In Michigan, Harris meets with American leaders angry at Israel By Reuters

By Nandita Bose, Andrea Shalal and Jeff Mason

WASHINGTON/FLINT, Michigan (Reuters) – Vice President Kamala Harris met with Arab American and Muslim leaders in Flint, Michigan, on Friday, as her presidential campaign seeks to win back voters angered by US support for Israel's wars in Gaza and Lebanon.

The meeting is one of several attempts in recent days to mend fences with Muslim and Arab voters, who strongly support Democrat Joe Biden in 2020 but could withhold their votes from Harris in numbers that could cost the key state of Michigan.

During the half-hour meeting, Harris expressed his concern about the level of suffering in Gaza, casualties and displacement in Lebanon and discussed efforts to end the war, according to a campaign official. He also discussed efforts to prevent regional war, the official added.

Wa'el Alzayat, CEO of Emgage Action who recently endorsed him, said the participants shared their deep disappointment with the US handling of the crisis and asked him to do everything in his power to end the war and reset US policy in the region.

“Emrage Action has asked Vice President Harris to emphasize to President Biden the urgency of ending the violence” in Gaza and Lebanon, Alzayat said. “You agree that this war must end.”

Ed Gabriel, the president of the American Task Force in Lebanon, said that the meeting includes a good “give and take” in the problems, including “the need to stop firing, and the necessary support of the United States and its partners to deal with humanitarian aid.” problem, the lack of presidential leadership in Lebanon, and the important role of the Lebanese Armed Forces. “

“We heard a lot of sympathy from his side, we will see what will happen,” he said. “This was an important bilateral exchange, and we made significant progress in our relationship. We will continue to meet.”

Other participants included Assad Turfe, deputy sheriff of Wayne County, Michigan's most populous county.

Jim Zogby, founder of the Arab American Institute and a longtime member of the Democratic National Committee, said he had declined the invitation. Leaders of the Uncommitted National Movement protest campaign said they were not invited to the meeting. Hala Hijazi, a long-time friend of Harris who lost many of her family members in Gaza, was unable to attend.

Harris, a Democrat, faces Republican former President Donald Trump on Nov. 5 in what polls show is a tight presidential race. Both candidates have similar levels of support among Arab Americans, according to a survey published this week by the Arab American Institute.

Harris' meeting on Friday comes after other efforts by his team this week. On Thursday, his running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, promised on a Zoom (NASDAQ: ) call with Muslim voters that Muslims would have an equal role in the Harris administration.

Harris' national security adviser, Phil Gordon, met with Arab and Muslim community leaders on Wednesday and said the administration supports a ceasefire in Gaza, negotiations in Lebanon and stability in the Israeli-controlled West Bank.

Critics say Biden and Harris have done little to stop Israel's military campaign in Gaza, while continuing to supply Israel with weapons to carry it out.

Some Arab Americans believe that Harris' refusal to distance himself from President Biden's policies in the Middle East, as Israel escalates its offensive, will cost him in November.

“Harris is going to lose Michigan,” said Ali Dagher, a Lebanese American attorney and community leader. “I will not vote for Kamala Harris. I don't know anyone who will vote for her. I can't find a single person who supports her in the community.”

Earlier in the day, in Redford Township, Michigan, outside Detroit, Harris celebrated a union deal that ended a major port strike.

He spoke at a fire station whose workers are represented by the International Association of Fire Fighters, which on Thursday declined to make a presidential proposal. The event was planned to show that Harris has support among members of the union, the aide said.

After a meeting with American American leaders, Harris appeared with United Auto Workers union President Shawn Fain in Flint and vowed to support Michigan's auto industry.

A Trump campaign spokesman said Harris is “putting at least 37,000 auto jobs at risk by refusing to tell Michiganders whether he still supports his proposed plan to ban all internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035.”