Last year's White House celebration of Ramadan was marked by warmth and affection, with President Biden receiving an enthusiastic "we love you" from attendees before he even began speaking. However, this year's Ramadan festivities at the White House paint a starkly different picture. Amidst widespread criticism from Muslim Americans regarding the administration's stance on Israel's siege of Gaza, the usual joyous atmosphere has been replaced by a subdued iftar dinner, attended exclusively by members of the administration.
Wa'el Alzayat, leader of Emgage, an influential Muslim advocacy organization, declined his invitation to this year's iftar, citing the ongoing crisis in Gaza as an inappropriate backdrop for celebration. Even after the White House proposed a policy-focused meeting in response to rejections from Alzayat and others, skepticism lingered due to the short notice provided.
A White House official, acknowledging the deep-seated concerns within the Muslim and Arab communities, reiterated President Biden's commitment to seeking a ceasefire and increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza. However, the subsequent meeting, attended by Muslim leaders and senior officials, left some participants dissatisfied, with Dr. Thaer Ahmad, a Palestinian-American ER doctor present, characterizing Biden's comments as vague.
Democratic sources disclosed that certain Arab American supporters felt excluded from the meeting, potentially due to their critical social media posts regarding the administration's handling of the conflict. The absence of a shared space with the president underscores the growing divide between Biden and the Muslim American community since the outbreak of the conflict, raising apprehensions about potential electoral repercussions, particularly in battleground states like Michigan.
Despite the administration's efforts to engage with community leaders, the lack of transparency surrounding the meeting—no journalists were present, and the event was omitted from the president's public schedule—has drawn criticism. Meanwhile, outside the White House, activists gathered for their own iftar, reminiscent of the chilly reception that White House officials faced earlier this year in Detroit.
As the Israel-Hamas conflict rages on, Biden's approval of weapon sales to Israel amid mounting calls for a ceasefire has sparked further condemnation. Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, urged Muslim leaders to boycott White House invitations until Biden unequivocally calls for a ceasefire, emphasizing the president's potential to influence the situation.
Awad's past remarks critical of Israel's blockade of Gaza led to controversy, underscoring the administration's delicate balancing act in navigating the conflict's complexities while striving to maintain support within the Muslim American community.
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