Arab and Palestinian Americans frustrated, left without commitments to policy change after meeting with Blinken

Arab and Palestinian Americans left a meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday night frustrated they did not have a clear understanding of how the Biden administration might act upon their concerns as the Israel-Hamas war devastates the civilian population in Gaza, participants told CNN.

Arab and Palestinian Americans left a meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday night frustrated they did not have a clear understanding of how the Biden administration might act upon their concerns as the Israel-Hamas war devastates the civilian population in Gaza, participants told CNN. “There wasn’t a plan that was shared that instilled any confidence that the administration is prioritizing an immediate solution,” Bilal Hammoud, executive director of the American Arab Chamber of Commerce, adding the discussion “was disappointing because we wanted more concrete next steps.” The emotional and heated meeting comes as the Palestinian and Arab American community is divided over engagement with the White House, as members harbor sadness and anger over the administration’s policy toward the Israel-Hamas war. White House officials have held several meetings with prominent Arab Americans across the country since Hamas’ October 7 attacks, but some of the invited participants have declined to attend, often making their rejection known in open letters and press interviews. Many members of the community agree Biden would have to made significant policy changes to win back this key part of his political coalition — including Arab and Muslim Americans and progressive voters — ahead of the November elections while his administration largely refuses to use its leverage over Israel to halt the fighting in Gaza. The groups went in Friday with specific demands for the administration, including calling for an immediate ceasefire, the return of all hostages and prisoners held without charges, the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, unimpeded humanitarian assistance to reach the Palestinian population, the end to US arms shipments to Israel, and the rebuilding of devastated Palestinian communities. Yet the attendees did not leave the meeting, which lasted more than 90 minutes, with any commitments to take action on those fronts.