For many Arab American voters, the war in Gaza, and now Lebanon, has been a turning point in the US elections.
Some voters, who usually support the Democrats, are having second thoughts about Kamala Harris. For them, she’s part of the current Biden administration that failed to end the war in the Middle East.
There are indications however that others will go for “a protest vote”.
Will Asfour, a Palestinian American, has voted for Jill Stein, the Green Party Candidate.
“Since we can’t get a ceasefire or impose an arms embargo on Israel, neither party will have my vote”, Asfour, who lives in Chicago said. He said further that dozens of his family members were killed in the Israeli bombardment of Gaza over the past year.
The young man feels as if his tax money funds the “the killing of my people back home”, as the US has been providing Israel with billions of dollars, in financial and military aid.
On the other hand, some of the Arab votes will go for Donald Trump, the former President, who imposed the Muslim travel ban in 2017, denying entry to citizens of certain predominantly Muslim countries, including Arab countries.
“Trump has good relations with Arab leaders, he is a man of action, he can bring about a ceasefire”, said Laila, a middle aged Iraqi American woman, who’s been in the US for 16 years.
