Washington: Support for President Joe Biden support from the Arab and Muslim community in America has reportedly declined due to the administration's unwavering endorsement of Israel's indiscriminate killing of civilians, including women and children in Gaza, despite efforts to pacify community leaders.
According to an Al Jazeera report, a survey held among Arab and Muslim American communities revealed declining support for President Joe Biden. The headline of the Arab American News, a bilingual weekly publication catering to the Arabic-speaking population in Dearborn, Michigan, declared, "He lost our votes," accompanied by a full-width photo of President Biden.
The primary source of discontent is Biden administration's perceived unwavering support for Israel during the recent conflict in Gaza. Despite efforts to mend relations, the administration's outreach, including State Department and White House meetings with Arab and Muslim advocates, has been met with skepticism.
Abed Ayoub, the executive director at the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, dismissed these efforts, stating, "We're past that. We need action. We need this administration to show some leadership and not throw us crumbs."
The frustration has been exacerbated by President Biden's initial unequivocal support for Israel and a lack of emphasis on the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza. His commitment to provide additional aid to Israel further fueled discontent, with only 17 percent of Arab Americans expressing support for the president, down from 59 percent in 2020, according to the Arab American Institute's survey.
The Biden administration's attempt to shift its rhetoric became evident after a tragic incident involving a six-year-old Palestinian-American boy, Wadea Al-Fayoume, who was stabbed to death near Chicago in a suspected hate crime.
Biden's public address condemning anti-Semitism and Islamophobia followed, accompanied by off-the-record meetings with Palestinian and Muslim advocates. However, these efforts have been criticized as performative and falling flat.
The administration's announcement of a national strategy to combat Islamophobia was met with skepticism from the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), which emphasized the need for a ceasefire in Gaza as the primary step to address rising anti-Muslim bigotry.
Critics argue that the timing of the Islamophobia strategy, amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, raises questions about its sincerity.
As tens of thousands gathered in Washington, DC, demanding a ceasefire in Gaza, President Biden became a top target, accused of sponsoring war crimes against Palestinians. With Arab and Muslim communities collectively moving away from Biden and the Democratic Party, many find themselves politically adrift, searching for a new home.