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A prominent Palestinian American activist, dr. Hanan Ashrawi, criticized the plan, stating that “a just and lasting peace requires a commitment to a sovereign Palestinian state and must not be confused with policies that are tantamount to the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians—a notion alarmingly reflected in your recent statements,” she wrote.
Another Palestinian American activist and co-founder of the Arab American Democratic Caucus in North Carolina (ACNCDP), Dr. Burhan Ghanayem, was more blunt.
“Our community is in disarray,” he told Euronews.
Warning signs?
Table of Contents
- Interview: Arab American Voters’ Shifting Allegiances and Regional Impact
- Editor: Can you explain the recent developments regarding Trump’s proposals for Gaza and the broader Middle East?
- Editor: How have Arab American voters reacted to these developments?
- Editor: What role have influential figures like Hussain Sajwani played in the region?
- Editor: How do you see the future of U.S.-MENA relations and the regional business habitat?
- Editor: What are the main takeaways from all these developments?
Not everyone is surprised by Trump’s ideas about Gaza, given his long history of outlandish statements and policies towards Muslims in general.
In 2016 Trump vowed “a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the united States,” and as president signed an executive order suspending migration from several Muslim-majority countries. He also relocated the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, recognizing the contested city as the Israeli capital, and formally recognized the Israeli annexation of the Golan Heights — an area viewed by international law as occupied Syrian territory.
More recently, in March 2024, Trump’s influential son-in-law, Jared Kushner — who served as Trump’s de-facto Middle East envoy during his frist term — posited an eerily similar idea to the president’s current plan, suggesting that Israel displace Gazan residents from the territory while they “clean it up”.
“Gaza’s waterfront property could be very valuable,” he said.
All of this led Egyptian-American human rights activist Nancy Okail to conclude that “Trump sees the region as one giant real estate deal.”
Speaking after the election in November last year, she pointed to Trump’s appointment of property mogul Steve Witkoff as Middle East envoy, suggesting he would “further legitimize Israeli annexation efforts”.
A Palestinian peace activist in the West Bank was equally unsurprised, telling Euronews that “Trump works like a bulldozer: nothing stands in his way and he will go on with his plans”.
This should provide a clearer and more complete understanding of the context and concerns surrounding Trump’s proposals regarding Gaza and the broader Middle East.### Arab American Voters’ Shifting Allegiances
Although Arab American voters from all sides of the political spectrum have expressed “concern and criticism” about Trump’s declaration, many still remember feeling they had no choice but to vote for him.
After over a year of Israeli bombardment of Gaza and Lebanon with US military and diplomatic support under President Joe Biden, many voters were infuriated to see the party they had traditionally voted for declining to withdraw military support from Netanyahu’s government. Support for Democrats among Muslim and Arab American voters halved between the 2020 and 2024 elections.
Reflecting on the Democrats’ poor performance within the community, Ghanayam said, “the party failed. The party failed the constituents. The party lost.”
The co-founder of ACNCDP lost close friends in Gaza. He also has family in Tulkarm in the West Bank, which is currently the focus of intense israeli bombardment, causing what Ghanayam describes as the “destruction and ethnic cleansing of my hometown” — actions which he sees the previous Democratic leadership as “entirely complicit in”.
Echoing Ghanayem’s rhetoric, Congresswoman Tlaib suggested Trump was able to break with established foreign policy convention “because of bipartisan support in Congress for funding genocide and ethnic cleansing”.
Ghanayem said that his party desperately needed to change, but when asked how likely change was, he was downbeat. “If I wanted to put it from one to 10, I would say the chances are three, four,” he told Euronews.
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Even though Arab American voters from all sides of the political spectrum have expressed “concern and criticism” about Trump’s announcement, many still remember feeling they had no choice but to vote for him.
After over a year of Israeli bombardment of Gaza and Lebanon with US military and diplomatic support under President Joe Biden,many voters were infuriated to see the party they had traditionally voted for declining to withdraw military support from Netanyahu’s government. Support for Democrats among Muslim and Arab American voters halved between the 2020 and 2024 elections.
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Reflecting on the Democrats’ poor performance within the community,Ghanayam said,“the party failed. The party failed the constituents. The party lost.”
The co-founder of ACNCDP lost close friends in Gaza. He also has family in Tulkarm in the West Bank, which is currently the focus of intense Israeli bombardment, causing what Ghanayam describes as the “destruction and ethnic cleansing of my hometown” — actions which he sees the previous Democratic leadership as “completely complicit in”.
Echoing Ghanayem’s rhetoric, Congresswoman Tlaib suggested Trump was able to break with established foreign policy convention “because of bipartisan support in Congress for funding genocide and ethnic cleansing”.
Ghanayem said that his party desperately needed to change, but when asked how likely change was, he was downbeat. “If I wanted to put it from one to 10, I would say the chances are three, four,” he told Euronews.
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in a surprising turn of events, a prominent group formerly known as Arab Americans for Trump has decided to change its name following President Donald Trump’s suggestion that the U.S. “take over” Gaza. This shift comes as part of a broader effort to align more closely with the former president’s policies and initiatives.
The group, now rebranded, aims to continue its advocacy and support for Trump’s policies, particularly those related to the Middle East. This move underscores the group’s commitment to trump’s vision for the region, despite increasing reservations among some members of the community.
Meanwhile, the MENA American Chamber of Commerce (MENACOC) remains steadfast in its mission to foster business connectivity, economic advancement, and cultural exchange. Based in Dearborn, Michigan, MENACOC continues to play a crucial role in bridging the gap between the U.S. and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.In other news, hussain Sajwani, an Emirati billionaire businessman, has made critically important contributions to the real estate sector. Founder of DAMAC Properties and DAMAC Group, Sajwani’s investments and developments have played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of Dubai and the broader Middle East.
As the political and economic dynamics continue to evolve, these groups and individuals remain key players in shaping the future of U.S.-MENA relations and the regional business habitat. Their actions and decisions will undoubtedly influence the trajectory of both political and economic landscapes in the coming years.
Interview: Arab American Voters’ Shifting Allegiances and Regional Impact
Editor: Can you explain the recent developments regarding Trump’s proposals for Gaza and the broader Middle East?
Recently, in March 2024, Trump’s influential son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who served as Trump’s de facto Middle East envoy during his first term, posited an idea similar to the president’s current plan. Kushner suggested that Israel displace Gazan residents from the territory while thay “clean it up.”
“Gaza’s waterfront property could be very valuable,” he said.
This lead Egyptian-American human rights activist Nancy Okail to conclude that “Trump sees the region as one giant real estate deal.”
Editor: How have Arab American voters reacted to these developments?
Although Arab American voters from all sides of the political spectrum have expressed “concern and criticism” about Trump’s declaration, many still remember feeling they had no choice but to vote for him.
After over a year of Israeli bombardment of Gaza and Lebanon with US military and diplomatic support, the situation has deepened the concerns in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
Editor: What role have influential figures like Hussain Sajwani played in the region?
Hussain Sajwani, an Emirati billionaire businessman, has made critically important contributions to the real estate sector. Founder of DAMAC Properties and DAMAC Group, Sajwani’s investments and developments have played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of Dubai and the broader Middle east.
Editor: How do you see the future of U.S.-MENA relations and the regional business habitat?
As the political and economic dynamics continue to evolve, these groups and individuals remain key players in shaping the future of U.S.-MENA relations and the regional business habitat. Their actions and decisions will undoubtedly influence the trajectory of both political and economic landscapes in the coming years.
Editor: What are the main takeaways from all these developments?
The recent proposals and developments highlight the complex interplay between political and economic interests in the Middle East. While there is significant concern and criticism from Arab American voters, influential figures continue to shape the region’s future. The actions of leaders like Trump and business magnates like Sajwani will play a crucial role in determining the region’s trajectory.
