This election is not the time for Arab Americans to be single-issue voters

posted on: Oct 19, 2016

BY: Nisreen Eadeh/Staff Writer

The issue: Palestine.

The American election process is long and emotionally draining. Since the early spring of 2015, Americans have been subjected to exhaustive debates between candidates, he-said-she-said reports from news outlets, and bickering between friends and relatives on social media.

And for the first time in what seems like decades, many Arab Americans were offered hope for a dignified solution to the crisis facing Palestine with fearless candidates like Bernie Sanders and Jill Stein, who were not in the pockets of AIPAC. Momentarily, even Donald Trump offered hope by saying negotiations between Israel and Palestine must be fair. However, the Arab American community no longer has faith in either of the nominees’ to alleviate a modicum of the problem.

Despite the community’s disintegrated hope, the rally cries for Palestine remain loud and clear. But can the Arab American community afford to be single-issue voters this election season?

We have been monitoring your comments and feedback, and hearing what the community has to say. The voices of ardent supporters behind Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, and Jill Stein have flooded our platforms and engaged the community in heated conversations that Arab America has never seen before. The issue of Palestine unites most Arab Americans across the country, which is why we are dedicated to promoting awareness of the issue every day.

However, the community cannot disregard other serious concerns that have been heavily addressed throughout this election cycle, namely: immigration and refugees, civil rights, the Iraq War, Islamophobia, hate crimes, and discrimination. Arab America has been dedicated to keeping the community informed of the names of Arab American leaders in various campaigns, while trying to remain as neutral as possible in our reporting. Yet, it is the issue of Palestine that continues to be the deciding factor for candidate support on our platforms.

Everyone wants to see justice and freedom for people who have struggled under the weight of the Israeli occupation and settlements for over 60 years. American involvement in giving billions of dollars in “aid” to Israel, half-heartedly negotiating deals, and letting Israel violate all types of laws without consequence has made Arab Americans more involved in this election. We are all frustrated with overwhelming dissatisfaction at American political leaders who claim to be seeking peace.

Nevertheless, if we let Palestine take precedence over every other issue in any election, most Arab Americans would never vote. Nearly every elected official at the federal level has shook hands with an AIPAC lobbyist, leaving us only a few allies in Congress.

But now more than ever, Arab Americans need to become an organized and strong voting bloc, capable of swaying politics in our favor. We have witnessed a community-wide fractioning along party lines over who will be better for Palestine, but this is not a sustainable method for community growth and influence in politics.

In order for us to become a force to be reckoned with, we must take charge in every American issue. We need to be leaders in all fields: health care, social security, tax reform, student debt, foreign policy, veteran affairs, infrastructure, energy, etc.

Palestine needs us, but in order to make a serious change, we must have a hand in all issues, not just one. It may seem like it takes tremendous amounts of energy to operate a political machine, but the foundation has already been built by courageous community members. Arab Americans are already leaders in copious sectors, administrations, firms, corporations, and institutions that can challenge law makers.

If Arab Americans are as passionate about Palestine as they seem on ArabAmerica.com and social media, then this is the only solution. If we wait too long, the prospect of a Palestinian state will cease to exist. Both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have proposed policies that would increase aid for Israel, ignore Palestinian human rights, and disempower the growing Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement. If either major party candidate is elected, the future of Palestine will be as dismal as ever.

Therefore, the wisest choice Arab American voters could make this election would be to vote for a candidate who has shown strength in tackling the other, equally as important, Arab American issues.

Let’s combat political ties with Israel together by forcing ourselves to sit at the decision table on every issue. Let’s be the most knowledgeable and trustworthy people on the team. Let’s make a lasting, impactful impression on political leaders who fear our disapproval.

Arab America strongly urges members of the community to vote on November 8, but vote for more than just Palestine. Vote for your kid’s futures, your business’ integrity, and your family’s health.