Israel鈥檚 military offensive drives Arab and Muslim vote in US presidential race, Arab-American convention confirms

People gather at Harvard University to show their support for Palestinians in Gaza at a rally in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Oct. 14, 2023. (AFP/File)
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  • Speakers were pressed by attendees on whether they would denounce Israel鈥檚 violence

DEARBORN, IL: Community anger over US support for Israel鈥檚 bombardment in the Gaza Strip spilled open among Arab and Muslim voters and activists during a convention organized by the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee in Dearborn, Michigan last week.

The ADC鈥檚 Annual National Convention, which ran from Sept. 12-15, was hosted outside Washington for the first time 鈥� an intentional choice aimed at answering the Wall Street Journal鈥檚 accusations that Dearborn was the city of terrorists in the US, ADC Chairman Safa Rifka told Arab News.

Dearborn is a 鈥渃ity of fantastic citizens, proud American citizens鈥� and 鈥渨e wanted to make a statement that it is the capital of Arab America,鈥� he said.

The majority of the nearly 1,000 attendees demanded that Democratic officeholders support the third-party candidacy of Dr. Jill Stein, who many believe is the only presidential contender to strongly criticize the actions of Israel鈥檚 government and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

More than 50,000 Gazans have been killed during the near yearlong war, but independent sources banned by Israel鈥檚 government from entering Gaza contend the number is in excess of 150,000.

Speaker after speaker were pressed by audience members on whether they would stand up and denounce Israel鈥檚 violence.

鈥淭he Gaza war dominates our concerns,鈥� Rifka said 鈥淐learly the community is concerned about how the elected officials in this country will respond to the carnage.鈥�

Several attendees, activists and elected officials told The Ray Hanania Radio Show that the US government needed to do more than simply criticize Hamas for its assault on Oct. 7, which provoked Israel鈥檚 invasion of Gaza.

A few attendees expressed support for Republican candidate Donald Trump and others said they were hoping for Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris to not only condemn Hamas鈥� violence but also expand it to condemn the military campaign by Netanyahu鈥檚 government.

Michigan State Rep. Alabas Farhat said that when he and his colleagues called for a ceasefire, 鈥渄ozens of representatives and elected officials鈥� signed the letter.

鈥淚 think the Arab community right now has said very loudly, very clearly, they want a nominee for a ceasefire,鈥� he said.

Many attendees believe it is still not too late for candidates to take action. With roughly six weeks until the election, Illinois State Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid said that not only was the door open but there was a need for candidates to 鈥渃hange policy, protect lives and to earn the support of so many people who care deeply about this issue.鈥�

鈥淧eople need to vote in November and people need to engage with their elected officials to let them know where they stand,鈥� he said.

Amid growing frustrating and political uncertainty, Georgia State Rep. Ruwa Romman said it was important not to give up.

Her biggest concern, she said, was the growing idea of 鈥渘ihilism鈥� and 鈥渃ynicism鈥� and 鈥渢he idea that nothing matters, nothing will change, so there鈥檚 no point in trying.鈥�

鈥淭hat is making us surrender before we鈥檝e even tried. My goal is to make sure nobody gives up,鈥� she said.

The Ray Hanania Radio Show is broadcast on the US Arab Radio Network on Thursday at 5 p.m. EST and again on Mondays in Michigan on WNZK AM 690 radio. It is also broadcast on Facebook.com/ArabNews and on Youtube, and podcast at ArabNews.com/rayradioshow. For more information on the host, visit .