Activists have a desire to have conversations with important political parties. However, it is tough for them to stick to their beliefs while trying to make policy changes. This was clear in Chicago at the Democratic convention. People who support Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim rights, including some elected officials, stayed busy meeting Democratic leaders and protesting outside.
The same problem came up with the supporting group of Kamala Harris. When Harris’ supporters stand in favor of her at the same time they are concerned about her policies regarding the Middle East. According to them, Harris is a good political leader who listens to people carefully as compared to Donald Trump. This situation highlights the different complexities that activists face. They need to manage the balance between their thoughts and support for political leaders.
In the end, they hope their voices will be heard, leading to better changes for the communities they represent.
Balancing acts in politics
James Zogby, the head of the Arab American Institute, explained how hard it is to be both important and respected in politics. He says many political leaders forget their principles while fighting for power or become too loud and risk losing their influence. The upcoming elections highlight his situation.
Since 1985, Zogby has been involved in United States politics. At that time, Arabs had no power to present their thoughts on political matters. According to him, now, there has been little progress. This is because, nowadays, Arabs are seen as one of the important voting groups.
In past elections, candidates often ignored Arab endorsements, but now they are seeking support from Arab and Muslim communities. Zogby feels optimistic, saying that while some see little change, he remembers a time when Arabs had no voice, which makes today’s situation a big improvement.
Zogby highlights the efforts of President Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. They have made progress on the Middle Eastern complexities in various areas such as immigration, etc. However, in the era of Donald Trump, he did not pay attention to these issues. At the initial stage of his presidency, he banned the Muslim community. Later, President Joe Biden reversed this policy. Additionally, many Muslims are Arab communities; still face various challenges in the United States because Joe Biden continues some policies of Donald Trump. It includes the maintenance of the US embassy in Jerusalem, supporting the Abraham Accords, and recognizing the Golan Heights as part of Israel.
Biden strongly supports Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Gaza conflict. Although Gaza’s war took the lives of 410,000 Palestinians, he continued his support. This support does match with public opinion, and they want a ceasefire.
Zogby argues that meaningful change requires a responsive administration, but recent years have shown a lack of cooperation in addressing these critical issues.
Many Arab and Muslim communities felt disappointed due to Joe Biden’s support for Israel. It resulted in doubt about Kamala Harris, who is running for president as vice president. Some political leaders, such as Layla Elabed, said that Harris has a soft corner in her heart for the people who live in Gaza. However, Harris itself has not made any promises about the Gaza war. No one knows what she will do with Israel and Palestine.
Emgage Action, a group that helps Muslim voters, recently endorsed Harris but didn’t show the usual excitement for a candidate. They explained that they won’t support Trump and hold the Biden administration responsible for the war in Gaza. They believe Harris is a better choice than Trump. Emgage Action said their support does not mean they fully agree with Harris, but they want to help voters make tougher decisions in the upcoming elections.
US tough policies regarding the Middle East make many Arab and Muslim communities disappointed. They also want to connect with their communities, which sometimes feel ignored. Wa’el Alzayat from Emgage Group highlights the importance of local institutions. He warns that communities are in a tough situation due to third-party candidates.
He believes that change in the Democratic Party can motivate people to stay involved. Iman Jodeh, the only Palestinian and Muslim in Colorado’s House, knows how important it is to have representation.
