US Muslims urge VP to distance from Biden's Middle East policy

During a campaign rally in Flint, Michigan, on October 4, Arab American advocates urged Vice President Kamala Harris to distance herself from President Joe Biden’s Israel policy and advocate more vigorously for an end to the war in Gaza.

The discussion, initially set for 10 minutes, extended to 20, according to Wa’el Alzayat, CEO of Emgage Action, which aims to increase the Muslim American vote, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

While Harris did not make any specific commitments, she expressed her desire for the war to end and indicated her willingness to work towards that goal. Alzayat noted that she promised to collaborate with their community and expressed hope that, if elected, she could fulfill these aspirations as president.

Thus, Alzayat mentioned that he and other Arab American leaders were contacted and invited to meet with Harris just 48 hours prior. Their message was clear: she needed to distinguish her governance approach from the current administration's policies, which they opposed. The meeting took place amid rising frustration over Harris’s reaction to Israel’s recent actions in Lebanon and concerns that her campaign was not open to dissenting viewpoints. 

Although Harris's position limits her ability to shape US foreign policy directly, prominent Arab American organisations have been urging for a stronger response, especially as the Israel-Hamas conflict escalates and involves Iran and Iranian-backed groups in Lebanon and Yemen.

By Naila Huseynova