Palestinian American Congress

The Palestinian American Congress (Arabic: الكونغرس الفلسطيني الأمريكي) is a Palestinian-American non-profit grassroots organization established in 1979 to assist the Palestinian-American community in coordinating and organizing its political, educational, cultural and social affairs and supporting the Palestinian cause.^[1][2][3] It is headquartered in Chicago.^[4]

It was formed in 1979 following discussions by 400 Palestinian Americans.^[1]

In 1997, the organization hosted Yasser Arafat for a dinner during a trip to the US to meet President Bill Clinton.^[5] At the dinner Arafat noted that "the Israeli plan to build homes in East Jerusalem" violated the Oslo Accords between the two countries and were aimed at further dividing the West Bank.^[6] In 2000 the San Francisco chapter hosted Hassan Abdel Rahman at a dinner held at the Arab Cultural Center of San Francisco in which Rahman spoke on the history of Palestinian and Israel peace negotiations.^[7] In 2003 the organization commemorated the 55th anniversary of Al-Nakba with a panel discussion and art exhibition at Rutgers University; the latter featuring sculptures by Rajie Cook.^[8] Members of the panel included scholars Naseer Aruri and Ziva Flamhaft, and Abdel Hamid Siyam of the United Nations Department of Public Information.^[8]

As of July 2008, it had 21 chapters in various US cities.^{[citation needed]}

References

1. "Palestinian cause 'aided by Young'". The Sydney Morning Herald. 20 August 1979. p. 5.
2. Arab American Almanac. News Circle Publishing Company. 2003. p. 166. ISBN 9780915652211. Palestinian American Congress A non-profit organization with nationwide chapters dedicated to assist the community in coordinating and organizing its political, educational, cultural, financial and social affairs, and to support the Palestinian...
3. Human Rights Internet Newsletter. Human Rights Internet. September 1978. p. 25. On December 2, 1978, the National Office helped to organize a U.S. Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People in NYC, part of a two-day conference of the newly-formed Palestinian-American Congress (a congress of Palestinian- American organizations)
4. Mohamed Nimer (21 January 2014). The North American Muslim Resource Guide: Muslim Community Life in the United States and Canada. Routledge. pp. 221–. ISBN 978-1-135-35516-6.
5. "Arafat arrives in U.S. for talks with Clinton". The Victoria Advocate. 3 Mar 1997. p. 7A.
6. "Clinton welcomes Arafat, delivers criticism of Israel". Associated Press. 4 Mar 1997.
7. "Palestinian American Congress Hosts Hassan Abdel Rahman". The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs. XIX (5). American Educational Trust: 62. Jun 30, 2000.
8. Adas, Jane (July 2003). "55th anniversary of al-Nakba commemorated at Rutgers University event". The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs. 22 (6). American Educational Trust: 45.