Press Room

Arab, Muslim Americans make critical move to Democrats

From Al Arabiya News Channel
Posted on Monday November 3, 2008

Arab and Muslim Americans entered the calculus of the 2008 presidential race in an unprecedented way with the candidacy of Barak Obama, who has attracted vastly more support from the two communities than his rival John McCain.

And with sizeable chunks of the electorate in key battlegrounds states the direction they head in may make a difference in the outcome of the race.

New Poll Shows Arab-Americans Favor Obama over McCain in Presidential Race

From Voice of America
Posted on Friday October 31, 2008

A new nationwide poll shows that among likely Arab-American voters in November’s U.S. presidential election, Democratic candidate Sen. Barack Obama holds a 21-point lead over Republican candidate Sen. John McCain. Mohamed Elshinnawi has more on what pollsters are calling an historic shift among Arab-Americans toward the Democratic Party.

Yalla Vote

From Middle East Times
Posted on Tuesday August 19, 2008

The Arab American community hopes to make its voice heard—and to make a difference in the American political landscape—in the presidential elections this coming November.

Spearheaded by the Arab American Institute’s ‘Yalla Vote Campaign’ more than 50 Arab American organizations have rallied in efforts to “educate, empower and engage Arab Americans in the political process,” in what AAI predicts will be “an historic election day.”

The Democratic Party Meets to Draft Platform

From Fox News
Posted on Monday August 4, 2008

The Democratic Party’s Platform Drafting Committee began their meetings to write the DNC platform today. It will be composed over the weekend and then will go before the full platform committee next week in Pittsburgh before being voted on at the Democratic National Convention at the end of August in Denver.

Campaign Urges Arabs to Vote

From The National
Posted on Thursday July 3, 2008

The Yallah Vote campaign by the Arab American Institute is its biggest push yet to get Arab Americans to register to vote in November’s presidential elections and become more integrated in civic life. The campaign includes placing field organisers in key states, including New York, Michigan, Florida, Pennsylvania and Ohio – where Arab Americans are a sizeable voting bloc; holding town hall debates and hosting events at the Democratic and Republican national conventions in August and September.

Arab-Americans Head for the Ballot Box

From Brooklyn Rail
Posted on Thursday May 8, 2008

On a cold morning in early April, six immigrant women in puffer coats, denim jackets, and headscarves gathered for a citizenship class at a center for Arab Americans in Bay Ridge. They grouped around a table, each holding a set of well-thumbed study notes for the naturalization test. Matthew Lonergan, a tutor at the Arab American Association of New York (AAANY), directed the first practice question to Sakneh Abdalla, a 56-year-old Iraqi who arrived in the United States in 1994. “Who elects the President?” he quizzed.

Arab Americans Present “Spirit of Humanity” Awards

From America.gov (U.S. State Department)
Posted on Friday April 25, 2008

Note: This article also appeared on the website of the United States Mission to NATO.

Washington—Some 800 people, many of Arab origin, gathered in a hotel ballroom a few blocks from the White House April 23 to mark the 10th annual Kahlil Gibran Spirit of Humanity Awards. The awards were created to celebrate the life of the great Arab-American writer, philosopher and poet Gibran Kahlil Gibran, who died in New York 77 years ago this month.

Abbas appeals for more US help in peace process

From Washington Post
Posted on Thursday April 24, 2008

WASHINGTON—Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas appealed to the Bush administration Wednesday for more support in peace talks with Israel that have bogged down five months after both sides pledged to reach a deal by January.

Palestinian President to Appeal to Bush for More U.S. Help in Mideast Peace Process

From Fox News
Posted on Thursday April 24, 2008

WASHINGTON — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas wants the Bush administration to press Israel to stop expanding Jewish settlements in the West Bank — a step he says is needed to make progress in Mideast peace talks.

North Jersey Arab leaders temper hopes for peace

From Bergen Record
Posted on Thursday April 24, 2008

Arab-American leaders from North Jersey were hopeful but not overly optimistic about the chances for peace in the Middle East after hearing a speech from Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

Abbas to appeal for more US help in peace process

From Associated Press
Posted on Thursday April 24, 2008

WASHINGTON (AP) — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas wants the Bush administration to press Israel to stop expanding Jewish settlements in the West Bank — a step he says is needed to make progress in Mideast peace talks.

Speaking later to the Arab-American Institute, Abbas said: “We are serious in having a serious negotiations to reach an agreement by the end of the year, but the gaps are still wide between us and the Israelis.”

Abbas asks White House for help in Mideast peace talks

From Boston Globe
Posted on Thursday April 24, 2008

WASHINGTON – President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority appealed to the Bush administration yesterday for more support in peace talks with Israel, which have bogged down five months after both sides pledged to reach a deal by January.

Israel must treat Americans equally

From Florida Times-Union
Posted on Friday April 18, 2008

Special to the Times-Union

For 30 years, I have demanded that my government protect the rights of its Arab- American citizens when they travel to Israel and Palestinian lands occupied since 1967.

What I have asked of the last five administrations is that they do what any government is required to do: protect and defend its own citizens and hold Israel to its treaty obligation.

US to Israel: No Bias Vs Arab-Americans

From Associated Press
Posted on Thursday March 20, 2008

WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department said Thursday it repeatedly has told Israel to treat Arab-American Palestinians as American citizens at border crossings and elsewhere.

Nonetheless, department spokesman Sean McCormack said, “it’s a continuing issue. It’s a continuing problem.”

U.S. warns Palestinian Americans of delays in Israel

From Reuters
Posted on Thursday March 20, 2008

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Israeli authorities may question Palestinian Americans on arrival in Israel and require them to obtain a Palestinian Authority travel documents, the U.S. State Department said on Wednesday.