Harris faces criticism over private meetings with Arab, Muslim voters Amid Israel-Gaza conflict

English , International - بین الاقوامی , Snippets , / Friday, October 11th, 2024

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Vice President Kamala Harris is under fire for closed-door meetings with Arab and Muslim advocates, as tensions rise over U.S. support for Israel in the Gaza conflict. Harris recently met with community members in Flint, Michigan, a key battleground state with a sizable Arab-American population. A similar virtual meeting was held days earlier by her national security adviser.

Critics argue the meetings lack transparency and offer no meaningful engagement. Hussein Dabajeh, a Lebanese-American political consultant in Detroit, criticized the Harris campaign for avoiding open dialogue with Arab and Muslim Americans, suggesting that the meetings are more about optics than real outreach.

Dabajeh stated that the broader electorate is the main audience, with the Democratic Party attempting to portray Harris as inclusive without addressing core concerns, particularly regarding U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. The Biden administration’s unwavering support for Israel has caused frustration among Arab and Muslim voters, who hoped for a more balanced approach to the conflict.

Despite Harris’ efforts to engage minority communities ahead of the 2024 election, some fear the lack of policy change and substantive discussion may harm voter enthusiasm in key states like Michigan