Should Muslim immigrants be banned from entering the country until the government improves its ability to screen out potential terrorists?

Frankfurt Becomes First German City To Celebrate Ramadan

The German city of Frankfurt has become the first in the nation to commemorate the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, with celebratory lighting installed that has earned praise from the local Muslim community.Workers have been hanging lights shaped like stars and crescent moons near Frankfurt's Alte Oper concert hall in preparation for the start of Ramadan on March 10, reported Germany's Bild newspaper.During the Ramadan fasting and reflective period, which runs to April 9, Frankfurt's pedestrianized Grosse Bockenheimer Strasse, often referred to locally as "Fressgass", or "food alley", will feature a prominent "Happy Ramadan" sign and festive decorations.The decorations were blocked by some officials last year, but the city's governing Green Party was able to push the motion through this year."By decorating during Ramadan, the city of Frankfurt is sending an important signal to Muslims and appreciates the people of Muslim faith in this city," the Greens wrote in an application to the city council.Frankfurt's Mayor Nargess Eskandari-Grunberg, of the Greens, said: "They are lights of togetherness, against reservations, against discrimination, against anti-Muslim racism, and also against anti-Semitism."

Arab American Voters Feel "Betrayed" By Biden

In a closed-door meeting with Arab American leaders in Michigan this week, one of President Biden’s top foreign policy aides acknowledged mistakes in the administration’s response to the war in Gaza, saying he did not have “any confidence” that Israel’s government was willing to take “meaningful steps” toward Palestinian statehood.During the meeting on Thursday with Arab American political leaders in Dearborn, Mich., Mr. Finer said, “We are very well aware that we have missteps in the course of responding to this crisis since Oct. 7,” according to a recording of the gathering obtained by The New York Times. A National Security Council official confirmed the recording was authentic.The Michiganders who attended the Thursday meetings with Biden administration officials described them as intense and said they were disappointed that the delegation from Washington had not committed to policy changes.The war in Gaza has become part of a cascade of political problems for Mr. Biden, who has remained publicly supportive of Israel and resisted demands within the Democratic Party to call for a cease-fire. His position since Hamas killed about 1,200 people in Israel on Oct. 7, along with his remarks casting doubt on the death toll from Israeli airstrikes and calling the loss of life “a price of waging war,” has angered young people, Black voters and progressives who are more sympathetic to the Palestinian cause.For example, administration officials declined to say whether they had advised or would advise the president to call for a cease-fire, which attendees asked for.“You’re not going to get that answer,” said Steve Benjamin, the director of the White House’s public engagement office.Arab American voters in Michigan felt betrayed after backing Mr. Biden in large numbers in 2020, arguing that they had “received nothing” since then “but lip service.”“I’ve been involved in this community day in and day out every single day for 40 years,” Mr. Siblani said. “I can tell you right now, I cannot convince my community to vote for Biden if I kiss their feet. They will not do it.”

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