Arab Americans 'thrilled' Biden stepping down, but want new Gaza policy

Arab American advocates in metro Detroit are relieved President Joe Biden announced Sunday he's stepping down as the Democratic Party nominee, blaming him for a war in Gaza that has resulted in thousands of deaths. And now, they're hoping the nominee who replaces him will be someone who will lessen support for Israel and be more sympathetic to Palestinians.

"Everybody in my community is very thrilled that Biden is out of the way," said Osama Siblani, a longtime Arab American advocate who is publisher of the Dearborn-based Arab American News. "We don't have to worry about someone who is a partner to the genocide on the head of the ticket for the Democratic Party. ... There is a sigh of relief that Biden is out of the way."

At the same time, Siblani and others told the Free Press they will wait to see whether the new Democratic nominee will be someone more critical of Israel. Siblani has been in discussions this year with Democratic, Republican and independent party leaders about garnering the Arab American vote in Michigan. There is hope Vice President Kamala Harris, whom Biden has endorsed, may be more liberal in her views on Gaza, but they said it's unclear what her positions will be and hope to dialogue with her.

"It's premature to evaluate ... how it's going to reflect on the Democratic Party," Siblani said. "What's their agenda? What are they going to do? What is their position on things that we believe are important for us?"

Those questions will be wrestled with in coming months by many in metro Detroit as they decided who to cast their ballots for in November. Michigan has the highest concentration of Arab Americans among all 50 states; many of them pushed in recent months for voters to reject Biden, held protests and launched an "Uncommitted" movement that resulted in Biden losing to the "Uncommitted" vote in Dearborn, Dearborn Heights and Hamtramck in the February presidential primary. There were a couple of movements, including Listen to Michigan and Abandon Biden, launched by Arab Americans that asked voters to reject Biden. "Genocide Joe" became a chant often heard at protests in Dearborn.

Some compared their movement to oust Biden to the anti-war protests of the late 1960s, which some historians say led, in part, to President Lyndon B. Johnson announcing he would not run for reelection in 1968 as the U.S. became increasingly involved in Vietnam. Earlier this month, Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, an outspoken critic of the administration's support for Israel's attacks, said Biden should step down.

"Arab Americans are pleased that he has stepped down," Abed Ayoub, a Dearborn native who is national legal and policy director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, the largest Arab American civil rights group.

"Many people were happy, many people were excited," Imad Hamad, an Arab American advocate who is executive director of the Dearborn-based American Human Rights Council, said of Biden stepping down. "Definitely it's a positive step because it has opened the door ... for potential hopeful change. Now, how hopeful is the question."

Hamad, who is of Palestinian descent, said that while it's a positive that Biden will not run for reelection, it's not about just about one person, but about administration policies.

"Changing the name is not changing the narrative," Hamad said. "Changing the policy is what counts."

Biden will still be president for six more months and so Hamad hopes Biden uses his time left to push for a cease fire and stop sending weapons to Israel.

"I hope something will change," Hamad said. "I hope he will not end up with this legacy of being 'Genocide Joe.' "

Siblani and Hamad said they're not yet decided yet on whether to support Harris. Hammoud also was not yet committed to supporting Harris, saying there should be a discussion at the upcoming Democratic National Convention.

"Dems have an opportunity to be bold this convention," Hammoud wrote on X after Biden announced he was dropping out. "To nominate a candidate who can usher historic policy domestically AND abandon the genocidal course charted in Gaza and beyond. America needs a candidate who can inspire voters to come out to the ballot box this November."

Ayoub said that Biden stepped down because of the movement by Arab Americans and progressives outraged over his support for Israel's military actions in Gaza and other areas such as Lebanon and Yemen.

"This is a direct result of the way he handled the genocide, pulling him down on the polls, making him unpopular with the progressive wing of the party, and him not being able to recover," Ayoub said. "That's why he's out of the race."

Dearborn attorney Amer Zahr, a Palestinian American activist who often leads protests, agreed, saying Biden lost a lot of support because of his support for Israel. But, he added on X, "it's not a time to celebrate. Stay focused."

For months, the Biden administration has sought to address concerns by Arab Americans, sending high-ranking administration officials to Dearborn, but critics say it was more symbolism than substance. Surveys by the Arab American Institute showed Biden losing support among Arab Americans in Michigan and other states. There are about 310,000 residents of Michigan with Middle Eastern ancestry. They are a diverse group of different ethnicities and faiths. Many in Wayne County have voted for Democrats in recent years, while the sizable Chaldean (Iraqi Catholic) population in Macomb and Oakland counties tend to be more aligned with Republicans.

Layla Elabed, a sister of U.S. House Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, who is part of the Listen to Michigan and Uncommitted National Movement, called upon Harris "to take a clear stance against weapons for Israel's war and occupation against Palestinians."

Elabed said "Harris can start the process to earn back trust by turning the page from Biden’s horrific policies in Gaza.”

Tlaib, an outspoken critic of Biden's policies on Gaza who is the only member of Congress with Palestinian ancestry, did not release any statement Sunday indicating support for Harris.

Republicans and Trump campaign officials have been courting Arab Americans in Michigan. A Trump son-in-law and his father, who are of Lebanese descent, have been visiting metro Detroit in recent months to meet with Arab American advocates.

Ayoub added that Harris and other Democrats should not assume Arab Americans and progressives will automatically support Democrats even though Biden is out.

"They have to earn the votes of our community," Ayoub said.

Contact Niraj Warikoo: [email protected] or X @nwarikoo

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Arab Americans pleased President Joe Biden stepping down as nominee