Supporters gathered at a town hall event featuring Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Centre on October 14, 2024 in Oaks, Pennsylvania. – AFP
The Arab American Political Action Committee announced on Monday that it will not endorse either Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris or Republican former President Donald Trump, citing their 'blind support' for Israel in conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. This decision marks the first time since the group's inception in 1998 that AAPAC has chosen not to endorse a candidate in the upcoming November 5 U.S. elections. Historically, the committee has typically endorsed Democratic candidates.
Current polls indicate a close race between Harris and Trump. Arab and Muslim Americans overwhelmingly supported President Joe Biden in the 2020 election but have since become vocal critics of U.S. support for Israel, which has led to a decline in their support for Democratic candidates. Trump has traditionally had low approval ratings among this community due to past statements and his policy of implementing a travel ban targeting Muslim-majority nations during his presidency. Similar to Harris and Biden, Trump has also been a strong supporter of Israel.
Analysts suggest that Harris' chances could be negatively impacted if Arab and Muslim Americans choose not to vote or vote for a third-party candidate. Many individuals from these communities have lost relatives in Gaza and Lebanon and are urging supporters not to vote for Trump or Harris. However, some advocacy groups like Emgage Action have endorsed Harris, viewing Trump as a greater threat.
'Both candidates have endorsed genocide in Gaza and war in Lebanon,' AAPAC stated in a recent release. 'We simply cannot support either Democrat Kamala Harris or Republican Donald Trump, who blindly back the criminal Israeli government.'
Israel has refuted allegations of genocide at the World Court, asserting that it is defending itself following an October 7, 2023, attack by Palestinian Hamas militants that resulted in an estimated 1,200 deaths and the capture of around 250 individuals. Israel's offensive against Hamas-controlled Gaza has led to the deaths of nearly 42,000 people, according to the local health ministry, while displacing the entire population and causing a severe hunger crisis. In Lebanon, where Israel claims to be targeting Iran-backed Hezbollah militants, the death toll has surpassed 2,000, according to the Lebanese government.
