The “Uncommitted” Movement, a group that advocates for policy changes in Gaza, has announced that it will not endorse Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate for president. The group cited Harris’s unwillingness to shift on unconditional weapons policy and her failure to make a clear campaign statement in support of upholding existing U.S. and international human rights law as reasons for their decision.
Initially, Uncommitted leaders and observers were optimistic that Harris’s nomination would lead to a policy shift toward Israel and Gaza, despite her strong pro-Israel record. However, as Harris solidified Democratic support behind her nomination, her campaign intensified its efforts to conduct outreach to Arab and Muslim voters.
After President Joe Biden withdrew as the Democratic nominee, Harris’s aides were concerned about the public criticism that the administration had neglected Arab and Muslim constituents by sending billions of dollars of weapons to Israel. Uncommitted delegates and their supporters hoped that Harris would take a harder stance against Israel’s human rights abuses and shift away from Biden’s unconditional support for Israel’s military.
During the Democratic National Committee (DNC) convention in Chicago, Uncommitted delegates withheld their support for Harris to pressure her to commit to immediately stop sending weapons to Israel and secure a permanent ceasefire. However, communication between Uncommitted and the Harris campaign became strained after the DNC refused Uncommitted’s request to host a Palestinian American speaker on the main stage at the convention.
Uncommitted delegates held a sit-in outside the convention hall and gave Harris until September 16 to meet with them in Michigan. However, the deadline passed earlier this week without a meeting taking place. While Uncommitted will not endorse Harris, they continue to oppose a Donald Trump presidency and urge uncommitted voters to cast anti-Trump votes up and down the ballot.
The decision by Uncommitted not to back Harris may not significantly impact her chances of winning the White House in November. However, it does raise concerns about the progress Democrats had hoped to make in engaging disenchanted voters, including their Arab and Muslim constituents. At least 740,000 people voted “uncommitted” in Democratic primaries earlier this year.
Some Democrats had hoped that Harris’s public remarks denouncing the killing of civilians in Palestine indicated a potential change in her stance on Israel and Gaza. However, during her nomination acceptance speech, Harris reiterated her support for Israel’s right to defend itself and used passive language to describe the destruction in Gaza.
Uncommitted voters who spoke to The Intercept stated that they would withhold their votes unless the Democratic candidate makes significant policy changes to stop the killing of civilians in Gaza. This sentiment reflects a growing frustration with U.S. foreign policy in the region and a desire for a more balanced approach.
In conclusion, the decision by the Uncommitted Movement not to endorse Kamala Harris highlights the ongoing debate within the Democratic Party regarding U.S. policy towards Israel and Gaza. While it may not significantly impact Harris’s chances in the presidential election, it underscores the need for the party to address the concerns of disenchanted voters and work towards a more equitable and just approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.