Washington: As the United States approaches its presidential elections, Arab and Muslim Americans are being called to reconsider their support for the major party candidates due to their stances on Middle Eastern conflicts. This perspective emerges from a detailed analysis of the political landscape, emphasizing the candidates’ positions on Israel and their impacts on the Arab and Muslim communities in the US and abroad.
According to Anadolu Agency, the upcoming elections present a unique challenge for Arab and Muslim voters in America. Both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have shown strong support for Israel, often at the expense of Palestinian and broader Arab interests. The analysis highlights that the Biden administration, with Vice President Kamala Harris, has been complicit in supporting Israeli military actions in Gaza and Lebanon, continuing a trend seen during Trump’s presidency.
The report suggests that the two candidates’ policies towards Israel and the Middle East are not s
ignificantly different. While Harris might place some restrictions on Israeli actions, Trump’s approach is more direct and supportive of Netanyahu’s policies. This leaves Arab and Muslim voters with a dilemma: choosing between candidates whose policies they find equally problematic regarding their international interests.
The analysis further explores the impact of both candidates on regional issues, such as the Israeli aggression in Lebanon, dealings with authoritarian Arab regimes, and policies towards Iran and Trkiye. It points out that Harris might advocate for human rights and democracy but without substantive actions, while Trump tends to ignore these issues altogether.
The discourse around the elections underscores the importance of Arab and Muslim votes as a statement against ongoing conflicts, particularly in Gaza. The call to action for these communities is to either support Green Party candidate Jill Stein, who has centered her campaign on the Gaza issue, or use their vote symbolically by writing
‘Gaza’ on the ballot where Stein is not available.
The piece concludes by emphasizing the potential for a new political movement in the US, one that transcends the Zionist influence and advocates for a more balanced approach to international relations. This sentiment resonates with many Arab and Muslim voters who are seeking an alternative to the current political options, urging them to make their voices heard in the upcoming elections through strategic voting or symbolic gestures.