The Debate on Israel/Palestine Is Changing, But We’re Not There Yet
This afternoon, I went for a walk and noticed that a homeowner had recently placed a sign on their front lawn. It simply read “I stand with Israel.” If this had been 400 or so days ago, I would have thought nothing of it. Back then, supporters of Israel were still reeling from the shock of the October 7th attack and felt a need to express themselves.
A Perfect Christmas Message: The Manger Covered With a Keffiyeh
The scene at the Paul VI chapel in the Vatican’s St Peter’s Square was quite moving. Pope Francis had come to thank those who had donated the chapel’s Christmas tree and the carved life-sized figures that depicted the birth of Jesus that had been set up at the foot of the tree.
Seeds of Democrat's Defeat Were Planted Years Ago
Democrats are still reeling from the shock of losing to Donald Trump for the second time in the past three elections. There’s quite a bit of finger-pointing and soul-searching taking place, with both journalists and activists writing “autopsies” to understand both the reasons for the defeat and what lessons can be learned moving forward.
Need to Remember: Palestinians in Gaza are Still Suffering
It’s disturbing how the US news media flits from story to story, seemingly incapable of sustaining attention on events that require it.
I’m Skeptical About the Israel/Lebanon Peace Deal
This past week, Israeli, Lebanese, and US leaders were busy patting themselves on the back announcing the completion of an Israeli/Lebanese ceasefire agreement.
Biden’s Legacy: Complicity in Israel’s Gaza War
History will not be kind to the presidency of Joseph Biden when it evaluates his administration’s handling of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. At best, his response will be judged weak and feckless. At worst, he will be seen as enabling of or even complicitous in the crimes committed.
The Gaza War Won’t End by Imposing a “Solution” on Palestinians
One century ago, when Western European powers were planning to carve up the Arab East, the US attempted to convince them to take a different path.
I’m Angry, Not at Voters, but the Democrats’ Campaign Decisions
My reaction to Donald Trump’s recent victory was very different than the one I had when he was first elected in 2016. Back then, I was deeply upset about how it was that we had elected a narcissistic, misogynistic, xenophobic, inciter of violence. And I was anxious about what his presidency would portend for our future.
Will US Middle East Policy Change?
The Middle East conflict and this year’s US presidential election are impacting one another in important ways.
Consequences of the Choice We Make in November
This presidential contest has generated an intense debate within the Arab American community. If it were a normal election year, I’d be out in the field urging my community to vote for Democrats. I’d be warning Arab Americans that we needed to do everything we could to stop Donald Trump from re-entering the White House.
Disinformation Campaigns Aimed at Arab Americans and American Jews in Battleground States
In the run-up to the November election, we are witnessing a massive expenditure of “dark money” in a disinformation campaign designed to depress the Arab American vote in Michigan and the American Jewish vote in Pennsylvania.
Don’t Call Wars in Lebanon and Gaza an ‘Opportunity:’ They’re a Tragedy.
It’s galling to hear policymakers in the US, Israel, and elsewhere suggest that the devastating blows Israel has dealt to Hezbollah and Lebanon have created “an opportunity to put Lebanon on a better path.”
History Didn’t Begin or End on October 7th
On October 7th, the continuing genocide in Gaza and the massive bombings in Lebanon will likely be ignored by US officials and media outlets as they solemnly commemorate the anniversary of Hamas’ attack on Israel. What they’ll ignore is that the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict didn’t begin on October 7th, nor did the suffering end on that day.
Gaza Is Shaping This Election for Arab American Voters
For Arab Americans, Israel’s war on Palestinians in Gaza looms large and will play a significant role in this November’s election. This is one of the key observations emerging from a mid-September nationwide poll of 500 Arab American registered voters conducted by John Zogby Strategies for the Arab American Institute.
Senate Hearing Showcases Hate
Our politics and system of governance is in crisis. This was made clear this past week before and during the US Senate Judiciary Committee’s hearing on hate crimes in America.
University’s Act to Silence Pro-Palestinian Demonstrators
In the 1960s, social critic Paul Goodman offered a parable to describe what had gone wrong with American higher education.
Harris Can Contribute to Israeli-Palestinian Peace and Grow Her Lead
If Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for US president, were to take a decisive stance demanding that Israel agree to an immediate ceasefire and unimpeded aid to Palestinians, she would expand her vote lead over her Republican opponent, Donald Trump.
A Way Forward Out of the Mess We’re In
The headlines emanating from Palestine-Israel, though ominous, should have been expected. The problem, of course, is that the Israeli government appears intent on making a desperately bad situation worse, and the administration of US President Joe Biden is acting as if doing what it’s been doing for the past three-and-a-half years is something other than pouring petrol on a raging fire.
Palestine Won at the Democratic Convention
The 2024 Democratic National Convention was an exhausting roller coaster ride for Arab Americans and supporters of Palestinian rights. It was a messy affair, with highs and lows, some small victories and some setbacks. But on balance, the naysayers are wrong, because Palestine and supporters of Palestinian rights were big winners during the four days in Chicago.
Because Democrats Won’t Discuss Palestinian Rights in Chicago, We Will.
Democrats are approaching their 2024 convention aware of the many critical issues at stake in this election. There is deep concern with what a second Trump administration would mean for women’s rights, civil rights, environmental protections, immigration policy, civil discourse, and the very foundation of our democratic order. All of these issues and more are discussed at length in the 2024 Democratic Party Platform and will be addressed by an assortment of speakers at the convention.