Dearborn, Michigan – A devastating message woke Mohammad Enayah from his sleep in the middle of the night, informing him that 37 of his family members had been killed in Israeli air strikes on a Palestinian refugee camp. The news hit Enayah hard, as he later learned that 52 more family members in Gaza had also lost their lives in the strikes. The staggering death toll of 28,000 Palestinians killed so far in the conflict, along with the destruction inflicted on Gaza, has prompted deep grief and pain among Arab Americans in southeastern Michigan, driving many to campaign against President Joe Biden’s administration.
Since the outbreak of the conflict, Arab Americans in Michigan have been dismayed by Biden’s strong support for Israel. His expressions of solidarity with Israel and the provision of weapons for their offensive against Hamas have further fueled the anger of the Arab American community. Many Arab Americans feel betrayed by Biden’s response to the crisis and are resentful of his stance on the Palestinian death toll.
In Michigan, a significant swing state that Biden won by a narrow margin in 2020, Arab Americans are actively campaigning against him. The “Abandon Biden” movement within the state, part of a broader national campaign, is hosting meetings with third-party candidates and urging Michigan Democrats to vote “uncommitted” in the primary to send a message to Biden about his actions in Israel.
The large Arab American population in Michigan, particularly in cities like Dearborn, has brought the issue to the forefront of the state’s political landscape. The community’s disappointment in Biden’s response to the Gaza conflict has led to a questioning of their allegiance not only to Biden but to the Democratic Party itself.
For many Arab Americans, the conflict in Gaza has become a defining issue in their political decision-making. While some are considering third-party candidates, others are contemplating the option of sitting out the election altogether to express their disapproval of the current administration’s actions.
The deep sense of betrayal and disappointment among Arab Americans in Michigan is driving a growing movement to challenge the status quo and demand a more principled approach to foreign policy in the Middle East. As the November election approaches, the Arab American community’s response to the Gaza conflict remains a critical factor that could influence the outcome.