Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Fighting between Israel and the Palestinian militant group, Hamas, could be a catalyst for the United States (US) elections next year. This is related to the public’s attitude towards the incumbent US President, Joe Biden, in handling the conflict.
Biden made a surprising statement last weekend. As published Reutershe supports Tel Aviv’s move to Gaza and calls himself a Zionist, in front of Israeli Prime Minister (PM) Benjamin Netanyahu.
This is also contrary to the wishes of Arab and Muslim citizens in the US. Many Arab-Americans are disappointed that Biden has not pushed for any humanitarian ceasefire even as Palestinians are killed fleeing Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip
Their growing frustration could impact Democrat Biden’s re-election bid, which polls show is likely to be a rematch with the Republican front-runner, former President Donald Trump.
“In Michigan, US citizens of Arab descent have 5% of the vote. In other battleground states, Pennsylvania and Ohio, the figure is between 1.7% and 2%,” said Jim Zogby, President of the Arab American Institute, quoted Thursday (26 /10/2023).
Biden won Michigan with 50.6% of the vote in 2020, compared to Trump’s 47.8%. He also won Pennsylvania with 50.01% compared to Trump’s 48.84%, or a difference of 81,000 votes.
Some activists say Arab and Muslim Americans are unlikely to support Trump. However, they may not take part in the election and not vote for Biden.
“I think this will hurt Michigan,” said Laila El-Haddad, a writer and social activist from Gaza who lives in Maryland.
Despite condemning Hamas’ attacks on civilians in Israel that killed 1,400 people on October 7, US citizens of Arab descent said Israel’s response was disproportionate.
They also say Biden’s failure to condemn the bombing calls into question his promise of a “human rights-centered” foreign policy.
Abdullah Hammoud, the first Arab-American mayor of Dearborn, Michigan, criticized Biden’s failure to condemn Israel’s threat to cut off water, electricity and food for more than 2 million Palestinians in Gaza.
“Nothing could have prepared us for the complete erasure of our voices and radio silence of the people we elected to protect and represent us,” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Our family members trapped in Gaza have been ignored, our calls for a ceasefire drowned out by the drumbeats of war,” he added.
[Gambas:Video CNBC]
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