Arab American support for Joe Biden has fallen in the wake of his response to the latest bout of violence between Israel and Hamas, a new poll from the Arab American Institute (AAI) shows. The same poll showed a sharp increase in reports of discrimination against members of the community.
Following Hamas’s deadly 7 October attacks, which killed 1,400 Israelis, Biden has repeatedly proclaimed the US’s “rock-solid and unwavering support” for Israel, which has responded by tightening its blockade and bombarding the Gaza Strip. More than 8,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to health officials in the coastal territory.
According to AAI, that response has prompted a “dramatic plummeting of Arab American voter support for President Biden”. There are roughly 3.7 million Arab Americans in the US.
“Support among Arab American voters for Biden has plummeted from 59% in 2020 to 17% today,” the poll analysis said.
Notably, the data found that for the first time in AAI’s 26 years of polling that a majority of the Arab Americans did not claim to prefer the Democratic party.
Moreover, 40% of those polled said they will vote for Donald Trump in 2024 – a five percentage-point increase from 2020, marking an all-time high for Arab American identification with the Republican party.
“It’s important for our organizing that we know how the community is positioning itself in this. And it’s important for us to let the administration know – you’re at risk of losing this particular component group of the community,” said James Zogby, president and co-founder of AAI.
The news could spell trouble for Biden in 2024.
Although a relatively small population, Arab Americans are a crucial voting bloc in swing states such as Michigan, which has one of the highest Arab American population in the nation.
Israel’s retaliation for the 7 October attacks are viewed by many in the community as disproportionate given the level of destruction and loss of life.
The poll shows that 66% of Arab Americans have a negative view of Biden’s response. Additionally, 68%, believe the United States should stop sending weapons and military supplies to Israel and support the US wielding its influence to call for a ceasefire.
In an address to the nation on 20 October, Biden said: “The security package I’m sending to Congress and asking Congress to do is an unprecedented commitment to Israel’s security that will sharpen Israel’s qualitative military edge, which we’ve committed to – the qualitative military edge.”
Biden has requested Congress approve $14bn in fresh military aid for Israel.
The poll also shows a spike in discrimination against those who are or are perceived to be Arab Americans.
It found “an alarmingly high number of Arab Americans aged 18 to 34 reporting they have experienced discrimination based on their ethnicity or national origin”.
Concerns that the violence in the Middle East will have repercussions back home in the US are high, with eight out of 10 Arabs reporting they worry about a rise in anti-Arab bigotry. Two-thirds are concerned it will provoke antisemitism.
“Half of all Arab Americans felt concerned about facing discrimination at school, work, and in their local community due to the recent violence in Palestine and Israel, with two-thirds expressing concern about showing support for Palestinians,” according to AAI.
These fears are starkly illustrated by the killing of a six-year-old Palestinian boy in Illinois earlier this month. Joseph Czuba, 71, has pleaded not guilty to charges including murder in the fatal stabbing of Wadea Al-Fayoume and the wounding of his mother Hanaan Shahin. The suspect allegedly shouted “You Muslims must die!” during the attack.
