Harris campaign listening to the

 Palestinians

Sahar Zahran , Tuesday 1 Oct 2024

Democratic Party presidential elections candidate Kamala Harris is listening to the Palestinians and is committed to supporting their rights, Harris campaign Arab Affairs Adviser Brenda Abdel-Aal tells Sahar Zahran in Washington

Democratic Party hopeful Kamala Harris’ campaign faces many challenges in the upcoming presidential elections in the US, especially with strong competition from the Republican Party candidate Donald Trump.

One of the most prominent is regaining the trust of some voter groups that have been disappointed by current policies, including the Arab and Muslim communities. These elections are of great importance in the light of the internal and external tensions affecting American society, such as the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and economic and social policies that concern marginalised groups.

The biggest challenge for the Harris campaign is addressing the policies of the current administration, which some voters accuse of not taking a strong enough stance on international issues like the Gaza conflict.

A significant portion of the Arab and Muslim community in the US feels disillusioned by the ongoing US support for Israel, prompting many to seek alternatives or refrain from fully supporting any candidate. As the Democratic Party candidate, Harris is making significant efforts to change this perception, demonstrating her commitment to defending civil rights and combating Islamophobia.

Thanks to the appointment of Egyptian-American Attorney Brenda Abdel-Aal as the campaign’s Arab affairs adviser, Harris’ campaign has made noticeable progress in rebuilding bridges with the Arab and Muslim communities.

The campaign aims to benefit from Abdel-Aal’s experience in working with these communities, whether through listening to their concerns or clearly conveying Harris’ future policies. One of the important achievements has been initiating dialogue with Arab and Muslim leaders in critical states like Michigan, where Harris has shown her commitment by holding direct meetings with community leaders.

In an interview with Al-Ahram Weekly, Abdel-Aal emphasised the importance of this engagement, saying that “Vice President Kamala Harris has already met with members of the Palestinian-American community who have lost relatives in Gaza. She made sure to listen to their suffering and the details of their firsthand experiences. This was an extremely important meeting, reflecting the campaign’s commitment to listening to the voices of this community, which is going through a very sensitive period due to the ongoing tensions.”

This is part of a long-term strategy that requires diplomacy and flexibility, as the Arabs and Muslims in the US are not a homogeneous voting bloc but are distinguished by a significant diversity in interests and priorities. Therefore, the campaign works to deliver tailored messages that meet the needs of these communities, whether related to foreign or domestic policies.

Abdel-Aal said that “Harris doesn’t just engage in formal meetings; she closely follows the efforts to communicate with various leaders of the Arab and Muslim communities in the United States.”

“During her recent visit to Detroit, the Vice President met with leaders of the ‘Undecideds’ movement, a growing movement of Arab and Muslim Americans who decided to express their frustration with some past policies. This meeting was just the beginning of a series of meetings that the campaign director held with Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian leaders in Detroit.”

Abdel-Aal’s appointment was also not just a traditional electoral hiring move, but was based on several strategic and personal considerations that made her the ideal choice for the role. One of the most prominent factors is her unique background, being Egyptian-American and Muslim, which enables her to deeply engage with the Arab and Muslim communities in the US, particularly in critical states that may significantly influence the outcome of the upcoming elections.

“The Vice President is committed to preserving the freedoms we all cherish, and from there comes her commitment to always keeping the door open for dialogue and engagement with the Arab community, not only during the campaign but also in the upcoming administration. This kind of engagement is what makes this campaign stand out from the rest,” Abdel-Aal said.

Abdel-Aal hails from Michigan, a state considered to be a hub for the Arab and Muslim community in America, where she grew up dealing daily with the challenges of identity and discrimination. This gives her a deep understanding of the issues facing these communities that may not be apparent to other politicians or advisers.

Throughout her career as a civil rights attorney at the Department of Homeland Security, she has contributed to developing policies aimed at combating discrimination and protecting the rights of religious and ethnic communities in the US.

Harris’ presidential campaign seeks to attract new voters, particularly those whose voices could be decisive in the elections, such as the Arab and Muslim voters in swing states.

Although Arabs and Muslims in the United States do not constitute a large voting bloc, their influence in states like Michigan and Pennsylvania can be crucial. Harris understands that regaining the trust of these communities requires sending strong messages regarding social justice, civil rights, and foreign policy, which is precisely what Abdel-Aal, as part of these communities and someone who understands their aspirations and challenges, can offer.

“Every vote is of utmost importance in this critical election, and the Arab-American community is not a homogeneous group but a diverse one with various views and priorities. That’s why we are working on a precise strategy to engage with them,” she explained, adding that “Trump represents a real threat to this community, whether through his foreign policies or his decisions regarding the travel ban on Muslim-majority countries, which directly affect the lives of Arabs and Muslims.”

In discussing the importance of ongoing engagement, Abdel-Aal emphasised that the outreach to the Arab community was not temporary or solely part of the electoral campaign but was part of a long-term strategy.

“The Vice President is committed to preserving the freedoms we all cherish, and the doors will always remain open for dialogue with the Arab and Muslim community, not just during the campaign but in a future administration as well,” she said.

She highlighted the achievements of the Biden-Harris administration in supporting the Arab and Muslim community in the US, noting the addition of a “Middle East and North Africa” (MENA) category to the US Census for the first time. “This achievement enhances the representation of Arab-Americans in national statistics and contributes to providing more accurate data that can support future research and policies,” Abdel-Aal said.

She spoke enthusiastically about her new role in Harris’ campaign, noting that she would leverage her extensive experience in civil rights to develop communication channels with the Arab and Muslim communities on a broad scale.

“I have worked on issues of racial and religious discrimination for many years, and this role will enable me to strengthen this communication and make the voices of Arabs and Muslims heard and influential in the upcoming elections,” she concluded.

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* A version of this article appears in print in the 3 October, 2024 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly