On November 29, the US city of Philadelphia officially celebrated the "International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People". Philadelphia's mayor, Jim Kenney, was the keynote speaker at the event that also featured remarks by three members of the city council, a state senator and a state representative. All spoke about the contributions that Palestinian Americans are making to the city and to America. There were Palestinian flags, music and maamoul dessert. And an official city proclamation was read, declaring solidarity with the Palestinian people.
It's normal for politicians to acknowledge the importance of, and demonstrate their support for, the many ethnic groups that make up their constituency. But this event was extraordinary for two important reasons: it marked a turning point in the broader Arab-American community's history, and this was about Palestinians.
To understand the significance of this event, it's important to recall an earlier, more painful time for the community in Philadelphia. In 1983, Wilson Goode, then candidate for mayor, attended an Arab-American fundraising event hosted by a prominent Philadelphia-based Palestinian American, Naim Ayoub. Mr Goode was engaging. In his remarks, he vowed to be "the mayor for all the people" of the city, which for those in attendance meant full recognition of the Arab-American community within the body politic.
Speaking at a synagogue the next day, John Egan, Mr Goode's opponent, denounced him for "taking money from Arabs" and accused him of being soft on Israel’s security. Instead of standing up to this bigoted assault, a headline in The Philadelphia Inquirer read: "Wilson Goode to Return Arab Money." And so, a few days later, those who had contributed at the event received envelopes with their returned cheques. To add insult to injury, Mr Goode decided to keep the cheque of only one of the attendees – a Jewish doctor, who happened to be Mr Ayoub's friend. Upon learning about how his cheque had been accepted, while the Arab-American cheques had been rejected, the doctor demanded that his contribution be returned, too.
For those caught up in the controversy, Mr Goode's response came as a shock and contrary to what he had just promised the Arab-American community. By some accounts, it was a humiliating moment and a sordid affair that was less about politics that it was about racism.
Mr Goode went on to win two terms as mayor and, despite its best efforts, never once did he meet with the Arab-American community.
Seven years later, Marwan Kreidie, one of the community's key activists in Philadelphia, organised a meeting with Ed Rendell, the Democratic candidate to succeed Mr Goode. Mr Kreidie had helped with voter registration efforts in the community – efforts that were spurred on by the political activist Jesse Jackson's presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988. He had formed a personal relationship with Mr Rendell who was Jewish and wasn't to be intimidated by his efforts to seek the support of Arab Americans.
Mr Rendell went on to win two terms as mayor and two terms as governor of the state of Pennsylvania. He appointed Arab Americans to local and statewide posts. This recognition and inclusion in politics, in turn, helped the community to grow in stature – all leading to last week's event.
Even with this growth and acceptance, the memories of past bigoted exclusion remained. They hung over the heads of many Arab Americans like a hammer waiting to fall. And so, when they learned of a letter sent to Mr Kenney, the current mayor, by the Israeli consul general urging him to reconsider his decision to headline and support the event, they recalled Mr Goode's cowardice and held their breath.
It's taken Arab Americans a long time and plenty of pain and work to get to this point
The consul general's letter was filled with inflammatory and outrageous charges against Palestinians. It spoke of anti-Semitism; charged Palestinians and their supporters with "endorsing the violent rejection of peaceful compromise"; and referred to the groups sponsoring the event as "not interested in anything other than demonising the Jewish state".
To the delight of many Arab Americans, neither the mayor nor the other elected officials backed away from the event. Nor did these officials withdraw the official proclamation. That's what made this event so remarkable.
An Israeli American, who is an editorial writer for The Philadelphia Inquirer, was at the event and wrote a delightful opinion piece for his paper. He noted how the early Zionist movement spoke of Palestine as a "land without a people"; how former Israeli prime minister Golda Meir had observed that "there is no such thing as a Palestinian people"; and how Newt Gingrich, the former Republican speaker of the US House of Representatives, had called Palestinians an "invented people". The op-ed concluded that the event was a "powerful break from a tired and offensive narrative" as it was "simply recognising the existence of a Palestinian identity and community – as the government does for so many ethnic and immigrant communities each year".
It shouldn't be too much to ask that Arab Americans be recognised and included as full members of the body politic, or that Palestinians have their humanity, identity and contributions affirmed. But it's taken the community a long time and plenty of pain and work to get to this point. That's why Arab Americans celebrate November 29 and thank all those who have struggled to get them here.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE fixtures:
Men
Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final
Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The view from The National
Brief scores:
Toss: South Africa, chose to field
Pakistan: 177 & 294
South Africa: 431 & 43-1
Man of the Match: Faf du Plessis (South Africa)
Series: South Africa lead three-match series 2-0
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Abu Dhabi World Pro 2019 remaining schedule:
Wednesday April 24: Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, 11am-6pm
Thursday April 25: Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, 11am-5pm
Friday April 26: Finals, 3-6pm
Saturday April 27: Awards ceremony, 4pm and 8pm
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
SPECS
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2018 ICC World Twenty20 Asian Western Sub Regional Qualifier
Event info: The tournament in Kuwait this month is the first phase of the qualifying process for sides from Asia for the 2020 World T20 in Australia. The UAE must finish within the top three teams out of the six at the competition to advance to the Asia regional finals. Success at regional finals would mean progression to the World T20 Qualifier.
UAE’s fixtures: Fri Apr 20, UAE v Qatar; Sat Apr 21, UAE v Saudi Arabia; Mon Apr 23, UAE v Bahrain; Tue Apr 24, UAE v Maldives; Thu Apr 26, UAE v Kuwait
World T20 2020 Qualifying process:
- Sixteen teams will play at the World T20 in two years’ time.
- Australia have already qualified as hosts
- Nine places are available to the top nine ranked sides in the ICC’s T20i standings, not including Australia, on Dec 31, 2018.
- The final six teams will be decided by a 14-team World T20 Qualifier.
World T20 standings: 1 Pakistan; 2 Australia; 3 India; 4 New Zealand; 5 England; 6 South Africa; 7 West Indies; 8 Sri Lanka; 9 Afghanistan; 10 Bangladesh; 11 Scotland; 12 Zimbabwe; 13 UAE; 14 Netherlands; 15 Hong Kong; 16 Papua New Guinea; 17 Oman; 18 Ireland
The years Ramadan fell in May
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
BULKWHIZ PROFILE
Date started: February 2017
Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
Size: 50 employees
Funding: approximately $6m
Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait
Brief scoreline:
Toss: South Africa, elected to bowl first
England (311-8): Stokes 89, Morgan 57, Roy 54, Root 51; Ngidi 3-66
South Africa (207): De Kock 68, Van der Dussen 50; Archer 3-27, Stokes 2-12
The Bio
Favourite holiday destination: Either Kazakhstan or Montenegro. I’ve been involved in events in both countries and they are just stunning.
Favourite book: I am a huge of Robin Cook’s medical thrillers, which I suppose is quite apt right now. My mother introduced me to them back home in New Zealand.
Favourite film or television programme: Forrest Gump is my favourite film, that’s never been up for debate. I love watching repeats of Mash as well.
Inspiration: My late father moulded me into the man I am today. I would also say disappointment and sadness are great motivators. There are times when events have brought me to my knees but it has also made me determined not to let them get the better of me.
The biog
Born: High Wycombe, England
Favourite vehicle: One with solid axels
Favourite camping spot: Anywhere I can get to.
Favourite road trip: My first trip to Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan. The desert they have over there is different and the language made it a bit more challenging.
Favourite spot in the UAE: Al Dhafra. It’s unique, natural, inaccessible, unspoilt.
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog
Name: Samar Frost
Born: Abu Dhabi
Hobbies: Singing, music and socialising with friends
Favourite singer: Adele
England ODI squad
Eoin Morgan (captain), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.
