WASHINGTON: Vice President Kamala Harris met with Arab American and Muslim leaders in Flint, Michigan, on Friday. She aims to win back voters upset with US support for Israel’s actions in Gaza and Lebanon. Many Arab Americans, who strongly backed President Joe Biden in 2020, are now thinking about not voting, which could hurt Harris in this important state before the election.
During the meeting, Harris spoke with groups like Emgage Action, which recently endorsed her, and the American Task Force on Lebanon. She also met Hala Hijazi, a friend who has lost many family members in Gaza. A campaign official said Harris talked about the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, expressing worry about civilian casualties and the need to stop the violence.
Wa’el Alzayat, CEO of Emgage Action, shared the group’s disappointment with how the US is handling the crisis and urged Harris to ask President Biden for immediate action to end the fighting. “Emgage Action asked Vice President Harris to impress upon President Biden the urgency of bringing an immediate end to the violence,” Alzayat said.
There are divisions within the community. Jim Zogby, founder of the Arab American Institute, did not attend the meeting, and some leaders from the Uncommitted National Movement protest campaign said they were not invited. This shows growing frustration with the Biden-Harris administration’s policies in the Middle East.
As the presidential race gets closer, Harris faces Republican Donald Trump, with polls showing both candidates getting equal support from Arab American voters. Ali Dagher, a Lebanese American community leader, warned, “Harris is going to lose Michigan… No one I know will vote for her.”
The Biden-Harris administration has faced criticism for not doing enough to stop Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which has reportedly resulted in over 41,000 Palestinian deaths. The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza has left nearly all of its 2 million residents displaced and facing widespread hunger.
In Lebanon, the conflict has also escalated, with over 1,900 reported deaths and 9,000 injuries amid fighting between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah.
The International Criminal Court is investigating both Israeli and Hamas leaders for possible war crimes, though Israel denies these accusations.
Harris’s visit to Michigan also included talks with labor unions, hoping to gain support from working-class voters. However, the growing anger from Arab and Muslim communities could be a big challenge for her campaign as the election approaches.
Agencies

Agencies