OPINION - Who should Arabs and Muslims vote for in America?

The author is a public affairs professor and the director of the Center for Islam and Global Affairs at Sabahattin Zaim University in Istanbul.

ISTANBUL

In light of the four decades I had spent in the United States and with my involvement and experience with the American political system, many friends across the US have asked me which candidate the Arab and Muslim communities should vote for in the upcoming elections.

Historically, candidates of the two major parties usually compete over who could best serve the interests of Israel or serve other similar interests that are consistent with the policies and hegemonic posture of the American empire.

Regardless of whether such positions are often harmful to the long-term interests of the US, particularly against the interests of Arabs, Muslims, or the Global South in general, the conventional wisdom has been to vote for the “lesser of two evils” rather than for a genuine candidate who might actually care about higher human values, moral principles, or real concerns of people and society, even if he or she had no chance of winning the election.

However, this year's elections are very different. After four dark years of former US President Donald Trump's administration and more than a year of a devastating genocide that continues with the complete support, direct participation, and full protection of the US administration led by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, it should be clear that the Arab and Muslim American voter cannot with a clear conscience vote for either of these two candidates. Such a position would be based on principled grounds and moral clarity.

After studying the two candidates' positions on issues of concern to the Arab and Islamic worlds, I found that the difference between them is not significant or strategic.

Choosing the lesser of two evils?

As for the war of extermination being waged on Gaza, Harris will support the goals of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, putting limited restrictions on him, while Trump will support Netanyahu’s goals without placing any restrictions. For the Palestinians, Harris will consider them a nuisance and deal with them without a political horizon. However, Trump will ignore them and treat them with disdain.

Regarding the Israeli war of aggression in Lebanon, Harris will continue Biden’s policy of putting pressure on Lebanon to try to realize Israel’s goals, while Trump will threaten Lebanon to achieve the same goals. As for dealing with the authoritarian and despotic Arab regimes, Harris will support and coordinate with them quietly, while Trump will embrace and support them openly, even with great enthusiasm. With regard to the policies for dealing with Iran, Harris will continue the policy of containing, threatening, and destabilizing it using extreme pressure tactics. Likewise, Trump will continue this same policy that he began in his first term, using the tactics of extreme pressure.

Similar policies would apply to Türkiye. Harris will exert enormous pressure on Türkiye so that its policies are compatible and in line with the American agenda, while Trump may exert less pressure but will still force Türkiye to follow America’s agenda in the region.

On issues related to democracy and human rights in the region, Harris will say what needs to be said, but without any actions to back up her rhetoric, while Trump will completely ignore these issues and not pay any attention to them. As for the future of the international order, Harris will act as if it still exists as it has been and that America can continue to lead and manage it. However, Trump will not care much about it and may even, in the long run, unwittingly dismantle it.

Presidential candidates race to support Israeli violence

Trump is dangerously Islamophobic and a hateful man who also has viscerally shown contempt as he continues to target non-European immigrants. In many of his statements, he has publicly expressed hostility and hatred towards Arabs and Muslims in general. Therefore, his rule will certainly be a disaster, not only for the Arab and Muslim community in the US but also regarding most issues of concern to the Arab and Islamic world even beyond.

Since Trump has adopted all the Israeli positions in his first term, he will certainly not rein in its brutal behavior in the genocidal war it is waging in Gaza or limit its extreme policies and settlement campaigns in the West Bank if he is elected for a second term. In fact, he may even encourage Netanyahu and his fascist government to continue the bloody massacres, as he urged them during the election campaign to “complete the job,” meaning to continue the campaign of ethnic cleansing.

After a year of devastating destruction at the hands of Israel in Gaza and now in Lebanon, and with the full partnership and direct participation of the Biden/Harris administration, there is no doubt that Harris has been and continues to be complicit in the war crimes committed against the Palestinians and Lebanese.

She has had months to alter or change these destructive policies, or at least express an emphatic position against them. But, she has chosen to support the continuation of genocide and justify the agonizing aggression, despite warnings made by many Democrats and members of the Arab and Muslim community in the US. Any politician who ignores these warnings must bear the dire consequences that will befall him or her. Anyone who believes in higher humanitarian principles, international law, moral values, and ethical conduct cannot simply ignore such horrific genocide.

I certainly agree that a second Trump administration would be a disaster domestically and externally on many issues that matter to conscientious and good-hearted citizens, including issues that go beyond the Gaza genocide. But it must be noted that Trump's rule in a second term may actually accelerate the collapse and disintegration of the American empire and force many citizens and social and political institutions throughout the US, especially non-Republicans, to actually break free from the grip of the Zionists, which would be a great thing for the future political life in America.

Politics in the US is in serious need of a real, non-Zionist political alternative. So if Trump is elected, this historical moment may be a rare opportunity for a new, vibrant non-Zionist social and political movement to emerge in the US.

If Harris is to win, she needs to win without the support of the Arab and Muslim communities in the US. She must also struggle to obtain the votes necessary to win the states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin in order to become president of the US without obtaining the votes of Arab and Muslim Americans.

Muslims' votes carry an important message

Politicians must understand that there are real and ominous consequences for ignoring human life in the midst of genocide. The war of extermination in Gaza is not a one-time thing that could be justified or overlooked. It is an ongoing crime against humanity that has been going on for more than 390 days, not only with the knowledge and approval of the Biden/Harris administration but with its direct participation and full support.

In my opinion, Arab and Muslim voters in America, as well as people of conscience throughout the country, should go to the polls and vote, and not boycott the elections. Their vote should also be seen as a strong statement and powerful message against the genocidal war in Gaza.

They should therefore vote for Green Party candidate Jill Stein, who has made the Gaza genocide the central issue of her campaign. Or alternatively, they can write “Gaza” on the ballot (especially when the Green Party candidate does not appear on the ballot). In this case, politicians, the media, political and social elites, as well as others, will know that Palestinian and Lebanese blood is not expendable.