Gaza “There is no support without a ceasefire”: The punishment vote against Biden for war that threatens the US president’s re-election.
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Michigan voters have given the White House a clear warning. Joe Biden’s support for Israel’s war in Gaza could work against him in the November presidential election.
Biden won the Michigan Democratic primary with 81% of the vote. but the vote opposes United States role in the war The president’s campaign team realized this was more than expected.
voter “uncommitted” As with any electoral candidate proposed by the Democratic Party, he exceeded expectations with a total of 13%.
On Wednesday, activists with the organization Listen to Michigan called on Biden not to vote, interpreting the high percentage of “undecided” voters as a victory.
“It’s clear our president faces a choice,” said Abdullah Hammoud, mayor of Dearborn, a city with a large Arab-American population.
“I hope, Mr. President, that you will listen to us, that you will choose the people of the United States over Benjamin Netanyahu.”
Activists encouraged people running in Tuesday’s Democratic primary to check the “uncommitted” box More than 100,000 voters did so.
The result does not represent an immediate threat to Biden, who has no serious rivals within his party, but it could, given all the people who have refused to give him their support this time. decide not to vote in the election Of November.
The president’s campaign teams are concerned that the behavior of “disloyal” voters could be replicated in states like Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Georgia.
In a close election, Low participation may be decisive,
relations with israel
The United States is a close ally of Israel And provides it with billions of dollars of military aid.
earlier this month, The United States vetoed a UN resolution Which called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and also presented its own draft urging a temporary ceasefire.
Many even among Democrats want the president to take a tougher stance against Israel’s military response to Gaza, where more than 30,000 people have already been killed.
Biden has made some criticisms of Israel’s conduct in the war, which he has called “exaggerated.”
After this the war started in Gaza Hamas attack on October 7 in southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostage.
Israel has launched a large-scale military operation in Gaza with the stated goal of eliminating Hamas.
Since then, some 30,000 people have died and more than 70,000 have been injuredMost of them are civilians, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Strip Health Ministry.
The sheer number of casualties has led to international pressure on Israel to call a ceasefire.
The United States is seeking a temporary cessation of hostilities during the Muslim holiday of Ramadan, which would include an exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners.
Whereas Biden says that this is not the right time to ask for permanent ceasefire, demanded by his critics in Michigan.
“If Biden does not listen to the 80% of Democrats and 66% of Americans who want a permanent ceasefire, Biden and the Democratic Party will be responsible for handing the White House to Trump in November,” says Leyla Elabad, LIASSON’s director. Michigan campaign for,
Michigan is considered a swing state because of the role it played in the last two elections.
Muslims in Michigan
michigan is the place where Largest Arab-American population in the United States.
Like other states, Michigan has open primaries. Democrats, Republicans and independents can participate in internal elections.However when casting their vote they must request a specific party ballot.
After announcing his victory, Biden did not mention the war or the protest vote, but his campaign team heard the message loud and clear.
Discontent over the issue extends to Arab-American and Muslim communities.
a member of michigan armenian community They also went to the polls to protest what they see as the Biden administration’s failure to address the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenians in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Many young voters are also angry. They often show it at protests held at universities across the United States.
Many think Biden, 81, is too old to understand the concerns of his generation and that he has not been decisive enough on issues like climate change.
Still, not a single Michigander who opposes the war in Gaza polled this week by BBC News said they planned to vote for Trump.
Anger toward Biden is likely to draw thousands of voters Stay home or vote for a third-party candidate in NovemberDue to which Biden may have to contest elections again.
*With information from Published Notes by Sarah Smith, Brandon Drennan and Madeline Halpert from Michigan.
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