, a half-Iranian, half-Irish kickboxer, was crowned "The Ultimate Fighter" for the popular cable show's seventh season and will receive a...Can the ‘center’ hold?
Muasher has a hard row to hoe, as a moderate, a democrat, and a peacemaker in the turbulence of the Middle East. This is his memoir as a Jordanian career civil servant and diplomat. It is a book that offers fascinating insight into the actors in Middle Eastern politics and, as well, into the making of U.S. foreign policy...
Shared vision for hospital can foster peace
June 27th, 20080 At a function for a Jewish Israeli hospital held June 16 in Birmingham, about a third of the attendees were Arab American and one of them was honored. The hospital, Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, is known for treating Arab, Jewish and other patients equally. And local attorney Tim Attalla, who has been involved in...
Changing of the guard at Dearborn Public Schools
June 27th, 20080 Outgoing Dearborn Schools Superintendent John Artis with elementary school students. DEARBORN – On July 1, Dearborn Schools Superintendent John Artis, who's run the complex district for the last six years, will turn over the reins to Brian Whiston, who the board of education unanimously approved as Artis' replacement in May.......
Community participation campaign launched at Arab International Festival
June 27th, 20080 DEARBORN — ADC Michigan has launched a new campaign to effectively organize the Arab American community by creating a communications medium that will keep individuals informed on issues that affect them. The initiative, entitled "One Voice," began with a kick-off event at last week's International Arab Festival, where...
A good time was had by all
June 27th, 20080 DEARBORN — The 13th Annual Dearborn Arab International Festival took place last weekend and attracted well over 100,000 people from across the country and parts of Canada. The American Arab Chamber of Commerce, along with its partners, Ford Motor Company, A.C.C.E.S.S., the City of Dearborn and the Lebanese American Heritage......
U.S. trying to “legalize” permanent occupation of Iraq
In recent weeks the Bush administration has intensified its longstanding effort to make the U.S. occupation of Iraq permanent. First choice is to coerce the U.S.-backed Iraqi government to sign an ostensibly "bilateral" agreement — what the White House would like to call a "status of forces agreement" (SOFA). The administration is...Sarkozy’s straight talk is promising
President Nicolas Sarkozy's state visit to Israel on 22-24 June was striking for the candor with which he addressed his hosts. He spoke as an intimate friend — certainly Israel's best friend in Europe — but he did not mince his words, both on his arrival at Ben Gurion airport and a day later in the Knesset. "The time to make peace......
