This article by James Zogby discusses the challenges and discrimination that Arab Americans and supporters of Palestinian rights have faced in the United States. Zogby begins by criticizing the Biden administration for attempting to subsume the history of anti-Arab racism by lumping it together with anti-Muslim bias in their efforts to counter Islamophobia. He emphasizes that while there is overlap between the two, they are not the same and it is important to recognize the unique challenges faced by Arab Americans.
Zogby shares personal experiences of exclusion, threats, and violence that he and his community have endured over the years. He recounts instances where Jewish groups complained about pro-Palestinian Arabs participating in meetings or coalitions, leading to their exclusion. He also mentions cases where candidates returned contributions or rejected endorsements from Arab Americans due to pressure from Jewish organizations. Zogby highlights the violence they faced, including death threats, firebombing, and murder.
The author notes that efforts to silence pro-Palestinian views have a long history in the United States, dating back to the 1970s when Palestinian rights became a taboo topic. He explains that as public opinion began to shift in favor of Palestinians during the first intifada and with the Oslo Accords, pro-Israel organizations fought back, leading to defamation, harassment, and threats against supporters of Palestine.
Zogby concludes by emphasizing the direct connection between the challenges faced by his generation and those faced by supporters of Palestinian rights today. He argues that this issue is not about religion or Islamophobia, but about Palestinian rights and the ability to have open and honest political discourse about the subjugation of those rights. He calls for recognition of the discrimination faced by Arab Americans and the need for change in order to ensure justice for Palestinians.
