The New York Times shines a spotlight on President Biden’s ‘broken relationship’ with US Islamic leaders, even as he takes a tougher stance on Israel in its war with Hamas. I’m guessing.
“Seven months into Israel’s war in Gaza, Muslim and Arab American leaders have said their lines of communication with President Biden’s White House have become nearly dysfunctional, and President Biden’s response to the conflict this week is “The administration no longer has a politically valuable chorus of support for significant changes,” the Times said. started reporting Friday.
Biden made international headlines this week when he announced that he would withhold weapons from Israel in the event of an invasion of Rafah, Hamas’ last stronghold in the densely populated Gaza Strip city.
Despite the dramatic shift in policy toward the Jewish state, Biden’s actions are widely seen as “too little, too late” in the eyes of Muslim and Arab American leaders, the Times reported. It was reported that there was.
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The New York Times published a scathing report about President Biden’s “broken relationships” with Muslim and Arab American leaders. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)
“The president’s announcement is extremely premature and woefully inadequate,” Michigan-based activist Abbas Allawi told the Times. “He needs to oppose this war. That will be important.”
Arab American News publisher Osama Shiblani similarly sent a stern message to White House officials, recalling to the Times, “I told them straight up, “I don’t want to do anything substantive.” Don’t waste any more time unless you have something.” “This is a waste of time.”
Siblani, who was invited to the White House earlier this year, has been a vocal supporter of Hezbollah for years.
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It has been reported that senior Biden aides have held listening sessions with Muslim leaders in Dearborn, Michigan, where the Democratic National Convention will be held in August, and in Chicago. But as the Times reported, Arab American leaders said there was “no need to continue the dialogue” until the Biden administration called for a permanent ceasefire.
“Based on interviews with more than a dozen people, we generally conclude that prominent Muslims and Arab Americans are irrevocably at odds with the Biden administration over foreign policy.” Involved in negotiations. And many of them say they are tired of the idea that they should vote for Biden simply because former President Donald J. Trump would be worse,” the Times reported. .
President Joe Biden reads the words “Massacre Joe” on the American flag hanging in Lisner Hall at GWU School of Law at George Washington University University Yard encampment on May 3, 2024 in Washington, DC. image is projected. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
The Times warned that Biden’s deteriorating relationship with the Muslim community “could pose serious problems” for his re-election bid, prompting protests in several Democratic primaries earlier this year, including in Michigan. Biden’s aides expressed confidence in what voters support, although he noted that the results were in double digits. They let him cross the finish line while painting his rival, former President Trump, as a “greater threat.”
Notably, Biden has named a White House official to serve as a “liaison to America’s Muslim community,” but a similar role does not currently exist within Biden’s campaign.
In a meeting with Dearborn leaders, administration liaison Mazen Basrawi apologized for the lack of communication, according to audio recordings reviewed by the Times. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also reportedly plans to meet with prominent Arab American groups, but has been “delayed” due to overseas travel.
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Last month, Wael al-Zayat, head of the Islamic activist group Emgage, declined an invitation to a dinner from the White House, telling the Times: They primarily vote Democratic, but they’re actually hurting us by expecting us to address these things and not delivering on them. ”
Al-Zayat said Biden’s pivot to Israel is “promising and important,” but “it may be too late for Rafah” as Israel continues its military operations.
Israeli troops enter the Rafah crossing. (IDF)
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James Zogby, founder of the Arab American Association and longtime Democratic National Committee member, said his latest letter to the White House, as well as multiple phone calls and text messages, went unanswered for months. Ta.
“I’ve never felt as closed off as I feel now,” Zogby told the Times. “And it’s not just me. It’s the leaders of the entire country.”
“This is a difficult time for many communities, and we recognize that people have strong personal views,” White House press secretary Andrew Bates told the paper. “That’s why the president remains deeply committed to securing a hostage deal that will lead to an immediate and lasting ceasefire.”
