October/November 1995, pgs. 75-76

Arab American Activism

By Shawn L. Twing

NAAA Protests Closure of Palestinian Offices In Jerusalem

The National Association of Arab Americans (NAAA) protested the Israeli government's August closure of three Palestinian offices in East Jerusalem, saying that it is "contrary to the letter and spirit" of the Declaration of Principles signed in September 1993. NAAA executive director Khalil Jahshan characterized the closure of the private office of Radwan Abu Ayyash, head of the Palestinian Broadcast Corporation, the office of the Palestinian Health Council and the Palestinian Bureau of Statistics as an "arrogant and reckless attempt to prejudge the final status of the city." Negotiations about the final status of Jerusalem are scheduled for the third and final round of the Oslo negotiations.

FBI Clears Arab-American Victim of TV Witchhunt

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), after intense pressure from the Arab-American community led by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), cleared Hussein Al Hussein of any involvement in the Oklahoma City bombing. Hussein, an Iraqi refugee living in Oklahoma City at the time of the bombing, was falsely implicated in the tragedy by Oklahoma's News Channel Four (KFOR), which, in a series of reports aired in June, claimed that "undisclosed witnesses" could place Al Hussein with Timothy McVeigh prior to the April bombing, implying repeatedly that Al Hussein was "John Doe No. 2."

ADC filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice, which agreed to exonerate Al Hussein publicly, stating that neither he nor any other person from Iraq was ever a suspect in the bombing.

ADC Protests Arab "Monster" Mask

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) issued a Sept. 27 press release depicting an "Arab Sheikh" monster mask on sale at Party City stores across the country, and condemning the mask for its stereotyping of Arabs. ADC called on the nationwide chain of stores to remove the mask and apologize publicly to the Arab-American community. The mask, with stereotypical features, is the only Halloween mask sold at Party City stores that depicts an ethnic group. At press time, a statement from Party City about the mask had not been released.

NAAA Welcomes Relaxation of U.S.-Lebanon Travel Ban

The National Association of Arab Americans (NAAA) applauded the Sept. 18 Clinton administration decision to ease travel restrictions to Lebanon. New U.S. government regulations will permit U.S. air carriers to transport U.S. citizens and non-citizens to and from Lebanon through inter-airline agreements, provided that the American citizens have received written approval for travel to Lebanon from the U.S. State Department beforehand. Other prohibitions, including a ban on direct operations between the United States and Lebanon on U.S. carriers, remain in effect.

NAAA executive director Khalil Jahshan called the relaxation "the first step in dismantling an unfair prohibition that serves no useful purpose." He added that NAAA "looks forward to working closely with the [Clinton] administration in the next few months to convince them to end the travel ban altogether."

ADC Chapter Head Assaulted, Harassed

Members of the Denver, Colorado Metropolitan State College chapter of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) were threatened and one member was physically assaulted as a result of their efforts to organize an "Arab Awareness Week" scheduled between Sept. 18 and 26. ADC chapter president Iyad Allis was assaulted in a men's room by two unidentified individuals on Sept. 18, following three anonymous phone threats made prior to the attack, including one naming Allis specifically.

ADC chair Hamzi Moghrabi requested increased police protection for the students and speakers at the event, saying that "ADC is deeply distressed about these incidents and concerned for the safety of the students and speakers." He added that "we want to encourage the students to continue these activities as they are aimed at the promotion of greater understanding between people of different ethnicities, religions and political opinions [but] at the same time we take these threats very seriously."

PNC Official Discusses Accords

Salim Al-Zanoun, chairman (speaker) of the Palestine National Council, summarized the history leading up to the Taba resolutions that produced the Oslo II agreement, and the issues faced by the negotiators for an audience of journalists and Middle East specialists on Sept. 12 in Washington, DC. At the event, sponsored by the National Association of Arab Americans Foundation, NAAA Executive Director Khalil Jahshan introduced Al-Zanoun and translated his remarks into English. A portion of the presentation is presented on page 31 of this issue.

Chamber Hosts Palestinian Businessmen, Officials

Palestinian-American Chamber of Commerce president Nabiel Fareed scheduled a two-day seminar Oct. 6 and 7 to enable American businesspeople to meet a 15-member Palestinian Trade Delegation visiting the United States from Oct. 6 to 9. The trade delegation represents the fields of banking and investment, tourism, construction and electronics, sanitation, central heating, garments, food products, insurance and export-import. The seminar inaugurates the Chamber's newly opened offices at One World Trade Center, Suite 4073, New York, NY. The organization can be contacted at telephone (212) 938-0407 or fax (212) 775-0470.

Shawn L. Twing is the news editor of the Washington Report.