As an Arab American, I can’t support Biden’s stance on Israel

I have been a staunch supporter of the Democratic Party for decades. In Philadelphia, where I have lived for 40 years, I have voted, contributed money, and helped organize fundraisers for Democratic candidates at the local and national level — from school superintendents to City Council, mayors, and state representatives.

I support the Democratic Party because I believe in the tenets of justice, equality, and human rights that the party espouses, and which are enshrined in the party’s platform and policies. Our party has a long history of championing these values, not just domestically, but also on the global stage.

Yet, the party has a disconnect when it comes to Palestine. President Joe Biden’s unwavering support of Israel has deadly implications for the people of Gaza. And it is something that, as an Arab American voter, my community cannot stand for. We can’t be silent after the U.S. voted against the U.N. Security Council’s call for a cease-fire on Feb. 20, the third vote of its kind.

Let me clarify that this is not an argument against the Democratic Party or its principles. It’s quite the opposite: It’s a call to uphold our values even more fiercely, to scrutinize our leaders, and to ensure they align with our principles. Arab Americans are a crucial component of the party’s base, and we are asking Democrats to support the fact that all human beings are equal. The blood of an Israeli woman or child is not any more important than the blood of a Palestinian woman or child.

While some may argue that our community’s focus on challenging Biden’s stance on Israel makes us a single-issue group, our civic commitment extends far beyond one issue. We have tirelessly worked to support Democratic candidates at all levels of government, from city council to national elections, even when some of the liberal issues Democrats have espoused run counter to our cultural and religious beliefs. This has not been easy.

Many believe Biden might not be president today had it not been for the critical Arab American and Muslim American voters in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania.

The betrayal felt by many of us in the face of Biden’s complicity in the loss of innocent Palestinian lives is profound. How can we continue to support leaders who ignore the devastation caused by American weapons and American protection?

The argument that defeating Biden would result in a worse outcome is flawed and dismisses our agency and power to demand accountability from our elected officials. The Biden administration insists that Israel is still acting in self-defense even though the world’s court, the International Court of Justice, has rejected the argument that an occupying country has the right to self-defense.

By advocating to defeat Biden while supporting the rest of the Democratic ticket, we are not only standing up for our values but also presenting an opportunity for the Democratic Party to realign its policies with the principles of justice and compassion.

We extend an olive branch to the party by urging a correction in the U.S. government’s position to recognize a Palestinian state under the pre-1967 borders and calling for an immediate cease-fire to prevent further loss of innocent lives.

On a personal level, I have dedicated myself and some members of my family — along with our Jewish Philadelphia friends — to stand outside various churches in our City of Brotherly Love with a simple sign calling on fellow Christian worshipers to pray for peace in Gaza.

Our response to the current crisis is not about partisan politics, but rather upholding the values of justice, peace, and human rights. We demand accountability, action, and a commitment to a more just and equitable future for all.

Samuel Kuttab is a Philadelphia-based Palestinian American who has been active in the Democratic Party since the 1980s.