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Pathbreakers of Arab America—Reem Kassis

This is the fifty-eighth of Arab America’s series on American pathbreakers of Arab descent. The series includes personalities from entertainment, business, sports, science, academia, journalism, and politics, among other areas. Our fifty-eighth pathbreaker is Reem Kassis, a Palestinian American born in Jerusalem to a Muslim mother and Christian father. While initially a businesswoman, Reems became a writer and cookbook author. John Mason, a contributing writer, describes how her work focuses on the intersection of food with culture, history, and politics. Reem’s latest writing focuses on the place of Palestinian cuisine in the context of the Arab-Israeli conflict and, more specifically, the Gaza war.

Karimeh Abbud: The First Palestinian Lady Photographer

By Arwa Almasaari / Arab America Contributing Writer Karimeh Abbud, born in Bethlehem in 1893, made history as Palestine’s first professional female photographer. Her work, encompassing personal portraits and stunning landscapes, offers a rare visual record of daily life and prominent landmarks in early twentieth-century Palestine. Decades later, her recently discovered photographs inadvertently challenge the … Continued

Pathbreakers of Arab America–Kamal Boullata

This is the thirty-fifth of Arab America’s series on American pathbreakers of Arab descent. The series includes personalities from entertainment, business, sports, science, academia, journalism, and politics, among other areas. Our thirty-fifth pathbreaker is Kamal Boulatta, a Jerusalem-born Palestinian American visual artist and art historian. Boulatta, who was born in 1942 and passed away on August 6, 2019, has left a magnificent collection of his mostly abstract art for all to see. Contributing writer, John Mason, highlights how Kamal’s art reflects deepfelt feelings about Palestinian identity as an occupied people in their homeland and, for himself, as someone separated from his homeland – in exile.

Arab American Pathbreaker – Samia A. Halaby

This is the thirty-second in Arab America’s series on American pathbreakers of Arab descent. The series includes personalities from entertainment, business, sports, science, academia, journalism, and politics, among other areas. Our thirty-second pathbreaker is Samia Halaby, a visual artist, activist, educator, and scholar. She was born in Jerusalem in 1936 during the British Mandate of Palestine. The daughter of Asaad Halaby and Foutonie Atallah Halaby, Samia was eleven years old when her family fled to Lebanon. Contributing writer, John Mason, depicts how in 1951 the family left Beirut to eventually settle in the U.S. Now 87, Samia has recently been outspoken in her support of Palestinians during the Israel-Gaza war.

Pathbreakers of Arab America: Naomi Shihab Nye

This is the twenty-sixth in Arab America’s series on American pathbreakers of Arab descent. The series includes personalities from entertainment, business, sports, science, academia, journalism, and politics, among other areas. Our twenty-sixth pathbreaker is Naomi Shihab Nye, a distinguished Palestinian American poet, essayist, and novelist. Contributing writer, John Mason, writes about her birth in 1952, in St. Louis, Missouri, the daughter of a Muslim Palestinian father and an American mother. Naomi’s childhood was spent mostly in America, though while growing up, she made extended visits to Jerusalem. The duality of cultures she experienced profoundly shaped her perspective and her poetry.

Pathbreakers of Arab America: Rami Kashou

This is the twenty-fifth in Arab America’s series on American pathbreakers of Arab descent. The series includes personalities from entertainment, business, sports, science, academia, journalism, and politics, among other areas. Our twenty-fifth pathbreaker is Rami Kashou, a Palestinian American born in Jerusalem, raised in Ramallah, trained in the U.S., and known for his fashion design for such celebrities as Kim Kardashian, Rihanna, and Queen Rania of Jordan. A deep sense of his Palestinian heritage is seen in his designs and his avid support of Palestinians. As contributing writer, John Mason writes, Rami is actively involved in initiatives aimed at raising awareness and fostering dialogue about the challenges faced by Palestinians. Furthermore, he advocates for justice, human rights, and a peaceful resolution to the longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Pathbreakers of Arab America: Shereen Abu Akleh

This is the twentieth in Arab America’s series on American pathbreakers of Arab descent. The series includes personalities from entertainment, business, sports, science, academia, journalism, and politics, among other areas. Contributing writer, John Mason, reports on our twentieth pathbreaker Shereen Abu-Akleh, a Palestinian American born in East Jerusalem on the occupied West Bank on April 3, 1971. She was an outstanding journalist, reporting all over the Arab World but focused on Palestine for Al-Jazeera. Abu Akleh died on May 11, 2022, in Jenin on the West Bank at age 51 from a bullet wound fired by an Israeli Defense Force soldier while she was reporting.

Connecting to My Arab Roots Through Writing

By: Kathryn K. Abdul-Baki / Contributing Writer When I started my Master’s program in creative writing, I had hoped to emulate my favorite writers at the time—Ernest Hemingway, John Updike, Philip Roth, and Joyce Carol Oats. They were the writers I studied and loved, the ones I thought I needed to sound like in order … Continued

Florida Governor DeSantis exports his Repressive Vision for America to Israel, Intruding on Israeli Politics at a Sensitive Moment

Florida Governor Ron Desantis visited Israel recently to promote business with his state and hint at his yet unannounced candidacy for the U.S presidency. He brought with him all of his baggage of intolerance of anyone and everything different from himself and other supremacists. Desantis unfortunately dragged the Palestinians into his purview to underscore his intolerant view of people who are different. Contributing writer, John Mason reviews the governor’s trip to underscore similarities between Desantis’ vision and Prime Minister Netanyahu’s intentions for his far right wing government.

Australia is No Longer Recognizing Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel

By: Arab America Content Creator / Carrie Stewart According to diplomat.com, the move to overturn the Morrison 2018 government decision was heavily supported by Australian Palestinians. History/Developments: The Australian Labor party reversed the decision of the previous government that recognized West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. This former move was made by former prime … Continued

Book Review: ‘Jewish Migrant Forces Conquest of West Jerusalem in 1948 and East Jerusalem in 1967’ by Ibrahim Matar

The city of Jerusalem, the ancestral capital of the state of Palestine has been at the center of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict for decades. Sacred to the world’s three great monotheistic religions, it is a city which has represented coexistence and is at the heart of the Palestinian people’s struggle for liberation. The term “conquest” is … Continued

Biden’s Highwire Pilgrimage to the Middle East puts Israel and Saudis First, Leaving Palestinians in the Proverbial Lurch

iden’s rhetorical flourishes during his presidential campaign were favorable to the Palestinians. During his recent visit to the M.E., President Biden dashed the hope of Palestinians by giving them almost nothing. Oil and Iran dominated the dialogue with Israel and Saudi Arabia. Peace among Israelis and Palestinians became more and more remote. Contributing writer, John Mason, walks us through Biden’s fateful visit.

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