What’s happening
Vice President Kamala Harris’ recently appointed Arab-American outreach director, Brenda Abdelall, is facing backlash after statements she made in 2002 resurfaced. Abdelall claimed that “Zionists” were “controlling a lot” of American politics during an interview as a college student.
Why it matters
The appointment sparks controversy particularly in the context of the Biden-Harris administration’s strong stance in support of Israel, emphasizing its right to defend itself. Harris’ campaign aims to secure Arab-American voters’ support, but comments made by Abdelall in the past could complicate these efforts.
Details
Brenda Abdelall, who served as an assistant secretary for the DHS, was appointed to head Harris’ Arab-American outreach just months before the presidential election. The resurfacing statements from 2002, where she inferred significant Zionist control in American politics, have attracted criticism.
“‘Destroying’ is a harsh word,” Abdelall said at the time, “The Zionists have a strong voice in American politics. I would say they’re controlling a lot of it.”
Campaign’s response
The Harris campaign defended Abdelall, clarifying, “In her role at DHS, Brenda worked closely on the implementation of the country’s first National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism. Those 2002 comments do not reflect Brenda’s views or the views of the campaign today.”
The bigger picture
The controversy comes at a critical time for the Harris campaign, which is attempting to rally Arab-American voters in crucial swing states. Both Harris and former President Biden have struggled to gain support from this community due to dissatisfaction with the administration’s handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Meanwhile, more than 100,000 voters in Michigan, a key battleground state, expressed their discontent by voting “uncommitted” in the Democratic primary. Harris is actively working to shift this tide and earn their support ahead of November.
The bottom line
Kamala Harris’ stance on Israel remains clear as she continues advocating for Israel’s right to defend itself, despite pressures and controversies within domestic politics regarding outreach strategies and community support.
This story was first published on foxnews.com.