I do not speak Arabic, but using Google translator, this is a short video about an exhibition about the Arab influence in South America.
The Arab influence in South America is well known in the Arab world.
The West is stupid to ignore this. Right now, this historical connection could be used to smooth out the rought edges between our civilizations; and – Yes! dare I say it? – provide an answer to the Palestine-Israel problem.
People should think outside the box. Rather than seeing this as a threat, view it as an opportunity.
But for a short while, the Free Port of Iquique caused a bit of a problem. When the heat was turned up on Hezbollah money laundering operations run by Lebanese Muslims in Paraguay, some moved on to Iquique.
They were not making weapons, but their money laundering was considered a bit of a problem. Iquique’s free port gave them the opportunity to hide and prosper.
Initially, since they were not violent, Chile did not care so much until the USA put pressure on Chile to act.
IQUIQUE, Chile — The Bush administration has designated this windswept resort town and free-trade zone on Chile’s northern Pacific coast as a terrorist hot spot, second in South America only to the notorious tri-border region where Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay meet.
Indeed, American and regional officials say, Iquique — pronounced “ee-KEE-kay” — a booming free-trade zone created 30 years ago in what was once a sleepy fishing village, may be poised to compete with the tri-border area as a center of terrorism financing and support.
The tri-border area, with its 30,000-strong Arab community and reputation for smuggling and money-laundering, has been monitored closely by intelligence agencies during the last decade, especially following the September 11 terrorist attacks. The stepped-up law enforcement has contributed to the exodus of terrorism suspects to Chile.
The surrounding area near Iquique is 15% Arab ethnically – three times the national average of 5% Arab for Chile. However, almost all Chilean Arabs are Christian. The Hezbollah operatives were Muslim.
However, they could blend in easily.
Things seem to have improved, recently, which is nice as Iquique is a world famous tropical resort as well as a commercial boom town.
The neighborhood was turned into a commercial district with the arrival of Middle Eastern (Arab, Palestinian, Syrian, Lebanese) immigrants since late 19th century. In early 20th century there was a massive influx of Christian Palestinians and Lebanse fleeing the Ottoman Empire due to religious prosecution [sic], and later the economic situation and the outbreak of World War I.
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The neighborhood is known as a shopping area for affordable, trendy clothes. It is also home to the Vega Central, or main marketplace for fresh fruits and vegetables. It is possible to find Arabic restaurants
The host of the show, Kiko Saide, Raíces Árabes (Arab Roots) has been doing a variation of the show since 1999, first starting on radio, then moving to TV. It looks to be sort of a blend between a variety show and an infomercial for the Nur Academy of Dance. However, it also has community news as well.
It has different guests each week; and it is broadcast to over half of Chile.
For this episode, the young cohost/dancer’s real name is Taryn Palavicino Coopman, is a director/reporter for NUR News media, and an accomplished dancer who operates a dance academy out of a high income suburb of Santiago, Chile. With a name like Taryn Palavicino Coopman, and given her fair complexion, she is a certainly NOT pure Arabic in ancestry. (My Spanish is not good enough to make out the whole conversation).
Arabic culture is not only mainstream. It is upscale in Chile.
The TV show is not just broadcast in Santiago but throughout Chile.
Todos los domingos a las 13:30 hrs Pueden ver el programa desde todo chile
Every Sunday at 1:30 PM, the program can be seen over all of Chile
Canal 22 Señal abierta Santiago
Canal 99 Señal Cable VTR
Canal 27 Señal Cable Gtd Manquehue Santiago
Canal 57 Señal Cable Cmet SantiagoRegiones
Canal 19 Señal Cable Telefónica del Sur
(Regiones que llega a las ciudades de Concepción, Temuco, Valdivia, Osorno, Puerto Montt, Chiloé y Coyhaique)
Canal 57 Señal abierta en Viña del Mar.
Canal 35 Señal abierta en Concepción.
Canal 21 Señal abierta en Temuco.
Channel 22 Broadcast in Santiago
Channel 99 Cable VTR
Channel 27 Cable Gtd Manquehue Santiago
Channel 57 Cable Cmet SantiagoRegions
Channel 19 Cable South Telephone
(Concepción, Temuco, Valdivia, Osorno, Puerto Montt, Chiloé y Coyhaique)
Channel 57 Broadcast in Viña del Mar.
Channel 35 Broadcast in Concepción.
Channel 21 Broadcast in Temuco.
This is not a minor broadcast. More than half of Chile could get this show.
Finally, for those of you who speak Spanish better than me – and that is probaby most of you – this is one of their programs where they interviewed the Mayor of Recoleta, a very upscale community in Chile with a large Arab population in the Barrio Patronato
If you Google Raíces Árabes Chile, a lot of the programs will come up.
Edited: July 15, 2020 – replaced a dead video.
Edited: July 15, 2020 – corrected text on link to the YouTube Channel.
Edited: July 15, 2020 – added note about Googling.
For this episode, the young cohost/dancer’s real name is