Between Trump and Harris, Palestinians Have God

By Ayman Okeil

Next November, all eyes will be on United States as it elects a president to occupy the White House for the next four years. With Kamala Harris, Vice President, running alongside Joe Biden in the presidential election, many human rights advocates supporting the rights of the Palestinian people view this as a hopeful development. Harris, being a woman of colour with migrant roots, may have experienced racism in the U.S., which could foster empathy for Palestinian cause and encourage her to pressure the occupying state to halt genocide against Palestinians. There were high hopes that she would influence her Democratic Party to reconsider its support for Israeli occupation forces, especially given the recent rise of a new generation in American society that is increasingly disillusioned by this backing.
However, disappointment followed swiftly as Harris demonstrated a reluctance to engage with pro-Palestinian voices. Notably, she excluded some advocates from speaking at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago last August, prompting calls for a strong presence at the Harris-Trump debate in Philadelphia on September 10. This frustration was compounded by her insistence on maintaining arms sales to Israel.
In contrast, Donald Trump, another presidential candidate, has not hesitated to express his unwavering support for the Israeli government. He is viewed as the principal architect of the so-called “Deal of the Century,” which aimed to undermine the Palestinian cause. His declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the cessation of U.S. aid to UNRWA were actions that effectively served the interests of the Zionist entity.
Two key dynamics emerge from this situation. First, American support for Israeli government is likely to persist regardless of who wins the election. Second, pro-Palestinian voices in the U.S. may choose to abstain from voting in the presidential election or support a third party, particularly as many reside in swing states. Current opinion polls indicate a significant number of voters are reluctant to back any candidate due to their policies on the Palestinian issue. This situation further fractures American democracy and pushes it closer to collapse, exposing its shortcomings and the imposition of specific choices on its citizens. Consequently, the ongoing crimes of genocide committed by Israeli forces will likely continue with full American support, and those responsible for this bloodshed may face no accountability. It is difficult to imagine that the perception of the U.S. will remain intact among many American citizens and people worldwide as a nation of rights, freedoms, and democracy, especially when its leaders are complicit in the suffering of innocent Palestinians through their unwavering support for the Zionist entity.
Many voters feel compelled to participate in elections that do not reflect their values. Is this democracy? As for Palestinian people, they have God on their side. Neither Trump nor Harris will bring them justice. Yet, I am confident in the words of the poet Aboul-Qacem Echebbi: “And their night will then begin to fade, and their chains break…”