Politics

Arabs – governments and people – are reacting to Iran’s post-election turbulence with mixed feelings, impressed by a display of regime-shaking people power, alert to the perception of western double standards or meddling, but above all pondering the repercussions of the crackdown in Tehran. Mutual Persian-Arab animosity dates back centuries but the legacy of the … Continued

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee concluded its annual National Convention, the premiere policy event on issues of concern to the Arab-American community, this weekend. With over 2,000 participants, this year’s Convention was a stunning success. The Convention was headlined by former President, and Keynote Speaker, Bill Clinton. The President, who addresses a capacity crowd of over … Continued

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) reiterates its call upon the Obama Administration to pressure Israel to comply with International Law and previously made commitments in light of the recent policy address given by the Israeli Prime Minister. In his address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the Palestinians should govern themselves but insisted on … Continued

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu endorsed a Palestinian nation beside Israel for the first time Sunday, reversing himself in the face of U.S. pressure but attaching conditions such as demilitarization that Palestinians swiftly rejected. A week after President Barack Obama’s address to the Muslim world, Netanyahu said the Palestinian nation would have to be unarmed … Continued

The president of the nation’s largest Arab American advocacy group called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s endorsement on Sunday of an independent Palestinian a “positive first step.” The news broke of Netanyahu’s first-ever call for a limited, demilitarized independent Palestinian state at the conclusion of the annual conference of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. “If (Netanyahu) … Continued

Former President Bill Clinton told a gathering of Arab Americans on Saturday night that the increasingly interdependent world must learn to embrace diversity or risk perishing. Alternating between humor and heavy philosophizing, Clinton pointed to scientific breakthroughs, spiritual texts, the recent economic meltdown and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to deliver a near 40-minute-long message that the … Continued

ormer President Bill Clinton told a gathering of Arab Americans on Saturday night that the increasingly interdependent world must learn to embrace diversity or risk perishing. Alternating between humor and heavy philosophizing, Clinton pointed to scientific breakthroughs, spiritual texts, the recent economic meltdown and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to deliver a near 40-minute-long message that the … Continued

Washington wants stalled Middle East peace talks to resume soon and wrap up quickly, US envoy George Mitchell told Israeli leaders on Tuesday, as it was announced he would make his first visit to Syria. Mitchell, whose visit comes just days before hawkish Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to outline his cabinet’s peace … Continued

Former President Jimmy Carter’s latest Mideast peacemaking trip will include a visit with the father of a captive Israeli soldier and a tour of a West Bank settlement. Carter is visiting Syria, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza in his effort to help resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Carter Center said Tuesday that Carter will … Continued

The President’s speech in Cairo was inspiring, unprecedented, truthful and courageous. I have been waiting for this speech most of my life. It is the first time an American President spoke publicly about how “Muslim-majority countries were too often treated as proxies without regard to their own aspiration”. The mere utterances of these words bring … Continued

The United States on Monday renewed its support for Lebanon after a surprise election victory by US allies, grouped in an anti-Syrian coalition, over opponents including Iranian-backed Hezbollah. President Barack Obama, whose country has backed the anti-Syria bloc, said Washington would “continue to support a sovereign and independent Lebanon, committed to peace”. “It is our … Continued

The Arab foreign ministers will hold an emergency meeting on June 17 to come up with a common Arab stance on U.S. President Barack Obama’s speech in Cairo University, a source at the Cairo-based Arab league (AL) said Monday. “An emergency meeting will be held at Arab League on June 17 to discuss Obama’s speech,” … Continued