Arab American Committee Rejects Trump and Harris Over Israel Support

The Arab American Political Action Committee has announced it will not endorse either Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris or former Republican President Donald Trump, citing their unwavering support for Israel during the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon.

According to a report by the British news agency Reuters, this is the first time the committee has chosen not to back a candidate in the upcoming November 5 elections. Historically, the committee has leaned toward supporting Democrats. However, recent polls indicate a tight race between Harris and Trump.

In the 2020 election, Arab and Muslim American voters were strong supporters of President Joe Biden, but their stance has shifted following widespread disapproval of continued U.S. support for Israel. This growing sentiment has led many within these communities to withdraw their backing from the Democratic Party.

Donald Trump, on the other hand, has had minimal support from this demographic, largely due to his previous controversial statements and the travel ban targeting Muslim-majority countries. Similar to Biden and Harris, Trump has also been a staunch supporter of Israel.

Analysts suggest that if Arab and Muslim American voters decide to abstain or vote for a third-party candidate, it could significantly impact Kamala Harris’s chances of winning. Many members of these communities have lost relatives in Gaza and Lebanon, leading them to urge their supporters not to vote for either Trump or Harris.

In an official statement, the committee remarked, “Both candidates have shown support for what we see as genocide in Gaza and the war in Lebanon.”

“We cannot cast our vote for either Democrat Kamala Harris or Republican Donald Trump, both of whom continue to blindly support the criminal actions of the Israeli government.”