Jewish, Arab voters in Michigan have mixed reaction to Kamala Harris as Democratic nominee

For more than 40 years, Harvey Bronstein has been a loyal Democrat and this fall, the Southfield resident intends to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris for president.

But the retired professor at Oakland Community College who’s active in Michigan’s Jewish community adds that “she’s not the person if we could make up a perfect person for the Jewish community,” expressing concern she may be more to the left on Israel than President Joe Biden.

“We have to get used to Kamala Harris,” Bronstein said. “I think she’s going to grow.”

Imad Hamad, executive director of the Dearborn-based American Human Relations Council, also has some concerns about Harris, but he’s concerned she may be too supportive of Israel, expressing concern about the thousands of Palestinians killed after Israeli strikes in recent months.

“We’re reviewing her record,” Hamad said. “For now, no decision taken yet, it’s premature. We are waiting to see if … it is going to be a continuation of the Biden administration … or anything different.”

The differing views in metro Detroit’s Jewish and Arab American communities reflect intense discussions taking place in Michigan as Democrats move to endorse Harris, seen as the likely Democratic nominee for president. Michigan has the highest concentration of residents of Middle Eastern ancestry and an established Jewish community that’s known nationally for its pro-Israel activism.

Michigan’s Democratic delegates “overwhelmingly voted” to endorse Harris on Tuesday, the Michigan Democratic Party said. More than 100 delegates met on a Zoom call, with only one voting “present” and two Arab American delegates voting “no,” a party official said. There was some controversy during the meeting that illustrated the frustrations some Arab Americans in Michigan feel towards the Biden administration’s policies on Gaza. Abbas Alawieh, one of the two delegates who voted against endorsing Harris, said on X that while he was speaking about Gaza, someone else shouted out: “Shut up, a——.”

The chair of the Michigan Democratic Party, Lavora Barnes, condemned the outburst against Alawieh.

“The disrespect shown to a member of our delegation was completely unacceptable,” Barnes said in a statement to the Free Press. “We know that we are one Democratic family — our differences and the way we respond to them are what make us strong. In this moment, we want to reiterate that our Arab American and Muslim brothers and sisters are welcome in this party. We will continue to work toward our common goal of defeating Republicans up and down the ballot this November.”

Alawieh, part of the “Uncommitted” movement that urged people not to vote for Biden during the primaries, said our “demands are reasonable: We just want a ceasefire and for our party’s leaders to stop sending bombs to kill people we love.” He said that the uncommitted delegates want to meet with Harris “to express what we’re hearing from the voters we’ve mobilized.”

On Thursday, Harris met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is visiting the U.S. and spoke before Congress on Wednesday, drawing protests. U.S. House Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, the only member of Congress of Palestinian descent, sat as he spoke, holding up a sign that read “war criminal” and “guilty of genocide.” In Dearborn, Hamad held a press conference along with other Arab American and Muslim leaders calling for Netanyahu to be arrested during his visit for war crimes.

“It’s a mockery of our democratic values” to honor Netanyahu, Hamad said. “Congress is awarding him for his war crimes.”

Also, the Detroit-based UAW was one of several unions opposing Netanyahu’s speech, saying in a statement this week: “We reject this insult to all those calling for peace and justice.”

But Bronstein said Netanyahu’s speech “was magnificent,” saying he was trying to explain what Israel is trying to accomplish. He added that he doesn’t always support Netanyahu: “I have always had very mixed feelings about him.”

On Thursday, Harris met with Netanyahu. She kept a serious face during her public handshake with him before they met and delivered remarks afterwards in a firm manner.

“What has happened in Gaza over the past nine months is devastating,” Harris said. “The images of dead children and desperate, hungry people fleeing for safety, sometimes displaced for the second, third or fourth time, we cannot look away in the face of these tragedies. We cannot allow ourselves to become numb to the suffering and I will not be silent.”

Harris called for a two-state solution, adding: “It is time for this war to end and end in a way where Israel is secure, all the hostages are released, the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza ends and the Palestinian people can exercise their right to freedom, dignity and self determination.”

Earlier in the day, Harris released a statement blasting some radical protesters who made pro-Hamas statements and others who burned American flags during the protests against Netanyahu in the nation’s capital.

“Yesterday, at Union Station in Washington, D.C. we saw despicable acts by unpatriotic protestors and dangerous hate-fueled rhetoric,” Harris said. “I condemn any individuals associating with the brutal terrorist organization Hamas, which has vowed to annihilate the State of Israel and kill Jews.”

Harris’s husband, Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, who is Jewish, spoke this week with Jewish advocates on a call with the Jewish Democratic Council of America, telling them he displays a Jewish symbol on his home, called a mezuzah, and may place one on the White House if Harris becomes president. If Harris wins, he would be the first Second Lady or Gentleman to be Jewish.

“I’m just going to keep living openly as a Jew, and maybe there will be a mezuzah on the White House,” Emhoff said.

While several Arab American leaders said they were not yet ready to endorse Harris, one prominent government official of Arab descent has come out in support of her. Abdul El-Sayed, a Wayne County official who oversees its health department and ran for governor as a Democrat in 2018, said Monday on X: “Considering the dangers of the Republican nominee & potential of her leadership, it’s time for all of us to unite behind Kamala Harris to defeat Trump.”

Gilda Jacobs, of Huntington Woods, a former state Senator and state House representative who is active in the Jewish community, is supporting Harris. She was on a Zoom call with other Jewish Democrats this week whom she said were excited for Harris.

“She’s married to a Jewish guy,” which could “possibly influence her sort of decisions,” Jacobs said.

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Regarding what the policies on Israel may be in a Harris administration, Jacobs said it’s unclear, but adds she believes she will work to free Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

“I think it’s too early to tell to be really honest with you,” how Harris will be on Israel, Jacobs said. “She has been a loyal supporter of Biden, because it’s her job to do that. … This is probably one of the most difficult world crises that we’re in right now. And I am confident she’s going to do everything she can to try to help get those hostages released.”

State Rep. Noah Arbit, D-West Bloomfield, founder of the Michigan Democratic Jewish Caucus, said he strongly supports Harris.

“Harris has demonstrated her advocacy and support for American Jews throughout her time in office, from working to combat hate crimes as Attorney General of California, to pioneering the first-ever national strategy to combat antisemitism in 2023 as vice president,” Arbit told the Free Press in a statement. “Michigan Jews will have a steadfast ally in our challenging fight against antisemitism on the far-right and far-left, and Israel will have a stalwart partner along the path to lasting security and a just peace.”

Contact Niraj Warikoo:nwarikoo@freepess.com or X @nwarikoo