The Arab American News
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A victory for Lebanon
May 23rd, 20080 The agreement gives Hizbullah and its opposition allies enough control in the government to have veto power over legislation. Beirut After 18 months of living on the streets in an encampment that has paralyzed this city's downtown, Lebanon's opposition supporters started going home Wednesday. They dismantled their...Don’t miss Sunday’s PBS special
Just in time for the long Memorial Day weekend, PBS Detroit will air "On a Wing and a Prayer," about an American Muslim taking flying lessons, on Sunday afternoon, May 25 at 3:30 p.m. The hour-long documentary traces the improbable dream of a Pakistani-Muslim living in America who pursues his dream to learn to fly in spite of the...Arabs not worried about Iranian nukes
To make its case against Iran's right as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to develop nuclear capabilities, the U.S. government has tried to claim that the people of the region, in U.S.-allied countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and the Gulf states, are concerned about Iran's nuclear developments. Yet,...
Bush’s Middle East policy in tatters
May 23rd, 20080 Last Tuesday, while United States President George W. Bush was setting out from Washington on a five-day tour of the Middle East, Iran's semi-official Fars news agency quoted Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad as hinting that Tehran might consider a cut in oil exports. Of course, Iranian Oil Minister Gholamhossein Nozari quickly...
Arab American Day at state capitol
May 23rd, 20080 Lansing State senators and representatives in Lansing got a taste of Arab culture Thursday, when about a dozen community organizations visited the Capitol building for Arab American Day, a first time event organized by 13th district Rep. Barbara Farrah. Legislators coming in and out of their offices got a chance to eat Middle...Pro-government Lebanese demonstrate in Dearborn
Local supporters of both sides of the conflict weigh in on crisis in Lebanon Demonstrators in favor of the Lebanese government's ruling March 14 coalition on the steps of Dearborn City Hall protesting violence that has flared up after an 18-month standoff with the Hizbullah-led opposition. Dearborn β About 100 people gathered...Economic forum draws top speakers, small crowd
Officials, businesspeople discuss peace, oil prices, renewable energy, water, new opportunities Washington Amr Moussa, secretary general of the Arab League, as keynote speaker at the third U.S.-Arab Economic Forum, stressed the gravity of the current state of the world, engulfed in turmoil with oil prices...Value of gold rising, Arab Americans targeted
If someone is knocking down your door wanting to buy your gold, think twice. Most Arab American families have gold jewelry stashed away some place. Recently, many have been considering selling their gold to pawn shops, jewelers, investors or private individuals because of hard economic times, high unemployment...Westland residents discuss Jesus and Islam
Those who have always thought that Jesus belongs to Christianity alone are mistaken. The WhyIslam organization held an event titled "Jesus In Islam" on May 7 at the Westland Public Library. WhyIslam.org is a website-oriented association that has regional leaders spreading the word of Islam through events and speeches throughout...Palestine group launches commemorations
Dearborn Hasan Newash was six years old when his family fled their home in the Palestinian village of Ein Karem in 1947, when it was overrun by a right-wing Jewish militia ahead of the establishment of Israel. Newash returned to visit his childhood home in 1990, more than 40 years later, and found the house his father built...Ultimate fighter: No pain, no gain
From the outside looking in, most people think Ultimate Fighters are the epitome of dumb jocks, or worse yet, a little crazy. After all, who would willingly jump into a cage and put themselves in harm's way unless they didn't have anything better to do with their life? One person who chose to do just that is Amir Sadollah, one...State Rep. Farrah to bring Arab America to Lansing
LANSING Michigan's only Arab American State Rep., Barbara Farrah, is organizing a celebration of Arab culture at the Capitol building in Lansing on May 22. Farrah said she's seen several similar cultural events sponsored by other representatives at the Capitol before, and felt the need to bring Arab Americans into the mix....Proud Navy counselor recruits from own community
Heather Charara's eight year career with the U.S. Navy has granted her more opportunities than she could have ever imagined. Throughout her career she has traveled extensively, met new people, and formed lifelong friendships with her fellow officers. Born to a Lebanese father and German mother, Charara had always had a...ACCESS celebrates 37th anniversary
Detroit To kick off its 37th year of service and for the first time in 25 years without Ismael Ahmed as its executive director, ACCESS held its annual dinner probably the largest Arab American dinner in the country May 10 at the Detroit Marriot. ACCESS spokespeople said nearly 2,000 attended. The group handed out awards...City’s top talent hope to become 2008 “Dearborn Stars”
DEARBORN The area's most talented performers are sending in their applications to compete in the 2008 "Dearborn Stars" talent contest. The second annual talent contest, which features various performances of all ages, is scheduled for July 16 at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center. Dearborn......
Dearborn Stars maintain momentum
DEARBORN The Dearborn Stars are now 2-1 on the season as they split a pair over games over the past week in the Michigan Premier Soccer League's Open Division. The Stars won 1-0 over the United Soccer Club on May 9, getting the game-winning goal from Hasan Saad late in the game off a deflection. May 11 was a different story as the...A day of service for the community
The National Arab American Service Day will take place on May 17th, 2008, kicking off at 10 a.m. at Lapeer Park in Dearborn. 250 volunteers are expected but more are always welcome. Volunteers can choose from three different service projects for the day including Family Fun Day at Lapeer Park, Warrendale Motor City Makeover, and......
The myth of an Islamic state
The yearning for an Islamic state has been bloody and fruitless. This is a major theme of Tarek Fatahs heavily researched yet easily read book. He goes back to the origins of Islam to show the wrong-headedness of the notion. Mohammed, who developed the political system of Medina, did not try to replicate that model...When will Arab oil translate into political power?
Arab oil producers are awash in wealth. They have never been so rich. But the paradox is that, in spite of their great and growing wealth, their political weight in the world remains small, even derisory. They have not or at least not yet converted their wealth into political influence on a global scale. This is...Arab opinion of the U.S. declined in 2008
In 2008, Arab attitudes toward the U.S. remain at alarmingly low levels. Concern with U.S. policy is the reason. And because the U.S. role in the region is so critical, interest in the American elections is high across the Arab world. These are some of the findings of polling that Zogby International conducted separately for the...Conquering the land: Why one Israeli writer isn’t celebrating
As I write this, I can only guess how all the various media outlets will mark Israel's birthday. As much as I love nostalgia, the compulsive reading of the weekend papers and obsessive watching of old people singing on television I have no intention of taking part in the celebrations this time. Because I know the naked truth about......
Refugees, peace activists mourn
As Israel celebrates 60 years of statehood, Palestinians worldwide mourn the loss of their homes and homeland. While one people Jews fleeing persecution in Europe gained a country, another people the land's indigenous Palestinians lost nearly everything they had. In 1948 hundreds of...A Turkish model for Arab politics?
WASHINGTON Many are watching closely legal developments in Turkey. A government prosecutor is seeking to ban for five years more than 70 members of the Justice & Development (AK) Party. The charge: contradicting the tenets of secularism guaranteed in Turkey's constitution. The outcome of this case, according to a......
Lebanon’s Sunni bloc built militia, officials say
The Future Movement used a security firm to assemble a private force, officials say. But the fighters were no match for Hizbullah. BEIRUT For a year, the main Lebanese political faction backed by the U.S. built a Sunni Muslim militia here under the guise of private security companies, Lebanese security experts...NEWS FROM CANADA
Israeli ambassador fears Muslim immigrants On the occasion of Israel's 60th anniversary, Alan Baker, Israel's ambassador in Ottawa, expressed concern about the impact that the growing Muslim population in Canada would have on Canada's foreign policy. In spite of the strong pro-Israel stance of the current Conservative......