Issues

President Obama's speech in Cairo: crystal clear

From AAI
Posted on Friday June 5, 2009

In appearances on ABC, NBC Evening News, CNN, Fox News, and BBC World News, and other outlets, Dr. Zogby joined the sentiment of political leaders around the world who hailed the President’s speech as a positive step for US-Arab relations. The President made his aspirations for a lasting, peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict crystal clear, referring to both Israel and Palestine, and using unprecedented language to describe the plight of Palestinians.

Our work has truly just begun. Click below to learn more about what you can do, and what AAI is doing, in the upcoming weeks.

Update on the Issues: Going to the Middle East

Posted on Wednesday June 3, 2009

Early Thursday morning, the world will tune in to hear President Barack Obama’s speech in Cairo, waiting to learn his plan for peace in the Middle East and a lasting resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The President’s speech will begin at 1:10 p.m. Cairo time, or 6:10 a.m. EST.

Dr. Zogby will be speaking throughout the day to various media outlets about the President’s speech, wrapping up this historic Thursday with an episode of Viewpoint you will not want to miss. And the Arab American Institute has been working on your behalf… Read all about it.

Conference Call with Michele Bond, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Overseas Citizens Services

Posted on Tuesday June 2, 2009

On Thursday, May 28th, at 3:00 PM The Bureau of Consular Affairs, division of Overseas Citizens Services hosted a conference call with several organizations regarding their mission, goals, and several issues of concern, specifically problems faced by U.S citizens suspected of being from Arab heritage when trying to travel through or visit the West Bank or Israel.

Michele Bond, Deputy Assistant Secretary for American Citizens Services, began the conference by giving a quick overview of the different programs within the department, their respective missions, and their goals.

Update on the Issues: Netanyahu Comes to Town

From AAI
Posted on Wednesday May 20, 2009

After launching his diplomatic push for Middle East peace with a visit from Jordan’s King Abdullah II last month, President Barack Obama is set to host talks with Israeli, Palestinian and Egyptian leaders in Washington before his much-anticipated address to the Arab and Muslim world in Cairo next month.

What should we expect in the coming days and weeks? There’s no lack of insight at AAI… click through for a look at what the Obama Administration, the Arab world, Israel, and everyday Americans are thinking and doing during this momentous time for the possibility of Middle East peace.

The Doha Debates: Should the U.S. Get Tough with Israel

Posted on Monday May 18, 2009

On Monday, May 18, 2009 commentators John Zogby, President and CEO of Zogby International, and James Zogby, President of the Arab American Institute, joined respondent Amjad Atallah and moderator Farah Stockman to discuss the results of a recent poll that reveals a deep partisan divide over the path towards Middle East peace.

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT OBAMA AND KING ABDULLAH OF JORDAN IN JOINT PRESS AVAILABILITY

Posted on Friday May 15, 2009

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secrectary

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT OBAMA AND KING ABDULLAH OF JORDAN IN JOINT PRESS AVAILABILITY

Amendments 629-631 DEFEATED!

From AAI
Posted on Tuesday March 10, 2009

The days of gratuitous attacks on Palestinians, Arabs, or Muslims appear to be on the wane.

Yesterday, the Senate debated three amendments to the Fiscal 2009 Budget, offered by Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ), the first of which (Amendment 629) read: “None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be made available to resettle Palestinians from Gaza into the United States.”

The other two weren’t any better. Read the full story to find out what happened…

Updates on the Issues: So much to tell...

Posted on Wednesday February 25, 2009

A letter urging a cessation of aid to UNRWA languishes in Congress while Delahunt’s resolution supporting Mitchell’s mission to the Middle East garners support. Rep. Gary Ackerman is concerned with how Gaza might be rebuilt, while Congressmen Keith Ellison and Brian Baird visit Gaza to see the devastation first-hand. Special Envoy George Mitchell had some advice to offer Arab American leaders this week, and a coalitions of American organizations supporting an Israeli-Palestinian peace sent a letter to Secretary of State Clinton urging her to work with Israel on the issue of Gazan students seeking to study abroad. Senator Kerry is hopding a panel tomorrow, “Engaging with Muslim Communities Around the World”, while Senator Kyl is hosting a closed screening of the controversial and provocative, anti-Islam video “Fitna”.

We’re asking you to act on some of these items… Click below for the whole story…

Update on the issues: Driving peace

From AAI
Posted on Thursday February 19, 2009

While the final governing coalition and the future prime Minister of Israel are still unknown, the policies of any new Israeli government are unlikely to produce positive movement on the peace process. Advocates for Middle East peace and a two-state solution should be thankful that George Mitchell has been tasked as the point man for the Obama Administration. Mitchell has seen this before… and movement on the peace process isn’t necessarily dependent upon the Israeli government. Read the full article to understand why…

U.S.-Arab Relations: Language and the art of Diplomacy

Posted on Wednesday January 28, 2009

Diplomacy is once again a part of the United States’ foreign policy toolbox. A large difficulty facing diplomacy, however, is that the very words used in negotiations are fraught with meaning. This has long been a topic on which scholars have speculated, but is a very practical problem for mediators. The Israelis and Palestinians bring very different ways of characterizing the same events to the negotiating table—a difficulty before the negotiations actually begin. This is why the idea of listening before the negotiations start is so critical.