Washington Watch Articles From 2017
Senate Bill 720: Making It a Crime to Support Palestinian Human Rights
It is fascinating to watch some US senators tripping over themselves as they attempt to defend their support for or opposition to proposed legislation that would make it a federal crime to support the international campaign to Boycott, Divest, or Sanction (BDS) Israel for its continued occupation of Palestinian lands.
Trump's Immigration Policy vs. the Soul of America
Immigration is a personal matter for me, as it is for many Americans. Unless you are a Native American descendant of the indigenous peoples who were displaced by the settlers who first came to this country.
Trump's Antics: Chaos by Design
We are only a little more than six months into the Trump presidency and I'm already becoming emotionally exhausted by the antics of the president and his underlings.
Overcoming Divisions to Form an Arab American Community
During the past century, Arab Americans have faced significant obstacles on the way to securing our place in the political mainstream—from pervasive media-projected negative stereotypes to the political pressures used by some groups to deny us a seat at the table.
The History Is Too Deep, the Pain Is Too Real
A week ago, a pro-Israel media monitoring group accused me of making "an unsubstantiated charge that Israel supporters are responsible" for discrimination, hate crimes, and the political exclusion of Arab Americans.
Poll: Negative Campaign Against Arabs and Muslims Has Consequences
While, as president, Donald Trump has worked to cultivate a relationship with Arab leaders, the antipathy towards Arabs and Muslims that he and his party have cultivated in recent years continues to have a worrisome impact on American public opinion and policy.
What an Italian American Leader Did for Arab Americans and for Me
Fred Rotondaro, an Italian American leader, died on June 26th. He was, by every measure, a remarkable man. On hearing of his passing, my brother John commented, "Fred was a creation God would be proud of.
Protecting Egypt and Its Coptic Christians
In many ways, the future of Egypt will be shaped by how the government and the majority of Egyptians treat the country's minority Christian community.
What We Didn't Know or Chose to Ignore About the '67 War
In June of 1967, I was in the midst of my final weeks in college when the war broke out. At the time, I knew little about the Middle East, since I was more engaged in the anti-war and civil rights movements.
Sanders Is Right. Russell Vought's Nomination Should Be Rejected.
While most of Washington was eagerly awaiting former FBI Director James Comey's Thursday appearance before the Senate Intelligence Committee, they may have missed an important confirmation hearing that occurred a day earlier.
Not the Way to Defend Christians
The recent horrific massacre of 29 Egyptian Coptic Christian pilgrims served as a tragic reminder of the vulnerability of minority faith communities in many parts of the Middle East.
Trump Returns
If I were a movie critic writing reviews of audience reactions to US President Donald Trump's performances abroad, they would look something like this: ".
Cloud Over Trump’s Trip
As I write, President Donald Trump is on his way to the Middle East where he has set a high stakes program addressing some of the United States' and the Arab World's most critical concerns: Gulf security, defeating extremism, reining in Iran, and resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict.
More Problems with the US Commission on International Religious Freedom
There is no question that in many parts of the world, including the Middle East, vulnerable religious communities are facing threats to their very survival or serious problems of discrimination.
I am Neither Confident, nor Optimistic
During a confusing and unsettling time, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas came to Washington to meet with US President Donald Trump.
Why I Dissent
This week, nearing the end of four years of service as an Obama Presidential appointee to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), I felt compelled to issue a public dissent to USCIRF's 2017 Annual Report.
Palestinians Prisoners Hunger Strike
One thousand five hundred Palestinian prisoners have been on a hunger strike for almost a week now.
The Arab World’s Christians: Easter, 2017
This year there will no Easter celebrations for Coptic Christians in Upper Egypt. Out of concern for their security and out of respect for the 45 Christians who were victims of two horrific suicide bombing attacks on Palm Sunday, their bishop declared that Easter services would be limited in his diocese to mass, "without any festivities".
The Trump Divide
Over the years, there have been many divides that have defined the American social, cultural, or political landscape. Some have been philosophical, regional, issue-based, racial, economic, gender or age-related.
What “Land Day” Means
March 30, 1976 was a transformative moment in Palestinian history. On that day, Palestinian citizens of Israel organized and implemented a nation-wide strike to protest the Israeli government's plans to confiscate thousands of acres of Palestinian-owned land in the Galilee region.