Arab and Palestinian Americans Disappointed by Lack of Clarity in Post-Meeting Policy Actions with Blinken

Arab and Palestinian Americans who met with Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday night felt frustrated. They left the meeting without a clear understanding of how the Biden administration plans to address their concerns regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. Participants shared with CNN that they were disappointed by the lack of a concrete plan and felt unsure if immediate action is being prioritized. Bilal Hammoud, the executive director of the American Arab Chamber of Commerce, expressed that they were hoping for more clarity on the next steps.

The Palestinian and Arab American community is currently divided on engaging with the White House due to their dissatisfaction with the administration's policy towards the Israel-Hamas war. White House officials have met with prominent Arab Americans across the country following Hamas' attacks on October 7. However, some invited participants have chosen not to attend, expressing their refusal through open letters and press interviews.

Many community members believe that President Biden must make significant policy changes in order to regain the support of key groups such as Arab and Muslim Americans, as well as progressive voters, before the November elections. Despite this, the administration has been reluctant to use its influence over Israel to help stop the violence in Gaza.

The groups presented their specific demands to the administration on Friday. These included calling for an immediate ceasefire, the return of all hostages and prisoners held without charges, the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, unimpeded humanitarian assistance to reach the Palestinian population, an end to US arms shipments to Israel, and the rebuilding of devastated Palestinian communities.

However, after a meeting that lasted more than 90 minutes, the attendees did not receive any commitments to take action on those demands.

One attendee expressed their belief that the meeting was unsuccessful as there was no agreement on any changes in US policy towards Gaza.

On the other hand, John Dabeet, the president of the US Palestinian Council, shared that he is feeling cautiously optimistic after the meeting. However, he mentioned that it is difficult to foresee the specific actions the administration may choose to take.

"We didn't expect to completely change things overnight, but any positive change we can make will help reduce the suffering of the people in Gaza," stated Dabeet. The health ministry in the region reported that over 35,000 people have lost their lives in Gaza since October 7.

The meeting was requested by Arab and Palestinian American leaders. It brought together the heads of five national organizations: the American Federation of Ramallah Palestine, the American Arab Chamber of Commerce, Arab America, the Arab American Institute, and the US Palestinian Council.

The State Department did not share any information about the meeting or address questions about the lack of agreements reached during the gathering.

The Biden administration recently stopped a delivery of bombs to Israel due to worries that they might be used in an attack on Rafah, where over a million civilians are seeking refuge. However, those at the meeting did not see this action as a substantial enough move to bring about a strong change in policy that could help bring an end to the conflict.

They entered the meeting feeling frustrated about the lack of attention the Arab American community has gotten from the Biden administration. Despite their frustrations, they understood the importance of engaging in discussions to bring about policy changes.

Dabeet emphasized the significance of being part of the conversation. He believed that having a seat at the table would ensure that their voices were heard and considered in decision-making processes.

For the attendees CNN spoke to, they expressed that they would only consider meeting with Biden administration officials again if there were substantial policy changes.

Hammoud stated, "I won't participate in another meeting until we see concrete action. At this point, there's nothing more to discuss. I believe the administration is aware of what needs to be done."

Bilal is not the only one who believes that the Biden administration needs to take specific actions to gain the support of Palestinian and Arab Americans in the United States.

Ghada Elnajjar, a Palestinian American who has experienced personal loss due to the Israel-Hamas conflict, feels that the administration has the opportunity to bring about real change. However, she has yet to see any significant policy changes. This is why she believes that the administration is only going through the motions at the moment.

Elnajjar believes that the messages may start to resonate as the November election draws near. She expressed concern that the current actions may impact the outcome of the elections.

Elnajjar was involved in organizing for the Biden campaign in 2020 with Arab Americans for Biden. However, the group has since changed its name to Arab Americans Forward, removing Biden's name. Elnajjar is uncertain about who she will support on her presidential ballot in November.

At the meeting with Blinken, attendees emphasized that President Biden is not only losing support from Arab Americans but also allies from various ethnic backgrounds who are showing solidarity with Arab, Palestinian, and Muslim Americans.

One attendee stated, "This was our final attempt to communicate with this administration, ensuring they cannot claim ignorance of our concerns and requests."

Editor's P/S:

The meeting between Arab and Palestinian American leaders and Secretary of State Blinken highlights the deep frustration and disappointment within the community regarding the Biden administration's handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. Despite presenting specific demands, the attendees left without any concrete commitments or a clear understanding of the administration's plan to address their concerns. This lack of clarity and perceived inaction has left many feeling skeptical and unsure if their voices are being heard.

The article also reveals the division within the Palestinian and Arab American community over engaging with the White House. Some believe that dialogue is essential to influence policy changes, while others are reluctant to participate due to dissatisfaction with the administration's current approach. The Biden administration faces the challenge of regaining the support of these key groups, particularly with the November elections approaching. However, it remains to be seen whether substantial policy shifts will occur to meet their demands and address the concerns raised about the ongoing conflict in Gaza.