2011 News

The star of Monday's event was Kamal Nawash, a Jerusalem-born, New Orleans-raised attorney who founded the organization Free Muslims Coalition in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.

We are NOW holding a conference at the Ariel Jewish. Kamal Nawash of the Free Muslims and Igal Cohen-Orgad, Chancellor of the Ariel University are expected to call for equal rights for Palestinians and the removal of the separation wall.

IF JOSEPH and Mary were making their way to Bethlehem today, the Christmas story would be a little different, says Father Ibrahim Shomali, a parish priest in the town. The couple would struggle to get into the city, let alone find a place to stay.

This message is sent to people who were interested in the conference that was held on November 28th at the Ambassador Hotel. That event was very successful and we'll hold another event on December 26th from 12:00-16:00in the Ariel University Center.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a crackdown Wednesday on Jewish extremists believed to be responsible for a wave of violence and vandalism against Israeli soldiers and Muslim mosques.

Why did I convert? Simple. I wanted to better understand the life of Muslims in America, and what their growing presence means for the rest of us

While so many are trying to keep Palestinians and Israelis apart with hate rhetoric, columns and speeches, Doron Tzur, Kamal Nawash and Joe Avesar are trying hard to bring Palestinians and Israelis together.

It's astonishing to read about the freedom of expression afforded to Muslims in the 10th century, in contrast to our own times

From his 33rd-floor penthouse apartment with sweeping views of the Nile River, Naguib Sawiris,Egypt's best-known billionaire and most prominent Christian, can hear the chants of Friday prayers in the distance.

We are excited to announce that the number of people who signed up for the upcoming Jerusalem conference has exceeded our expectations. As a result, we moved the Conference from November 14, 2011 to November 28, 2011

That's a mistake. With Qaddafi's fall and next week's elections in Tunisia, the odds are decent that the Great Arab Revolt will start to shake Algeria.

Amazingly, in the decade since 9/11, there hasn't been a "next time." Yes, there have been shooting incidents by a few individuals, but nothing as catastrophic as we had feared.

Dr. Baskin played an important role in facilitating contacts between Hamas and Israel. Baskin was able to use his contacts with Hamas to bring together people who were unable to connect via official channels of government and diplomacy.

Not accidently, this is the third time we announce a Palestinian state. The first time to have a state announced was on September 1948. It was announced by the commons of Palestine government. The second time was in Algeria in 1987. And here we go, this September we announce it for the third time.

The moment is as dramatic as any in recent decades in the Arab world, as autocracies crumble and suddenly vibrant parties begin building a new order, starting with elections in Tunisia in October, then Egypt in November.

Who's to blame for the continued failure of the Middle East peace process? Former President Bill Clintonsaid today that it is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu -- whose government moved the goalposts upon taking power, and whose rise represents a key reason there has been no Israeli-Palestinian peace deal.

I am neither an optimist nor a pessimist. I'm a realist. We don't do the President any favors unless we give him the clearest picture possible of whatever issue he's facing. And I know you understand that. I have always tried to do that in the past, and again I'll try to do the same as the Director.

U.S. diplomats turned their attention to how to navigate a new era in which questions of Palestinian statehood are squarely on the global diplomatic agenda. There used to be three relevant players in any Middle East peace effort: the Palestinians, Israel, and the United States. But expansions of settlements in the West Bank and a hardening of Israeli attitudes have isolated Israel and its main backer, the United States. Dissension among Palestinian factions has undermined the prospect for a new accord as well.

The proposal is being published to coincide with the Palestinian Authority's plan to seek recognition for statehood from the United Nations and Israel's opposition to such a move. Despite the heightened tensions between the governments, we witness an increasing number of Israelis and Palestinians who want to work together for a better future.

Protesters broke into the Israeli Embassy in Cairo Friday and dumped documents out of the windows as hundreds more demonstrated outside, prompting the ambassador and his family to leave the country. The unrest was a further worsening of already deteriorating ties between Israel and post-Hosni Mubarak Egypt.

The difficulty is in being overwhelmed with what to focus on. Under the Arab prism I view this catastrophe with one set of emotions. Under the American prism I view it with another set of emotions.

Do you really want to weaken Hamas? Surprise it. Go back and open Gaza's gates - to ordinary human movement, not just to cherries, shavers and a handful of pious Muslims who manage to wend their way past the Egyptian bureaucracy. Open the Erez checkpoint. Then you'll see how Gazans yearn for life.

The following is a proposed roadmap for ending the Palestinian/Israeli conflict. We intend to hold a constitutional convention in Jerusalem to formulate that final Roadmap and proposed constitution for the union of Israel/Palestine.

Over 300,000 people took part in third consecutive week of mass rallies across Israel on Saturday; protesters chant 'The people demand social justice'; Sources close to Netanyahu say media inflated number of protesters.

Kamal Nawash on Al Jazeerah to Comment on FBI tactics

In comments from 2009-2010 to other people's articles on another website, Document, which calls itself critical of Islam, Breivik criticised European policies of trying to accommodate the cultures of different ethnic groups

Palestinians in Syria are beginning to turn against a dictatorship that for decades used its claims of resisting Israel and fighting for Palestinian rights as justification for the repression of its own people.

Jordan's foreign allies have provided the king valuable cover, including Saudi Arabia, the kingdom's most generous financial benefactor, and the United States, which provides political and military support

Archaeologists unearthing a biblical ruin inside a Palestinian city in the West Bank are writing the latest chapter in a 100-year-old excavation that has been interrupted by two world wars and numerous rounds of Mideast upheaval.

Amidst escalating tensions in his country, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met with two groups of prominent Syrian expats from the United States over the past two weeks.

AILC members have joined together to help wage, and win, the ideological struggle (jihad) against Islamism from within the House of Islam.

The military-led government, in turn, has appeared to respond to public demands with repeated concessions - including replacing an interim prime minister with the handpicked choice of the Tahrir protest leaders, arresting Mr. Mubarak and his two sons and releasing jailed activists.

In 2010, Israel faced the worst kind of media exposure when its military raided the Mavi Marmara, shooting dead nine activists and wounding 40 others, evoking global condemnation and a beginning a tectonic shift in its relations with Turkey.

If one were to apply Spencer's method of interpreting the Quran, it would be possible for him to use verses in the Old Testament to promote terrorism.... Presumably he was referring to Numbers 31:7 & 8, Deuteronomy 7 and I Samuel 15:3 in which commands are given to annihilate tribes known as the Midianites, Caananites and Amalakites.

The Palestinians are not an obscure mean folk. They created the Star of Ghassul, wrote the Bible, built the temples of Jerusalem and Garizim, the palaces of Jericho and Samaria, the churches of the Holy Sepulchre and Nativity, the mosques of Haram a-Sharif, the harbours of Caesarea and Akka, the castles of Monfort and Belvoir. They walked with Jesus, defeated Napoleon and bravely fought at Karameh. In their veins, the blood of Aegean warriors, Bene Israel, David's heroes, the first Apostles of Christ and Companions of the Prophet, of Arab riders, Norman Crusaders and Turkmen chieftains blended in the unique composition. Its spark did not run out: the poetry of Mahmud Darwish, the wisdom of Edward Said, the perfect olive oil, the fervour of prayers and the valiant courage of intifada prove it.

This book is an appeal to those [Muslims] who are chasing the mirage of an Islamic State. I hope they can reflect on the futility of their endeavour.... Islamists working for the establishment of an Islamic State are headed in the wrong direction.

"Have we not come to such an impasse in the modern world that we must love our enemies - or else? The chain reaction of evil - hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars - must be broken, or else we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation."

Salam Fayyad, former senior IMF official, says Bank of Israel governor would make a 'great managing director' for the world financial body.

Seen as a moderate by the West, King Abdullah II of Jordan has his critics at home says Simon Scott Plummer reviewing Our Last Best Chance: The Pursuit of Peace in a Time of Peril.

A video that shows that the majority of the Palestinians are of Jewish origin. David Ben Gorion stated in his book that the Palestinians have Jewish blood flowing through their veins. Hebrew University had done genetic tests on Palestinians which showed that they have the Cohen genome in their DNA and only the Jewish people have this chromosome in there DNA. Jews are fighting their brothers.

it is high time for a Jewish Israeli and Jewish American Awakening, one that will force their respective leaders to support a viable democratic future for the Jews and Palestinians living between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.

President Obama got his hands deep into the conflicts and turmoil in the Middle East this week, giving a speech about the Arab Spring and the questions it raises for stability in the region. NPR White House Correspondent Ari Shapiro has this roundup of the week's events.

The Israeli Prime Minister calls Obama's plan for Israel to pull back its borders to pre-1967 Six-Day War "indefensible."

It feels like domestic politics -- and not meaningful change in the Middle East -- is on the president's mind.

Israel blames Assad and Iran for border infiltration on Nakba Day.

Muslim Brotherhood says Bin Laden "erred in some of his deeds," but claims the U.S. humiliated regimes and peoples, stole their lands, and plundered their resources.

American officials believe that Osama bin Laden spent many hours on the computer, relying on couriers to bring him thumb drives packed with information from the outside world

Bin Laden's death in a firefight with U.S. troops may undermine the ideology behind terrorism, the Saudi Press Agency said today, citing an unidentified government official. Saudi citizens have "been among the most targeted ones" by the terrorist group, it said.

let us give thanks to the men and women of the United States armed forces. Their sacrifice and that of their families have sustained the American cause at home and abroad for the past decade.

Arab leaders facing public revolt have increasingly concluded that it is better to shoot to kill, or at least to arrest and imprison, than to abdicate and flee.

"I think conservative Muslims would be pleased if their required dress code becomes fashion. Conservative Muslims absolutely detest women dressing as sexual objects or so revealing as to suggest that their value is their sexuality," she said. "Thus, when conservative Muslim women view other women dressing conservatively they become happy even if the non-Muslim women are merely dressing for fashion."

Hamas has found itself in a predicament over the clash between its solidarity with Muslim Brotherhood elements in Syria interested in toppling the regime, as well as with Sheikh al-Qaradawi's attack on Bashar al-Assad, and its dependence on the assistance provided by the Assad regime to its infrastructure and terrorist activity.

Today's bottom line, then, is that Syria has entered the so-called "Arab Spring" with a president who is not as fully in control of the country as was his father; who is dealing with Islamist leaders who are more powerful and popular than ever before

Assad already had implicitly acknowledged internal dissatisfaction with the administration of the state. He also had recognized that the new Arab consciousness required real popular participation in decision-making. But, at the same time he noted, in the external sphere, Syria has stood on the right side of history

The Egyptian presidential elections are expected to be held toward the end of 2011. Egypt's past presidential elections have featured a single candidate, to be approved or rejected by the public. Now, however, the recent amendments to the constitution and laws allow multiple candidates, and numerous figures from diverse sectors have indeed declared their intention to run.

"Miral" is by no means the first film from a Palestinian point of view to show up in the United States, but it's likely to be the highest profile, both because of the critical reputation of director Julian Schnabel and because it's coming from The Weinstein Company

I was dismayed to find that instead of welcoming my remarks, my colleagues at State and USAID criticized me for bringing up "certain topics simply too sensitive to be openly debated in such a forum," and they even tried to prevent me from further official travel to the region. It is a shame, since it is still true today that the United States and the Arab world badly need to engage each other in a frank but respectful dialogue to find common ground and to make advancements together.

Economically, Saudi Arabia is able to fund projects that satisfy the needs of its growing population. Record revenue from energy exports has been invested in infrastructure and social services.

In an open letter to Saif Al-Islam, the son of Libyan ruler Mu'ammar Al-Qadhafi, Libyan intellectual Dr. Muhammad 'Abd Al-Mutallib Al-Houni, who for years served as advisor to Saif Al-Islam, wrote that the latter used to fight for justice and dream of prosperity, and had been innocent of the crimes of the regime. But today, he noted, he has decided to "don his father's cloak contaminated with 40 years of his deeds."

In an open letter to Saif Al-Islam, the son of Libyan ruler Mu'ammar Al-Qadhafi, Libyan intellectual Dr. Muhammad 'Abd Al-Mutallib Al-Houni, who for years served as advisor to Saif Al-Islam, wrote that the latter used to fight for justice and dream of prosperity, and had been innocent of the crimes of the regime. But today, he noted, he has decided to "don his father's cloak contaminated with 40 years of his deeds."

A horrible murder has occurred and this killing of three innocent Israeli children by an unknown assailant should not and must not be condoned.

The Episcopal bishops of Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., have in separate statements decried the decision by Israel's Ministry of the Interior to deny a residency permit for Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem Suheil Dawani and his family to live in Jerusalem.

King Abdallah has successfully steered Jordan's ship through the turbulent waters of a tempestuous regional context and a complex economic and social situation within the country

Asians first began out-competing Arabs in service and construction jobs. But now Asians outnumber Arab guest workers in all but the most professional sectors, such as medicine and law

It is a well known fact that American Muslims are perceived as extreme and radical by many Americans. Even if Representative King is insincere and has bad intentions, Muslim leaders should embrace the hearings and take the lead in understanding and eliminating the cause of radicalization, to the extent that it exists among Muslims in America. When Muslims take the lead in the fight against radicalism, extremism and terrorism then it will be difficult for their critics to cast the blame on all Muslims or Islam for the actions of a few deranged lunatics.

King was one of the most zealous American defenders of the militant IRA. He argued that IRA violence was an inevitable response to British repression and that the organization had to be understood in the context of a centuries-long struggle for independence.

There have been rumors in the past about Libyan leader Moammar Qaddafi's Jewish roots, and now it seems to be confirmed. Israel National News TV met with Gita Boaron, who claims that the Libyan dictator is indeed Jewish and that she is a distant cousin.

For years, King Abdallah has successfully steered Jordan's ship through the turbulent waters of a tempestuous regional context and a complex economic and social situation within the country.

As pro-democracy uprisings spread across the Middle East, the rulers of Saudi Arabia - the region's great bulwark of religious and political conservatism - are feeling increasingly isolated

Obviously, Islamic states, as with any state based on religion, are much less likely to produce peace and prosperity. However, by the time supporters of religious states discover that such states produce failure; it is usually too late to do anything about their governments. Religious governments usually equate opposition to their rule with opposition to God, which is a strong deterrent to protesters.

U.S. officials are concerned that Islamic extremists may try to exploit Egypt's upheaval but are not yet convinced that the Muslim Brotherhood is necessarily a threat

There is a fear in the West, one rarely echoed here, that Egypt's revolution could go the way of Iran's, when radical Islamists ultimately commandeered a movement

The kingdom is Israel's other peace partner and remains the keystone to a two-state Palestinian solution. It reliably backs American initiatives, from the invasion of Iraq to the anti-Iranian containment strategy. Its intelligence services have provided vital services during the war on terror, something rarely exposed. In return, Jordan has received enormous economic and military aid from Washington, reaping more than $7 billion since 2000 and enjoying $660 million in annual support through 2013.

Syrian President says time for reform is at hand and that Syria is stable because the government walks hand in hand with its people

Continuing unrest in Egypt could pose a threat to the decades-old alliance with Israel, which is bracing for a possible backlash. Peace with Egypt is a cornerstone of Israel's regional strategy.

One of the senior leaders of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, which wants to establish an Islamist state in the Arab world's most populous nation, told the Associated Press he was heading to Tahrir (or Liberation) Square to meet with other opposition leaders Sunday.

Arab satellite network Al Jazeera has reported that Egyptian opposition leaders plan to negotiate a transition government with the Egyptian army, which maintained a heavy presence throughout the country on Sunday, and not longtime President Hosni Mubarak.

Republican Rand Paul wants to Cut U.S. Aid to Israel

Egypt and the Birth of a New Middle East

Nearly every country in Latin America, Asia, and Africa has recognized Palestinian statehood and there are indications that many European nations will soon follow suit. Which leaves the United States, yet again, on the wrong side of history.

The PLO Raises Palestine Flag over Washington for the first time In Washington DC over objections from Jewish groups