Leaders in the Arab American community haven’t wavered in their anger at how President Joe Biden has handled the conflict in Gaza, but say his comments to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday — that U.S. policy toward Israel could be conditional and a temporary “immediate cease-fire” was “essential” — signaled a much-needed shift for them.
Biden’s changes in posture toward Netanyahu were “definitely steps in the right direction” that could improve strained relations with the Arab American community, said Dr. Hanna Hanania, former president of the American Federation of Ramallah Palestine who now serves as co-chair of the government affairs committee for the group.
“The administration[’s] language is improving daily,” he told NOTUS.