http://www.ktar.com/index.php?nid=6&sid=198941

Muslim Americans Worry about Relatives Trapped in Lebanon  

July 19th, 2006 @ 4:15pm

by Doug Ramsey/KTAR

While American citizens are being evacuated from Lebanon, families of Muslim Americans are trapped in the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah militants.

Mohamed el-Sharkawy of the Council on American-Islamic Relations traveled recently to Gaza to visit his father, but was turned away because the bombing had begun.

"I flew over 15,000-miles to see my Dad who lives in Gaza and I could not see him," he said. "My Dad could not come out to see me. We were about five miles away from each other. My Dad never hugged my kids. He would love to hug my kids."

Council members say their relatives are innocent victims. They're calling for a cease-fire and prisoner release by everyone involved, as a prelude to peace talks. They fault the U.S. for not pushing Israel to stop the bombing.