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An Uneasy Mood
American Educational Trust
As we collectively limp toward Election Day, most Americans are likely feeling beleaguered by the pandemic, economic and health uncertainties, and a divisive political environment. Many of us simply want a time out from the endless chaos and rancor, but instead we remain largely isolated in our homes, perhaps masochistically subjecting ourselves to more and more news stories that leave us feeling hopeless about the world. For those who care deeply about the Middle East, feelings of desolation are likely nothing new. Indeed, over the years we’ve received letters from subscribers telling us they were taking a break from reading the magazine because they could no longer stomach reading about seemingly endless and senseless wars, occupations and other injustices often paid for by their tax dollars. (They usually come back!)
dleEastBooks.com, will be a hub for your gift giving. Our books, art prints, olive oil, soap, coffee and stunning pottery offer a great option for anyone on your list. We encourage you to place your order earlier this year, given the flood of packages set to hit a postal service already struggling with logistics.
A Special Gift to You
PHOTO BY MAJDI FATHI/NURPHOTO VIA GETTY IMAGES
We Understand
Publishers’ Page
You’ll notice that this issue includes “Other Voices,” our 16-page supplement, for everyone—not only those who pay an extra $15 a year! We hope you’ll decide to use the postcard, also enclosed in this issue, to add this gem to your yearly subscription.
More Ways to Show Support
A gift subscription to the Washington Report would also be a perfect present for any social justice-oriented person on your shopping list. Now There are protests calling for justice across our country. A that bookstores and newsstands inPalestinian woman, wearing a protective face mask, takes explicably stopped carrying this part in a demonstration to show support for prisoners held in magazine, it is especially important Staying Hopeful for our readers to give gift subscripIsraeli jails, in Gaza City on Oct. 5, 2020. tions to their favorite house of worEven more frequently, however, we ship, libraries, schools, universities, receive letters from individuals doctors, friends and family. across the country thanking us for giving are hopefully also dogged voters) with the them hope in the knowledge that other information they need to be effective citiHoping for Holiday Angels Americans actually do care just as much zens that they can’t find in the mainstream as they do about justice in Palestine and press. To that end, we are pleased to preOf course, above all, we rely on your dothe Middle East. And, while we can’t guarsent 14 pages of voting records in this nations to keep the magazine and bookantee the Washington Report will be an issue (pp. 16-29) that show how each store going. Plans for the coffee shop aduplifting read, we believe the pages of the member of Congress voted on critical dition to Middle East Books and More magazine offer another reason to hope. bookstore are on hold until we can raise issues impacting the Middle East. We Page after page shows the endurance and more funds. The plans are in hand, and hope this data provides you with the inforwe’re now filing for the building permit but strength of people—from Palestine to mation needed to cast a knowledgeable we need your support now. Once life gets Iran—refusing to let war, occupation, vote—and also serves as an impetus to back to normal we hope to be ready to sanctions, corruption, authoritarianism, regularly call your elected officials, partichost events and sip some brew together and now COVID-19, stymie their determiularly if you are displeased with their voting again in our revitalized space. After what nation to secure a better future. As we fight records. When Americans make their may be more than a year of isolation we a myriad of battles here at home, we ought voices clear and are armed with the facts, want to be ready to gather again. During to view their determination as a source of it’s increasingly hard for lobbies to do their these difficult times, we are grateful to all strength and a blueprint to follow. dirty business (see pp. 14-15)! of you for digging down deep so that toPractical Information Holiday Shopping gether we can... Of course, our primary duty at the WashThe holiday season is rapidly approachMake a Difference Today! ington Report is to arm subscribers (who ing, and we hope our bookstore, MidNOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020
WASHINGTON REPORT ON MIDDLE EAST AFFAIRS
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