12-29-09 Tragedy in Wonderland, Rejectionists drive Palestinian failings

Tragedy in Wonderland, the rejectionists’ failures
By Ray Hanania -- It’s one thing to be optimistic. But when you replace optimism with fatalistic hope, it is irresponsible and even selfish. How else do you describe the bizarre, although articulately expressed, assertions by Ali Abunimeh, the presumed successor to the late great philosopher Edward Said, that Israel is “failing?” Published on Abunimeh’s web site “The Electronic Intifada,” where Abunimeh pines for the days when Palestinians were willing to sacrifice everything by using inadequate violence to respond to Israel’s military violence, the column makes the seemingly bold claim that Israel is a “failed” state.

12-08-09 Palestinians must change their strategies to fight for statehood

Old ways of fighting for rights must change
By Ray Hanania – This week, we’ve seen a perfect example of how the rejectionists over-press their support for Palestinian rights in Europe and end up creating disasters that harm the Palestinian cause. The activists have been pressing European Union officials to declare that Jerusalem is to be a shared city. A proposal condemning Israel’s expulsion of Palestinians from East Jerusalem and declared the city the capital of a future Palestinian State was drafted by Sweden, which currently holds the presidency of the EU. But while the leaked draft was praised as further proof that world opinion is turning up pressure on Israel to change its ways, the Israelis responded with their own counter pressure and the draft was dramatically changed to include the usual rhetoric condemning Israel but dropping the call to make East Jerusalem Palestine’s capital in a two-state solution.

11-21-09 Hatred against Muslims and Arabs answered

Hatred against Muslims and Arabs answered
By Ray Hanania — Below are two columns you should read both. The first reflects the growing racism and hatred among a growing number of uneducated and uninformed Americans. The second represents the facts, responding to the hatred and bigotry. As an American Arab military veteran from a family of American Arab military veterans, I am proud to present this debate that is the heart of America’s misguided conscience today.

11-15-09 My candidacy for president of Palestine is a campaign for peace

My candidacy for president of Palestine is a campaign for peace
By Ray Hanania -- In 33 years of political journalism and election campaigning in America, I’ve learned that no one can predict an election outcome. Surprising things that people did not expect usually happens. And longshots with no hope of winning oftentimes do win. So with all that in mind, I am announcing my candidacy for President of Palestine.

10-20-09 Moderate J-Street Voices can help re-ignite moderate Palestinian Movement

Moderate J-Street Voices can help re-ignite moderate Palestinian Movement
By Ray Hanania — For years, APIAC, the powerful pro-Israel lobby, has had Jewish American political thought in an extremist headlock, a new voice of Jewish American moderation is rising in strength called J Street. The organization, which is being pilloried by extremist pro-Israel conservatives, holds a major conference on Israel and Middle East next week in Washington D.C. I’ll be participating in a special blogging panel of Israelis and Palestinians who support compromise and peace based on two-states organized by Richard Silverstein of Tikun Olam.

10-09-09 Obama’s genuine desire for peace earns him the Nobel Peace Prize

President Obama’s genuine desire for peace earns Nobel Peace Prize
By Ray Hanania -- President Obama’s first call in coming to office was to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. He then made an epoch speech to the Arab and Muslim world to repair the damage caused by his rightwing and narrow-minded predecessor President George W. Bush. Obama has pushed the Israelis to force them to accept peace based on returning Arab lands, even though the Israelis have surrounded the wagons and have allowed Israel’s most racist elected official, foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman to become their spokesman. In fact, Israel’s Lieberman is the new face of hate in the world.

09-27-09 Arab IOC Delegates can change anti-Arab American politics

Arab World has opportunity to confront bigotry in America
By Ray Hanania – This week, the Arab World will be participating in a vote that on its face may seem insignificant to the many problems that plague the Middle East but could begin a process of changing the United States. The vote will take place Friday in Copenhagen where the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will decide which of four cities between Madrid, Tokyo, Rio and Chicago will win the right to host the Olympics in 2016.  Compared to the votes in the United Nations where the pro-Israel bloc continues to block peace, hold back the advances of the Arab World and continues to denigrate the rights of Islamic countries, the IOC vote Friday may seem insignificant.  In fact, though, the vote could begin a process not of changing the United Nations, but rather creating an opportunity to enact change in the United States, the one nation that holds the key to the future of the Middle East.

09-27-09 See good when confronting bad in Hollywood films

Arab Americans must see the good when confronting bad in Hollywood movies
By Ray Hanania — A recent online post discussed the continued smearing of Arabs and Muslims by Hollywood, quoting one of the most authoritative analysts of the topic, Jack Shaheen.  The discussion was on New University by writer Daniel Johnson. We are seeing an unusual trend of change taking place in Hollywood, one where Arabs and Muslims post-Sept. 11, 2001, are being portrayed with more sensitivity and at least more accuracy. But at the same time, the hate-wing of the Hollywood and TV industry that has slandered Arabs and Muslims since the big screen and TV first appeared, seem to be overcompensating to off-set the positive portrayals by digging deeper into their own hatred to portray Arabs and Muslims even worse.

09-20-09 Israeli Government distorts truth in response to Goldstone report on war crimes

Israel’s government distorts truth in response to War Crimes report
By Ray Hanania –Renown South African Jurist Richard Goldstone has completed a comprehensive report on the war crimes committed during the Israeli war started against Hamas in the Gaza Strip on Nov. 4, 2008 and the Israeli response has been to call Goldstone, a Jew who prosecuted war crimes in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia an “anti-Semite” with no basis in international law. While the war crimes in Gaza are a real crime, the outrageous slander that marks Israel’s government response to any form of criticism is an even bigger crime. They argue Israel did not start the war, Hamas did. But the facts prove Israel wrong. But does truth matter in today’s world? Not when it comes to Israel’s government.

09-11-09 Americans turn from hatred to education of Arabs/Muslims

Americans turn from hatred to education 8 years since Sept. 11
By Ray Hanania – We are finally seeing some real light through the black fog of American anger and hatred that erupted following the terrorist attacks eight years ago this week on Sept. 11. American anger against Arabs and Muslims is fast turning into education and enlightenment, in part because of a president who is resetting the nation’s moral character by washing away the demagoguery that symbolized the response of his predecessor.