Scholars react to UN-Palestine developments: Not a huge leap forward, but a step in the right direction
December 8th, 20120 Last week, the Palestinian people achieved what some might call a historic moment, when the United Nations General Assembly in New York City favored to recognize the state of Palestine as a "non-member observer state," an upgrade from their "non-member observer entity" that they had been classified as since 1974.While the approved...
The Islamophobia Industry
December 8th, 20120 By Joseph Richard Preville Islamophobia is a real problem that needs to be considered in the same light as racism, homophobia and anti-Semitism, says Nathan Lean, the author of ‘The Islamophobia Industry: How the Right Manufactures Fear of Muslims’What is Islamophobia? Who is promoting it? And, how is it a poisonous force in...West Bloomfield Police provide additional protection to Gaza protesters
WEST BLOOMFIELD — The city’s Police Department Lieutenant Tim Diamond told The Arab American News that several police officers were present Nov. 24 during a protest in support of Gaza here to assure people were allowed to demonstrate freely with no problems. The police department provided additional protection after one female police...Right-to-work passed despite protests, Democrats’ walkout
LANSING - The Michigan Senate has passed right-to-work legislation for private sector workers on Thursday, much to the dismay of union activists who were present at the gallery. Tear gas was used to dispense protesters and Democrats walked out of the session Thursday night, saying that a court order to allow more protesters inside the...
Pending legislation grants state controlled board power over Dearborn schools
December 8th, 20120 DEARBORN —Residents are encouraged to act fast in order to prevent what is being called a state take over of Dearborn Public Schools. If House Bill 6004 and Senate Bill 1358 are passed school districts in the state could face drastic changes. Both bills shift control away from school board officials who are elected to serve into...
New police captain position under scrutiny in Dearborn
December 8th, 20120 New police captain position under scrutiny DEARBORN — On Tuesday, the Dearborn City Council voted to approve the creation of a new captain position within the Dearborn Police Department, despite recent cutbacks given to all city employees.The latest measure, approved by the council in a 5-1 vote, will replace an existing...Arab Americans launch the ‘Bargain Club’ in Westland
WESTLAND — Bargain Club, Michigan’s newest retailer of closeouts, excess inventory, and liquidation merchandise, opened its first store here on Nov. 2. Over forty dignitaries and elected officials joined Westland Mayor William Wild in inaugurating the city’s new retail establishment on Tuesday during a grand opening ribbon cutting...Arab American National Museum’s director retires
DEARBORN — Dr. Anan Ameri, director of the Arab American National Museum (AANM) has announced that she will retire in mid-May 2013. Dr. Ameri, 67, of Ann Arbor, Michigan will return to the museum as a consultant on a project by project basis following a vacation of several months A committee is being assembled to conduct a...Humanitarian takes fight to help poverty stricken people worldwide
FARMINGTON HILLS — To countless Iraqis she’s known as the American humanitarian who has helped bring relief to their suffering by providing them with medical equipment and supplies following the 2003 U.S. led invasion of what was once deemed one of the most elegant countries in the world.Nidhal Garmo’s humanitarian efforts began...Principal Faraj leads major progression at Maples School
DEARBORN — Principal Fatme Faraj of Maples Elementary School was just recently awarded "The Best Principal Award" by the parents of the 610 students who attend the school on the east side of the city. This is perhaps because since coming to the school three years ago, Principal Faraj and her staff have managed to engage parents into...U.S.-Israel ties at a crossroads
The recently suspended round of organized violence in the Gaza Strip has a depressing familiarity, being similar to other rounds between Israelis and Palestinians. The physical harm inflicted has been as usual enormously disproportionate, with the Palestinian-to-Israeli death ratio being 27-to-one (admittedly, that’s down from about...Logic lacking in U.S. opposition to Palestinian statehood
Personally, I am perplexed as to why the U.S. opposed the UN General Assembly proposal to elevate the status of Palestine from observer to non-member state. I have read the proposed resolution carefully and find it solidly grounded in past positions which the U.S. has supported (some of which we sponsored). These are...Salamey appointed as Chief Judge of Dearborn by Michigan Supreme Court
SalameyDEARBORN - 19th District Court Judge Sam Salamey, who recently was elected as the first Arab American judge in the city of Dearborn, has been appointed by the Michigan Supreme Court to serve as the Chief Judge in Dearborn's courthouse. The position of Chief Judge, previously held by Richard Wygonik, means Salamey will be...Pro-Palestine rally attacked by pro-Israelis in West Bloomfield
WEST BLOOMFIELD — On Nov. 17 a rally in support of Palestinians eventually led to police intervention here. According to Palestinian American Dr. Daad Bakir Katato, a Jewish man and his daughter confronted some of the protesters. The man stood in front of three female protesters and proceeded to rip signs out of their hands,...Local family hosts Gaza child seeking medical treatment
DEARBORN HEIGHTS — On Wednesday, 12-year-old Muath Abudaher arrived at Detroit Metro Airport, where he was greeted by Dearborn Heights resident Yasmeen Hamed, who along with her husband and four children, will be hosting his three month stay in the country. Abudaher, who resides in Gaza with his 11 siblings and his father, is......
Lebanese Americans celebrate Lebanon’s 69th Independence Day
Mr. Bilal Kabalan, the Consul General of Lebanon to Detroit.BIRMINGHAM - On Monday, November 19, Mr. Bilal Kabalan, the Consul General of Lebanon to Detroit, hosted an event to commemorate the Sixty-Ninth Anniversary of the Independence of Lebanon at the Community House here. Kabalan stressed the importance of staying united in...NAAMA donates $10,000 to American Red Cross for Hurricane Sandy relief
BIRMINGHAM — The National Arab American Medical Association (NAAMA) and the NAAMA Foundation presented a check for $10,000 to the American Red Cross to support Hurricane Sandy disaster relief efforts. The check was presented to Southeast Michigan Regional Executive La Forice Nealy by NAAMA Executive Director Renée Ahee and a......
Over 200 students, staff sick at Annapolis High School in Dearborn Heights
DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Last Wednesday over 200 students and dozens of staff members started getting sick during the school day at Annapolis High School, located in District 7 of the city. After school, more students and staff members reported illnesses from home, which included vomiting and diarrhea and other flu-like...Groups send letter to governor concerning immigrants’ rights
A number of groups and individuals have sent a letter to Michigan Governor Rick Snyder asking him to support immigrants and address Secretary of State Ruth Johnson’s new directive they believe would harm young immigrants. The letter was signed by the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services, American-Arab...Arab youth work to fight water crisis on international scale
DETROIT — The National Student Water Association (NSWA) at Wayne Statue University is helping create awareness, and providing innovative solutions to the world’s water crisis. NSWA President Abess Makki says the group was established by five young Arab American Fordson High School graduates. NSWA educates students...
End to occupation demanded at pro-Gaza rally in Dearborn
November 24th, 20120 DEARBORN — While a cease-fire was announced Wednesday to end the eight day long deadly war between the Gaza Strip and Israel, many people say they’re not satisfied with the agreement between Israel and Hamas and real peace will only come after Israel’s occupation of Gaza ends. During a rally and candlelight vigil outside......
Community gives back on Thanksgiving
November 24th, 20120 DEARBORN-Various organizations in the community came out during the week of Thanksgiving to reach out to families in need. Below is an overview of some of the organizations who helped brighten families Thanksgiving this year. LAHC distributes turkeys to needy seniors DEARBORN — The Lebanese American Heritage Club held a...The Israeli strategy that backfired
This was meant to be Mr. Netanyahu's November surprise ahead of the national elections to secure his victory and yet increasingly it is becoming obvious that this strategy was fraught with huge risks to begin with and has already backfired. As a result, should truce hold and a ground invasion averted, then Netanyahu will likely be the......
Art exhibit depicts horrors of local man imprisoned in Iran
November 23rd, 20120 DETROIT — Amir Hekmati, 29, a former Dearborn and West Bloomfield resident, has been imprisoned in Iran since August 2011 for suspicions of being a CIA spy. Now in an effort from local organizations and Hekmati's family, an art exhibit opened last week in Detroit in his honor, hoping to raise awareness of his dire situation.His older...Leo’s Coney Island partners with PCRF to raise money for underserved children
DEARBORN — College students from the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund were stationed at the Leo’s Coney Island here on Greenfield Road Tuesday to raise money for the PCRF which provides free medical care for sick and injured children in the Middle East. The restaurant agreed to donate 10 percent of every customer’s bill to the......