Arab and Palestinian Americans frustrated, left without commitments to policy change after meeting w Anchorage

“There wasn’t a plan that was shared that instilled any confidence that the administration is prioritizing an immediate solution,” Bilal Hammoud, executive director of the American Arab Chamber of Commerce, adding the discussion “was disappointing because we wanted more concrete next steps.”

The emotional and heated meeting comes as the Palestinian and Arab American community is divided over engagement with the White House, as members harbor sadness and anger over the administration’s policy toward the Israel-Hamas war. White House officials have held several meetings with prominent Arab Americans across the country since Hamas’ October 7 attacks, but some of the invited participants have declined to attend, often making their rejection known in open letters and press interviews.

Many members of the community agree Biden would have to made significant policy changes to win back this key part of his political coalition — including Arab and Muslim Americans and progressive voters — ahead of the November elections while his administration largely refuses to use its leverage over Israel to halt the fighting in Gaza.

The groups went in Friday with specific demands for the administration, including calling for an immediate ceasefire, the return of all hostages and prisoners held without charges, the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, unimpeded humanitarian assistance to reach the Palestinian population, the end to US arms shipments to Israel, and the rebuilding of devastated Palestinian communities.

Yet the attendees did not leave the meeting, which lasted more than 90 minutes, with any commitments to take action on those fronts.

“I believe the meeting was a failure; we were not able to agree on any change in US policy towards the situation in Gaza,” said one attendee.

John Dabeet, the president of the US Palestinian Council, said he feels “cautiously optimistic” after the meeting. But he said it was too hard to predict which actions the administration might take.

“We are not naive. We did not go there thinking we can turn the ship completely in the opposite way, but any change we can create will be seen as a positive thing to help the people in Gaza to lower their suffering,” Dabeet said. More than 35,000 people have been killed in Gaza since October 7, according to the region’s health ministry.

The Arab and Palestinian American leaders requested the meeting, which included the heads of five national organizations: the American Federation of Ramallah Palestine, the American Arab Chamber of Commerce, Arab America, the Arab American Institute, and the US Palestinian Council.

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