Ali Harb

Journalist at @AJEnglish covering US foreign policy, elections & Arab American communities. DC-based, from Beirut via Detroit. Opinions mine. Signal: harb.12

[Ali Harb @Harbpeace]

There is also no real constituency for this trash. There are some Arab-Black tensions in Detroit, but they are nearly impossible to exploit electorally - especially when the other candidate is a white woman. If you are truly bothered by Arabic music, you're not voting in the Democratic primaries.

[Sam Robinson @samueljrob]

Farmington school board member Angie Smith says she’s backing Stevens because she believes she will represent everyone, “not just one race… You have to know how to work the room, don’t just come in here speaking Arabic, don’t come out with your Arabic music on.”

[Ali Harb @Harbpeace]

On Gretchen Whitmer endorsing Haley Stevens:

Either internal polling shows Abdul el-Sayed with a big lead so the establishment is kitchen sinking it, or internal polling shows Stevens in a comfortable spot, so Whitmer feels confident to endorse.

Not a helpful analysis, I know.

[Ali Harb @Harbpeace]

Lebanon's PM arrived secretly to Zawtar al-Gharbiyah, a town that the Israeli military never controlled or withdrew from but has finally allowed the Lebanese army to deploy there.
Residents awaiting to enter their town are furious that the PM got in and out without talking to them.
For supporters of Nawaf Salam and direct talks with Israel, the start of the pilot zone process is a victory to be propagandized.
But for many people in the south, celebrating a non-withdrawal by Israel and ignoring the people of the land sums up the approach of a government that they see as subservient to the forces that displaced them and killed their children.
Ultimately, this photo will be judged with what the government's strategy can bring.
If the government can secure Israeli withdrawal, reconstruction and the right of return to residents, this moment can be the start of the triumph for diplomacy.
If talks turn into an endless process to legitimize the occupation and criminalize resisting it, this image will be remembered as a cheap stunt.

[Niall Stanage @NiallStanage]

Hmm. Well, this is how he reacted at the time (May 2024) when I asked him a straight question about Israel restricting aid into Gaza.

[Ali Harb @Harbpeace]

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is all smiles as Trump calls on Syria to invade Lebanon and "do something with Hezbollah."

A Syrian invasion of Lebanon could plunge the entire region into endless bloodshed.

Syria's al-Sharaa has repeatedly ruled it out.

[AJE Sport @AJE_Sport]

A look back at the World Cup’s moments of glory and controversy, and their impact on fans, teams and the sport. https://t.co/219LiZPdkB

[Ali Harb @Harbpeace]

My final dispatch from the World Cup with observations on what the tournament was really about
https://t.co/IR83zj9MBD

[Ali Harb @Harbpeace]

Imperative to note that the three towns that the State Department announced as part of the first "pilot zone" for Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon are NOT under Israeli control. Residents and the Lebanese army are already in Froun and Srifa.
The Israeli military is on the outskirts of Zawtar Al-Gharbiya, the third town in the zone, but the village is not occupied by Israel.

[AJE Sport @AJE_Sport]

FIFA World Cup 2026 sees major increase in goals from outside the box https://t.co/quPH2kuE2w

[AJE Sport @AJE_Sport]

Tournament has showcased unity and solidarity in Brooklyn’s sizeable Arab American community, football fans say. https://t.co/k986EAI8pa

[Ali Harb @Harbpeace]

I spoke to Arab and Palestinian fans in New York about how the view the World Cup final
https://t.co/SzDvkEVf45

[Ali Harb @Harbpeace]

Abdul El-Sayed's campaign calls the pro-Haley Stevens spending "legalized bribery."

"Why would special interests spend $50 million on a candidate who won't spend her own money? Because they want something in return. That's not a campaign. That's a purchase. It's legalized bribery at its worst."

[Ali Harb @Harbpeace]

Almost exactly one year ago, Israeli settlers beat 20-year-old US citizen Sayfollah Musallet to death.

Three weeks later, another American citizen, Khamis Ayyad - a father of five from Chicago - was also killed in a settler attack.

Zero accountability for both murders.

[Ro Khanna @RoKhanna]

.@netanyahu was asked by @MeetThePress about my illegal detainment with other Americans by violent settlers aided by 4 IDF soldiers. I called for arresting Yinon Levy, the settlers, and an investigation of the soldiers. Will Israel show any respect for American passport holders?

[Negar Mortazavi نگار مرتضوی @NegarMortazavi]

I told Aljazeera the MoU committed both sides to keeping the Strait open through coordinated arrangements for safe commercial navigation, not unilateral action.

From Tehran’s perspective, that means any passage or maritime security arrangements should be coordinated with Iran.

Some ships have been hugging the Omani coast and passing through the strait without coordinating with Iran, a move that establishes parallel shipping routes and security mechanisms without coordination with Tehran.

Iran sees that as a direct violation of the MoU, and that’s why Hormuz has become the first major test of how the agreement will be interpreted and enforced.

Great reporting from @Harbpeace
https://t.co/gsv3w8wFmB

[Ali Harb @Harbpeace]

Not only was the penalty not called, the official broadcast did NOT show this incident except in passing through a wide lens, which the Fox commentators described as a slip when it was clearly a shirt pull inside the box if you zoom in.

[Referee Channel @RefereeC21621]

Egypt didn’t get a penalty here. #argentina #egypt #worldcup #penalty #worldcup2026

[Ali Harb @Harbpeace]

There will be a lot of debate about the Egyptian disallowed goal and the contact on Salah in the box in the lead up to Argentina's winning goal.
But from kickoff, every 50/50 call went Argentina's way. Slight contact by Egypt, whistle. Argentina roughing up and shoving Egyptian players all game long, play on. Romero cleans out Salah with a sliding tackle, no yellow card. Argentinian defender commits an international foul to stop a counter, no yellow card. The only consistent thing about the refereeing was inconsistency.
These seemingly small calls change the course of the game.

[Ali Harb @Harbpeace]

Difficult to believe so many bad calls are going in favor of one team by pure coincidence. If Argentina is still losing in the final 10 minutes, I'm expecting some historically egregious refereeing.

[Ali Harb @Harbpeace]

Infantino on Balogungate unironically:

"Respect for independent institutions and the rule of law is what protects the integrity of our competitions and the credibility of FIFA at all times."

[FIFA Media @fifamedia]

FIFA President Gianni Infantino:

“I have seen the public comments regarding the decision of the independent FIFA Disciplinary Committee related to the suspension of Folarin Balogun, and I would like to reiterate a fundamental principle of FIFA’s governance.

“FIFA’s judicial bodies are independent. They operate autonomously, apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code, and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them. Their independence is essential to the credibility and integrity of football, and this must always be respected.

“Yes, I regularly discuss matters related to the FIFA World Cup with the President of the United States, and on this matter, I did receive a call from President Donald Trump, just as I receive calls from heads of state, government officials, football stakeholders and business executives from around the world on many different issues. During our conversation, I explained that there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA’s independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies. That is how FIFA’s system works, and it is a principle that I will always uphold.

“I read the decisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee when they are issued. Sometimes I am surprised by them. Sometimes I agree with them, and sometimes I disagree.

“What I always do, however, is respect those decisions and the autonomy of the bodies that make them. Whether we personally like a decision or not is irrelevant. Respect for independent institutions and the rule of law is what protects the integrity of our competitions and the credibility of FIFA at all times.”