News: North America

Government & Politics

Arab Americans eye Trump’s pro-Israel government picks As Donald Trump prepares to take office amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Arab Americans are considering the legacy of his past policies and staunch support for Israel — and how that could affect US policy.

January 1, 2025   

(Deutsche Welle) It has been several weeks now, but Wasel Yousaf has photos on his phone to help him relive the memory of meeting his idol. “He made a joke about how tightly I was shaking his hand,” Yousaf said, looking at […]

Holidays

Authorities warned of vehicle-ramming attack danger in US during holiday season Multiple people were killed in a New Year's ramming attack in New Orleans.

January 1, 2025 and   

(ABC) Multiple people were killed and dozens injured after a man drove a pickup truck through a crowd celebrating New Year’s in New Orleans early Wednesday, authorities said. The horrific attack came after authorities expressed concerns about vehicle-ramming during large outdoor events […]

Holidays

New Orleans raises specter of persistent ISIS threat The Assad regime’s collapse in Syria could offer an opportunity for ISIS militants to gain more supporters and operating space, experts say.

January 1, 2025   

(NBC) An ISIS flag allegedly found in the truck that Shamsud-Din Jabbar used in the lethal car-ramming attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans on New Year’s Day highlights the persistent danger posed by the terrorist group, which continues to churn out online propaganda to try […]

Government & Politics

Pentagon appeals court upholds plea deals in Sept. 11 case The three-judge decision appeared, at least for now, to put plea proceedings for Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and two others back on track to take place in early January at Guantánamo Bay.

December 30, 2024   

(NY Times) A Pentagon appeals panel on Monday upheld a military judge’s finding that the plea deals in the Sept. 11 case are valid, clearing the way at least for now for a guilty plea hearing next week with the accused mastermind […]

Government & Politics

Trump pick for critical foreign policy role thinks Islam incompatible with the West Michael Anton will serve as director of policy planning at the State Department, a role that effectively sets the agenda for the secretary of state

December 24, 2024   

(Middle East Eye) A staunch anti-immigrant conservative who was a spokesperson for the White House during Donald Trump’s first year in office in 2017 is returning to government — this time, as director of policy planning at the US State Department, which […]

Government & Politics

Chikli: CAIR leader praised October 7 massacre, called Gaza ‘concentration camp’ Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli claimed that CAIR had ties to Hamas and was 'outrageously antisemtic.'

December 20, 2024   

(Jerusalem Post) Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Ministry Minister Amichai Chikli escalated his campaign against the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) on Thursday, exposing the organization’s alleged ties to Hamas and sharing a damning quote from its executive director, Nihad Awad, about […]

Academics & Education

GMU student charged in mass-casualty plot targeting Jews FBI says Abdullah Hassan, an 18-year-old freshman, showed an undercover informant how to strike Israel’s general consulate in New York.

December 19, 2024 and   

(Washington Post) A Virginia college student has been charged with a weapon-of-mass-destruction offense, and federal prosecutors said he plotted an attack on Israel’s general consulate in New York using a bomb, assault rifle or suicide vest. Abdullah Ezzeldin Taha Mohamed Hassan, a […]

Clerics & Preachers

Jewish groups warn of antisemitic past of two speakers at large Islamic conference in Toronto Organizers of RIS conference reject the concerns saying all speakers are carefully vetted 'to only include those who are committed to the pursuit of peace and harmony'

December 18, 2024   

(National Post) Two Jewish groups are calling on organizers of a large Islamic conference scheduled for downtown Toronto this weekend to cancel two planned speakers, citing previous statements deemed antisemitic. Reviving the Islamic Spirit (RIS) is an annual convention that, over two […]

Academics & Education

Failed judicial nominee Adeel Mangi lashes out at Democrats, predicts ‘tsunami of bigotry’ under Trump Mangi's nomination stalled after Free Beacon reports on his links to anti-Israel and anti-police groups

December 16, 2024   

(Free Beacon) Biden judicial nominee Adeel Mangi, who came under fire over his links to anti-Israel and anti-police groups, lashed out at “dark money” forces and some Senate Democrats on Monday, his first remarks following the collapse of his nomination to serve […]

Academics & Education

After religious symbols law, Quebec eyes ban on public prayer: Where the province is headed on secularism Existing laws, jurisprudence appear to provide plenty of ammo for Quebec to address school controversies

December 16, 2024   

(CBC) After the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government tabled its secularism bill, Premier François Legault recorded a video address that intended to reassure people who felt the proposed legislation was going too far. “I feel like saying ‘finally,’” the premier said in […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

US Islamophobia strategy doesn’t list Jewish groups, though CAIR advised Jew-hatred approach 'The strategy contains more than 100 executive branch actions and more than 100 calls to action to every sector of society,' per the White House.

December 14, 2024   

(JNS) The White House’s first-ever “U.S. National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia and Anti-Arab Hate,” which the Biden administration announced on Thursday, runs for 67 pages. It features “more than 100 executive branch actions and more than 100 calls to action to every […]

Academics & Education

MPs call for crackdown on student protest encampments, ban on display of terror symbols Many recommendations in the antisemitism and Islamophobia reports were rejected by Conservative, Bloc MPs

December 11, 2024   

(CBC) In two reports on antisemitism and Islamophobia in Canada, Liberal and NDP MPs on the House of Commons justice committee said Ottawa should take steps to keep student protest encampments off university grounds, criminally ban the display of terrorist emblems and recognize […]

Crime

Gunman, who allegedly shot Jewish Chicagoan, dead after apparent suicide 'There is no evidence of foul play at this time,' the Cook County Sheriff’s Office told JNS of the death of 22-year-old Sidi Mohamed Abdallahi.

December 1, 2024   

(JNS) Cook County Sheriff’s Office staff found Sidi Mohamed Abdallahi, 22, “unresponsive due to an apparent suicide attempt by hanging in his cell” at about 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, the Illinois sheriff’s office told JNS. Abdallahi, who faced 16 felony counts, including […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Trump backs staunchly anti-Muslim Florida lawmaker to run for US Congress Florida State Senator Randy Fine, who celebrated Israel’s killing of a US citizen, gets president-elect’s support.

November 24, 2024   

(Al-Jazeera) United States President-elect Donald Trump is encouraging a Florida legislator who celebrated the killing of an American citizen by the Israeli military to run for Congress. Trump said in a social media post on Sunday that if State Senator Randy Fine […]

Government & Politics

Sebastian Gorka to be Trump’s counter-terrorism chief with controversial views on Islam The staunchly pro-Israel defender of the Muslim ban is set to return to the White House without Senate confirmation

November 24, 2024   

(National-UAE) President-elect Donald Trump has picked Sebastian Gorka, a staunch defender of his so-called Muslim ban who has said there is [no] such thing as Palestine, to be his counter-terrorism chief at the National Security Council. Mr Trump called Mr Gorka “a […]

Crime

Hate crime suspect accused of looking up synagogue locations before shooting Jewish man The shooting Oct. 26 in the West Ridge neighborhood was a ‘planned attack’ according to prosecutors. Sidi Mohamed Abdallahi was captured after he was wounded in a shootout with police.

November 22, 2024   

(Chicago Sun-Times) A man now facing hate crime charges after shooting an Orthodox Jewish man and firing on police and paramedics last month had mapped the locations of several Chicago synagogues and Jewish schools in the days leading up to the attack […]

Government & Politics

‘Lacking the votes’: Schumer abandons embattled Biden judicial nominee Adeel Mangi Mangi faced Democratic opposition for his ties to anti-police groups

November 22, 2024   

(Free Beacon) Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has abandoned hopes of confirming Third Circuit Appeals Court nominee Adeel Mangi, whom some Senate Democrats opposed over links to anti-police groups uncovered by the Washington Free Beacon. Schumer struck a deal Thursday with Republicans […]