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Dr. Aref Assaf (PhD, Political Science and International Law) is president and founder of American Arab Forum, AAF, a non partisan think-tank specializing in advocating positive image of the American Arab community. Dr. Assaf was also a founding member of ADC-NJ Chapter and has served as its media chair for five years before serving as its president in 2004.
Dr. Assaf serves on and is a member of several state, national boards and academic organizations. These includes the American Society of Political Science and the American Society of International Law. Dr. Assaf is currently serving a second three-year term as a member of the New Jersey Governor's Ethnic Advisory Council. His selection was the first of its kind for an Arab American to serve on this statewide council.
Dr. Assaf writes frequently in several New Jersey papers about contemporary American Arab issues and perspectives. He has appeared on many television programs such as CBS' Sunday Morning, CNN in addition to metro TV stations. Dr. Assaf is available for speaking engagements.
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Wednesday, October 19, 2011Israel's Not So Generous Offer Pro-Israel pundits are racing to illuminate Israel's high price for its citizens. This facet is so out of context as it completely ignores the 43 years occupation of Palestinian lands and the inhumane treatment Palestinians have endured.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011Why don't American colleges teach about American Arabs and Muslims? A few exceptions, notwithstanding, American higher education institutions do not offer general or specialized studies of Arab and Muslim Americans.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011Peter King's Incitement Speech The next time a mosque is firebombed by Muslim hater, or plots to kill by a deranged Muslim are uncovered, we should hold King and his ilk responsible for incitement.
Sunday, June 20, 2010Americanizing Islam; accepting mosques in our midst Opposition to building mosques in the US seems to be a growing industry. Their Islamophobic devotees while small in number enjoy a growing political and monetary support from right wing elected and public officials and extremist organizations. Their spewing of insidiously filled behavior is a constant reminder that some Americans are willing to forsake the constitutional right of fellow citizens.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009Please Do Not Call Me! It took but a few moments to figure their reasoning for calling me. For I have been called before to reflect on acts of terror committed by fellow Muslims here and around the word. Truthfully, I was expected to again disassociate myself from the killings and secondly to explain what Islam is. I guess I fit their criteria of a person who has these qualities: I am a Muslim American of Palestinian descent.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008Obama's Palestine choices For the last sixty years, the US has sided with Israel. Israel today is neither at peace with itself or with its neighbors. Change, real change, is needed. Seeing the Middle East through the prism of Israel has outlived its pertinence, moral compass and intended consequences. We hope President-elect Obama will not be another friend of Israel but a vigilant advocate for peace and justice.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008McCain's new Lexicon Sadly, Senator McCain is desperately stooping low to racist and bigoted traits unfit of a great American hero and a dedicated public servant. For the over 2 million American of Arab origin, an apology is most needed if McCain is to expect their vote let alone their respect. On November 4, my choice for president will be not only between the lesser of two evils but between one with a vision and another a nightmare.
Monday, April 14, 2008The Pope's 'Muslim Problem". Christain Muslim relations are strained and the Pope needs to take the lead Among the Muslim clerics to shake the Pope hnad in Washington, DC, will be Imam Qatanani of the Islamic Center of Passaic County, NJ. The Imam,has been a leading figure in interfaith dialogue. Would it not be a fitting opportunity should the Pope visit New Jersey largest Mosque just he intends on visting a Jewsih Synagogue?
Monday, February 18, 2008Fear-mongering defeated Sometimes doing nothing is saying a lot. Kudos are deservedly due to members of Congress who let the ill-named Protect America Act expire rather than succumb to fear-mongering. The House on Wednesday declined to follow the Senate's footsteps and re-authorize the Act, which sunset Saturday, February 16, 2008.
Thursday, November 22, 2007The Hope of Annapolis For over six years, we have rightfully blamed the Bush administration for its inaction towards resolving the Palestine/Israel conflict. While there is ample justification for skepticism, this is not the time for fatalism about the prospect for a durable Middle East peace.
Monday, October 8, 2007Another Peace Conference? Against all odds, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's hope that Israelis and Palestinians should move beyond a "peace process" and agree on a "political horizon" reflects a lesson about the failure of previous peace efforts. A "political horizon" that offers hope for peace and defines it in a way acceptable to both sides would create political momentum for implementing negotiations to succeed.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007Are There Too Many Muslims in America? Are there too many Mosques/Muslims in America? Arabisto.com By Dr. Aref Assaf "We have too many churches and synagogues in the United States." Imagine what a national outrage would ensue if such a statement was uttered by an American official. Yet one ponders the conspicuous silence when Congressman Peter King (R-NY) warned us that "we have too many mosques in this country." In a recent interview with The Politico,
Saturday, July 21, 2007Stop Dreaming, Mr. President! So President Bush finally recognizes the urgent need to address the Palestine-Israel conflict. His "vision" of an independent Palestine state, first articulated in 2002, we are told, will be at the center of a major international peace conference to be held in the fall. In 2002,
