Articles

Interpreting the Middle East for North Americans—
Interpreting North America for the Middle East

The U.S., Iraq, and the Israeli Occupation of Palestine

7 Occupation: The Missing Word—Rachelle Marshall

10 Israel Incites Violence With Massacre on Gaza Beach—Mohammed Omer

12 On World Refugee Day, UNRWA Commissioner-General Pledges to Keep Hope Alive—Karen Koning AbuZayd

13 Britain’s New Foreign Secretary Only “Reluctant” to See Israeli Transgressions—Ian Williams

15 Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon Divided Over Representation, United on Demands—Samaa Abu Sharar

16 In the Ghost Towns of the Occupied Golan, Five Villages Defiantly Wave the Syrian Flag—Isabelle Humphries

18 Operation Summer Rain: Hell Emerging From the Mist—Mohammed Omer

19 The Referendum Game—Gambling With The Palestinian Future—Samah Jabr

21 The EU, Israel and International Law: a Blueprint for Peace—The International Forum for Justice and Peace

23 Iran Target of Apparent Disinformation Ploy—Jim Lobe

24 The U.S. and Iran: War or Dialogue?—Two Views—Charley Reese, Jonathan Steele

42 After a 19-Year Battle, Judge Rules L.A. 8’s Aiad Barakat Deserves U.S. Citizenship—Pat McDonell Twair

73 Naomi Shihab Nye: Portrait of a Palestinian-American Poet—Robert Hirschfield

Congress and the 2006 Elections

26 With a Few Key Exceptions, EMILY (Early Money Is Like Yeast) Rules Pro-Israel PAC Contributions—Janet McMahon

27 Pro-Israel PAC Contributions to 2006 Congressional Candidates

30 Congress Passes Emergency Supplemental Bill With Palestinian Aid Restrictions—Shirl McArthur

Special Reports

33 Prospects for a Dead Sea-Red Sea “Canal”—Andrew I. Killgore

34 Cyprus’ May 21 Election: Low Voter Turnout, Rejection of Annan Plan Holds—Jon Gorvett

36 India’s Booming Economy Poses Challenges as Well as Opportunities—M.M. Ali

38 Behind Indonesia’s Warm Welcome for Iranian President Ahmadinejad—John Gee

40 The New Shape of Kuwait’s Elections—Peter Valenti

44 Toronto Arrests Spark Debate About Muslim Extremism—Faisal Kutty

46 Al-Zarqawi’s Death Does Nothing to Solve Iraq Chaos, Says France’s L’Humanité—Lucy Jones

48 In Memoriam: Talcott Williams Seelye (1922-2006)—Andrew I. Killgore

Departments

5 Letters to the Editor

49 Southern California Chronicle: PLO Ambassador Afif Safieh Eloquently Proves His Diplomatic Mettle—Pat and Samir Twair

52 Northern California Chronicle: AUC Moves Toward Becoming a “Truly International Center of Excellence”—Elaine Pasquini

54 Israel and Judaism: American Jews Belong in Israel, Declare Israeli Authors Yehoshua and Halkin—Allan C. Brownfeld

56 Arab-American Activisms

American-Arab Conference Honors, Inspires Community
Arab-American Literature
Arab Artists on the Move
Friday Banquet: Reel Arabs, Real Advances
Egypt Today
Ending the Occupations
Saturday Banquet
Palestine: What Next?
Sunday Brunch

63 Human Rights

Coalition to Protect People’s Rights Holds Chicago Meeting on Torture
“All I Have”: UNRWA’s World Refugee Day 2006
The Libyan Opportunity: Moving Forward, Slipping Backward

66 Waging Peace

Washington Report Celebrates Beginning of 25th Year
The Second World Congress on Middle Eastern Studies
Brandeis Students Protest Removal of Palestinian Art
Beyond the Olive Branch
Cleveland Examines Issues Facing Christians in the Holy Land
Emergency Protest of June 9 Gaza Massacre
“Gift of the Heart” Kits Aid Survivors
Ralph Nader: “Americans Need Moral Courage!”
“No Armageddon for Bush” Rally
“Arabs & Terrorism” Premiers in DC