How Muslim American elites weaponised identity to push for Kamala Harris

Over the last year, Israel‘s genocidal war on Gaza has cast an even darker shadow over the 2024 US presidential election, in which the majority of Americans have expressed dissatisfaction over the main candidates running. Voter frustration with the two-party system has only been exacerbated by the broad bipartisan support for Israel’s mass slaughter of Palestinians. For some, glimmers of hope began to emerge with the rise of Arab and Muslim-led movements to “abandon” President Joe Biden and, later, Vice President Kamala Harris – or remain “uncommitted” to endorsing any Democratic incumbents until they force a ceasefire in Gaza. It wasn’t long, however, before hope and the seeming commitment to political change gave way to cynicism and political opportunism. Uncommitted movement leaders’ pledges to hold politicians accountable over Gaza through votes were replaced with milquetoast demands centred on Palestinian representation. And even when those half-hearted calls were denied, the narrative began to mirror the standard Democratic Party line on the unique danger that Donald Trump poses.   New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters At the Democratic National Convention in August, delegates physically and verbally...