Organizations Endorsing “Arab American Agenda” Demand an Immediate, Permanent Ceasefire in Gaza
Yesterday, representatives from the American Federation of Ramallah, Palestine, the American Arab Chamber of Commerce, Arab America, the Arab American Institute, and the U.S. Palestinian Council met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. These national organizations are the drafters and endorsers of “In This Moment: An Arab American Agenda” a document that aims to protect the rights and respect the identity of Arab Americans at home while centering Arab American interests and concerns in American foreign policy abroad.
The agenda lays out reasonable and meaningful steps to stop the genocide in Gaza, addresses a path to Palestinian liberation, and moves toward some stability in the region. The drafters point to President Biden’s clear disregard for his 2020 commitment to defend the civil rights of Arab Americans and his pledge to recognize the equal worth of Israeli and Palestinian lives as the impetus for the creation of An Arab American Agenda.
The Agenda notes:
“There is deep disappointment and anger among Arab Americans toward the callous neglect we and our concerns have received from this Administration. It is too late to save the more than 30,000 Palestinians who have been killed or the 70,000 who have been wounded in Gaza. However, it’s not too late to save those innocents who will surely perish from bombings, disease, and starvation if the Israeli assault on Gaza is allowed to continue.
Concerning the situation in Gaza, at a minimum, the Administration must make a clear:
“Demand for: 1) an immediate ceasefire; 2) the return of all hostages and prisoners held without charges; 3) the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from all of Gaza; and 4) the unimpeded humanitarian assistance to reach the Palestinian population, including through UNRWA. The Administration must also cease arms shipments to Israel and initiate the rebuilding of the devastated Palestinian communities.”
The complete Agenda may be found here.
Although some Arab Americans were included in a White House meeting on October 13, and in a State Department meeting on October 23, those meetings only included Arab Americans as part of broader constituencies. The administration has not held a single Arab American meeting, on U.S. policy regarding Israel and Palestine, since October 7. While Arab Americans have been making themselves heard at rallies, with calls, with messages, and so many other forms of protest that express the conscience of the American people, the administration has failed to meet with Arab Americans.
Those attending yesterday’s meeting have no delusion about where this administration stands. However, these organizations feel they must advocate for community interests and express the concerns and solutions in An Arab American Agenda directly to the administration.
Upon meeting with Secretary Blinken, the Arab American representatives issued the following statements:
“When we met with Secretary Blinken in October of 2023, I noted that Israel’s indiscriminate bombing of Gaza had killed 5,000 Palestinians. I urged an immediate ceasefire to save lives. I also noted that Israel and the U.S. were operating under the mistaken belief that the war could be won with the likely outcome being the emergence of Hamas 2.0. We come back seven months later with over 36,000 dead, most of Gaza’s homes and infrastructure destroyed, millions of Palestinian lives shattered, and Gaza on the verge of starvation. Despite the United States’ feeble efforts to urge Israeli restraint, the deadly war rolls on with U.S. weapons and political support and now shared intelligence making the Israeli assault on Rafah possible. Once again, we are calling on the Biden Administration to demand an immediate ceasefire to end the unfolding genocide, to save Palestinian lives, and salvage whatever remains of the United States’ tattered image across the Arab world.” – James Zogby, President, Arab American Institute
“Why are we slashing U.S. aid to the sole entity (UNRWA) capable of alleviating the immense suffering in Gaza today? The United Nations has sounded the alarm about a looming famine in Gaza, exacerbated by the Israeli blockade. All entry points to Gaza should be opened immediately and U.S. support to UNRWA restored so that crucial aid to Palestinians in Gaza can be delivered.” – Warren David, President, Arab America
“Justice must be secured for Arab American victims of Israeli violence. The targeting and killing of American citizens, and the theft of American-owned land by Israel and settlers require independent investigations and full prosecution of the perpetrators. Sustained violations of the rights of American citizens of Arab descent by Israeli authorities require a full investigation into Israel’s adherence to the statutory requirements of the Visa Waiver Program. Palestinians’ freedom, equality, and prosperity are rooted in the right to self-determination. The Biden administration should support, not veto, Palestine’s endeavor to obtain full membership in the United Nations.” – Hanna Hanania, American Federation of Ramallah, Palestine
“Tough decisions require tough leadership. We at the USPC take pride in being one of the five national organizations to take part in establishing an Arab American Agenda. We asked Secretary Blinken and the administration to subject any military assistance to Israel to strict oversight to ensure that it is fully compliant with U.S. law, international law, and human rights conventions.” – Professor John Dabeet, President, U.S. Palestinian Council
“Despite decades of active partnership and support that Arab Americans have extended globally, the administration has failed to act urgently, and within its values to take meaningful measures that ensure the freedom, equality, and prosperity of the Palestinian people, resulting in the loss of tens of thousands of innocent lives. There must be a full stop of U.S. military funding that is threatening the security and stability of the whole region, including the cessation of attacks on sovereign Arab nations.” – Bilal Hammoud, Director, American Arab Chamber of Commerce
Complied by Arab America
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