In a piece published by The Intercept, Abby Ellis, an award-winning documentary filmmaker and investigative reporter, shared a personal encounter that underscores the deep connections and shared grief within the Arab diaspora in the US, particularly in the context of the ongoing war on Gaza.

Ellis recounted a chance incident that shows the emotional toll of the Israeli aggression on Gaza and Lebanon, illustrating how these distant wars impact Arab families in the US, including her own. 

A moment of shared grief

In July, while golfing in Michigan with her father, Ellis was approached by a woman who noticed the Arabic text on her shirt, which referenced the Al Deira Hotel, a once-prominent Gaza landmark now destroyed by Israeli forces.

Wearing Arabic in public can be concerning, but the golf club has members from countries neighboring Palestine, including Lebanon, and Syria. The woman, whom Ellis recognized as having a Lebanese husband, shouted, “I’m from the West Bank!” and asked about the shirt. Ellis explained the story of the Al Deira Hotel.

Then, a Syrian woman accompanying the first chimed in, sharing that her family had lost 18 members in the Orthodox Church bombing. Ellis revealed that her cousin’s cousin had also lost three children in that same attack. In a moment of shared grief, the Syrian woman paused and said, “That’s my cousin.” They smiled, realizing, as many Arabs do in Michigan, that they were likely distant relatives.

This encounter didn’t take place in Dearborn, often thought of as Michigan’s Arab-American hub, but in Grand Rapids, a city that played a role in Joe Biden’s 2020 victory. Ellis’s father’s family, like many in West Michigan, hails from Lebanon, though when her great-grandfather emigrated, it was still part of Syria.

Her remaining relatives live in the Bekaa Valley, a fertile region near the Syrian border, known for its vineyards and crops but also a sizeable Hezbollah suppter base. Now, as Israeli bombs fall, families like hers live in constant fear for their lives.

Michigan's Arab Americans: A voting bloc on edge amid Israeli wars in Lebanon and Gaza

Ellis emphasized that Michigan's election narrative has largely revolved around the deep frustration of Arab Americans with the Democratic Party, particularly over the ongoing Israeli destruction of Gaza, which has left lasting emotional scars.

The recent Israeli military invasion of Lebanon has only worsened this sense of betrayal, further alienating a key voting bloc. Ellis suggested that this discontent could have significant political consequences, as Vice President Kamala Harris's chances of securing the presidency could be jeopardized if she loses Michigan, where current polls show a tight race between her and Donald Trump.

Michigan hosts around 9,000 Palestinian Americans and approximately 82,000 Lebanese Americans, the largest population in any state. Given that Hillary Clinton lost Michigan by fewer than 11,000 votes in 2016, Lebanese voters could significantly influence the outcome of the 2024 election.

As the election date of November 5 approaches, Ellis believed the weeks following the Israeli invasion of Lebanon may be viewed as a critical moment for Kamala Harris in her campaign.

While drafting this piece, Ellis received a text from her relative in Michigan, Reema Ghareeb, stating, “I just found out there was a strike three minutes from my cousin’s house.”

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Although Ghareeb had intended to vote for Harris, she now finds herself reconsidering. “I’d never vote for Trump; he’d be worse,” she explained, “but in light of what’s happening in Lebanon, I have no idea how I can vote for Harris.”

Shifting sands

The author highlighted the shifting perceptions among Arab Americans following President Biden's exit from the political scene in July, which initially sparked optimism for potential change. After October 7, when "Israel" invaded Gaza, Harris was not the face of the Democratic Party, allowing her some leeway to distance herself from Biden’s unwavering support for "Israel".

However, with Harris now at the forefront of the party and Israel conducting bombings in Lebanon with full US backing, that sense of detachment has disappeared, as per Ellis.

Since last year, the Israeli offensive in Lebanon has displaced over 1.2 million people and resulted in more than 2,000 fatalities, including 22 people killed when a US-made bomb struck a Beirut apartment building. Among the casualties was Kamel Jawad, an American citizen from Michigan who was caring for his mother at the time.

Harris: A symbol of continuity over change for Arab Americans

The ongoing violence is eroding the optimism that many Arab Americans once placed in Kamala Harris, leading to a growing skepticism that she may merely represent continuity rather than change. Last week, the Arab American Political Action Committee, based in Michigan, made a historic decision to withhold its presidential endorsement for the first time since its establishment in 1998, citing that “both candidates have endorsed genocide in Gaza and war in Lebanon.”

Nada Al-Hanooti, the national deputy organizing director for Emgage, a nonprofit dedicated to enhancing civic engagement among Arab Americans, commented on the challenges facing Harris, as quoted by Ellis. She noted that the situation in Lebanon has significantly complicated efforts to persuade voters. Emgage initially endorsed Harris, hoping she would advocate for a ceasefire if elected. However, Al-Hanooti acknowledged that Harris’s capacity to distance herself from President Biden is severely limited at this moment, and that nuance is not resonating with Lebanese voters.

“There are some community members we’ve spoken to who are seeing the strategy and are voting on strategy,” she said. “But for many, it’s very hard for them to see past their grief.”

Behind the scenes, Arab and Muslim leaders in Michigan urged Harris earlier this month to advocate for a ceasefire. Although she was said to be sympathetic to their concerns, the only action voters observed was the administration's retreat from its proposal for a ceasefire in Lebanon, choosing instead to endorse "Israel's" military incursion.

Arab Michiganders face uncertainty 

Arab Michiganders' fears, as per the author, are exacerbated by the sense of neglect felt by Americans in Lebanon trying to return home. Following October 7, the US swiftly evacuated its citizens from "Israel", deploying Navy vessels and organizing flights for their departure.

In stark contrast, the response to the 7,000 Americans in Lebanon who have reached out to the US Embassy for evacuation assistance has been slow and chaotic.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., shared a heartfelt video on Instagram, criticizing the situation as a disgrace and expressing frustration that her staff has to “beg” the administration for help in getting constituents home.

With the election approaching, the author struggles to understand the Democrats' strategy. They argue that the Biden administration is not only neglecting the safety of these Americans but also jeopardizing Michigan, a crucial battleground state, just weeks away from what has been labeled the most significant election in modern American history.

Everyone the author knows simply wants their families to be safe. Each Lebanese American, as per the author, has watched in horror as "Israel" has bombed hospitals, apartments, churches, bakeries, schools, UN centers, and refugee camps in Gaza, turning a vibrant community into a graveyard of desolation.

The US continues to provide aid while also supplying bombs. With Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatening Lebanon with a fate similar to Gaza — and no assurance from the Biden administration of any intervention — what options does the Lebanese diaspora have but to heed his ominous warnings? the author questioned.

Every casualty in Lebanon costs Harris a vote 

Abby Ellis asserted that for Kamala Harris to gain traction in Michigan, she needs to reignite hope among Lebanese families that she can create a better future for them. This effort should begin with a clear commitment to restraining Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's actions. The Harris campaign must recognize the profound connections Michiganders maintain with Lebanon—relationships that are woven through families, communities, churches, mosques, and close-knit networks.

The sorrow felt by the Lebanese diaspora is not limited to conflict zones; it permeates suburban golf courses and family group chats. This grief, as per the author, not only fosters disillusionment but also cultivates solidarity with their compatriots abroad, posing a risk of silence at the ballot box come election day.

"Right now, it feels like every casualty in Lebanon is costing Harris a vote," she concluded by saying.