Ray Hanania writes an award-winning syndicated column analyzing Middle East events, is an author of several books, and is a humorist, satirist and professional stand-up comedian who launched his public comedy performances after September 11th to help break through the growing hatred and animosity. His columns address a wide range of topics from the Middle East to Chicago politics and American and Arab humour. His most recent book is “The Moral Jihad,” which explores why Arabs and Muslims must face the growing extremism from within and denounce violence and injustices committed in their name.

Hanania's writing is founded in professional journalism and is described as "compelling and poignant." He is a two-time Award Winner (1985, 2003) and four-time finalist for the Society of Professional Journalist "Lisagor Award" for Column writing. He has received two Chicago Newspaper Guild Column Awards for Excellence. Hanania writes a regular column analyzing Middle East events for Creators Syndicate based in Los Angeles. The columns are internationally syndicated and carried by major American newspapers, including the Chicago regional Daily Herald Newspapers, as well as by newspapers in the Middle East, Europe and Asia. His columns run regularly in the Dallas Morning News, Newsday, Orlando Sentinel, the Daily Yomiuri (Tokyo), al-Asharq al-Awsat (London), the Jerusalem Times, and in many other prestigious publications. The columns seek to define "the moderate Palestinian voice" clearly seeking the moral position between right and wrong in a region overwhelmed by tragedy and suffering. Hanania's syndicated columns offer a unique perspective on the Middle East conflict and he is the only Palestinian American professional journalist whose columns are nationally syndicated.

Hanania has authored several books including "The Moral Jihad: Defining the Moderate Palestinian Voice in the Battle Against Extremism" (Tahit al-Ard Press, 2004); "I'm Glad I Look Like a Terrorist: Growing Up Arab in America" (USG Publishing, 1996); "Troubled Times: Palestinian American Thought before and after Sept. 11th," which features 98 of his award-winning columns; and "The Grape Leaves of Wrath" (USG Publishing, 1999).

During his sabbatical, Hanania became active in advocating a peaceful settlement to the Middle East conflict. He served as the National President of the Palestinian American Congress (1995-1996) elected on a platform of peace. He attended the 1993 White House peace signing between Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat, and participated in numerous meetings with President Clinton, President Arafat and officials of the Palestinian and Israeli Labour governments.

He was a board member with Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam through the 1990s. He currently serves on the Entertainment Council of One Voice for Peace. He is also a founder of Yalla, Salam! (Palestinians for Peace Now) which seeks to express a Palestinian voice of peace in today's bitter conflict. He has participated in many press conferences with Jewish American and Israeli leaders supporting a peaceful, just compromise between Palestinians and Israelis. He works with many Arab and Jewish organizations including Americans for Peace Now and Brit V'Zedek. And he is a founder of Comedy for Peace, a professional effort to bring Palestinian and Jewish American and Israeli comedians to comedy stages in Israel and in Palestine.

Hanania hails from a prominent Christian Jerusalem family. His mother is from Bethlehem. His wife, Alison, is Jewish, demonstrating in life that Arabs and Jews can live together in peace. As he explores the complexities of the Middle East, he often taps this unique personal experience.

Hanania was in Palestine recently to attend the Media for the Future Conference organised by the Palestinian Youth Association for Leadership And Rights Activation (PYALARA). Despite the miserable situation that Hanania witnessed in Palestine, not least of which was crossing the notorious Kalandia checkpoint on foot, yet he left the country with a ‘ray’ of hope. He was encouraged by the open-minded, educated youth he met who were interested in the field of communication and not only in becoming doctors and lawyers. He was impressed to hear the young generation speak its mind, without fear or concern, and to challenge the norm, socially and even politically.

His main message regarding the Palestine issue is that “we need to learn how to communicate better in telling our story.” To Hanania, the fact that a message is truthful is not sufficient enough to be effective. It is how the message is delivered that counts. Living and working in America, which he thinks will lead the world for many years to come, he claims that compelling human stories from a Palestinian perspective have not reached the American audience. He also believes that the Palestinian issue is a winnable and an easy battle. One should not give up on America since public opinion can change fast. Palestinian stories of fairness, justice and human tragedy affect Americans considerably and will have a positive impact on the Palestinian cause. Hanania affirms that it is essential for the international audience to identify with the Palestinians. Not only that, but they need to realize that what goes on in this part of the world will affect them as well.