‘Uncommitted’ leaders demand Harris back Israel weapons embargo for endorsement
Dearborn — Michigan’s “uncommitted” campaign leaders alongside pro-Palestinian proponents made a call on Wednesday to Vice President Kamala Harris to explicate her position on a ceasefire in Gaza in order for them to make a decision to back the Democratic presidential nominee in the upcoming Nov. 5 election.
The uncommitted movement, which was initially formed to press President Joe Biden into withdrawing his support for Israel in its war against Hamas in Gaza, has garnered quite a bit of traction in the state when it urged Democrats to vote “uncommitted” in the presidential primaries. The war so far has resulted in the death of over 39,000 Palestinians, as reported by Gaza authorities, after Hamas launched an invasion into Israel on Oct. 7, leading to 1,200 fatalities and about 300 kidnappings.
Call for Ceasefire and Arms Embargo
Uncommitted movement’s leaders stated the urgent need for an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza alongside an embargo on American armaments sent to Israel. The group pointed out the necessity to rally in November against the former Republican President Donald Trump, a well-known supporter of Israel.
“We need to see her articulate and differentiate her own policy from Donald Trump’s and we want to know what her policy is outwardly different from the disastrous policy that we’ve seen unfold over the last nine months,” said Abbas Alawieh, a co-founder of the uncommitted movement in Michigan.
Republican Vice Presidential Nominee’s Visit to Michigan
JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential nominee and an Ohio U.S. senator, also made a campaign stop on Wednesday in Macomb County, known as a stronghold for Trump. In Michigan’s Democratic presidential primary election in February, Biden won comfortably with over 70% support, while ‘uncommitted’ managed to secure 13%. However, in Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, and Hamtramck, the uncommitted movement managed to outdo Biden.
A Meeting with Harris
Movement leaders expressed their desire for a meeting with Harris and her senior policy team in Wednesday’s press conference. Alawieh, who is an uncommitted delegate to the Democratic National Convention (DNC) due in the later part of this month, clearly stated that the uncommitted movement would not be supporting Harris for presidency unless she “(tells) us where she stands on Gaza and on the issue of weapons transfers specifically, so that we know what message we can take back to the voters that we mobilize here in Michigan.”
DNC and Pro-Palestinian Advocates
The uncommitted movement plans to send 30 delegates to the DNC slated for Aug. 19-22, according to its leadership. Jewish leaders in Metro Detroit have argued that pro-Palestinian advocates have not applied the war criminal label to Yahya Sinwar, a top official of Hamas, who is believed to be the mastermind behind the Oct. 7 attacks on civilians.
The ‘Not Another Bomb’ Campaign
Zeidan highlighted the campaign ‘Not Another Bomb’, which calls for the Biden-Harris administration to bring an end to weapons funding for Israel. “The ‘Not Another Bomb’ campaign is offering an opportunity for us to uplift the message that we want our tax dollars to no longer fund genocide, that we want our tax dollars to fund housing, (water, healthcare, schools, education, and infrastructure). … We do not want our tax dollars to fund 502,000-pound bombs that are being sent to mass murder innocent Palestinians,” Zeidan said.
Hoping for Harris’ Action
“We welcome Vice President Harris to Michigan and we hope that she hears Michigan’s clear request that we stop arming people who are killing ones we love,” Alawieh ventured. “And I also want to be very clear that… what the uncommitted national movement is saying is that if Vice President Harris embraces an arms embargo, we will drop everything we’re doing and endorse Vice President Harris, and make sure that we proactively encourage the voters who have believed in this movement to vote for Vice President Harris, even through our pain.”
Author: STAFF HERE NOVI WRITER
The NOVI STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERENovi.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Novi, Oakland County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Motor City Comic Con, Michigan State Fair, and Novi Home and Garden Show. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Novi Chamber of Commerce and Novi Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in automotive, technology, and manufacturing that power the local economy such as Gentherm, Stoneridge, and Daifuku North America. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREDetroitMI.com, HEREGrandRapids.com, HERENorthville.com, and HEREPlymouth.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Michigan's dynamic landscape.
