Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris on October 30, 2024. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Image/Scott Olson/Getty Images

By Jacob Kornbluh
October 31, 2024

Presidential campaigns are making last-ditch efforts to win over Jewish and Arab voters — a tricky proposition since constituencies, which have traditionally both Democratic favoritestend to have divergent views on the war between Israel and Hamas.

But former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, engaged in a tight race, each see an opportunity to convince these voters that they offer a fair approach to the Middle East conflicts and the best chance for peace.

The candidates and their surrogates are telling Jews that they view Israel’s security as non-negotiable and will prioritize the release of hostages still in Gaza. And they promise Muslim and Arab voters to work for a quick end to the war that has ravaged Gaza and the conflict that has killed and displaced thousands in Lebanon.

More than 700,000 voters in the Democratic primaries – including 13% in Michigan – voted “no commitment” to protest President Joe Biden’s unwavering support for Israel. Harris, who has expressed somewhat stronger sympathy for the Palestinians in Gaza, hopes that many of those who are not engaged will find her a more acceptable choice than Biden. Some of them said they would not vote for her, but for a third-party candidate or for Trump – or that they would leave the first line of the ballot blank.

The former president, who Muslims criticized and I tried to enact a ban on immigration from predominantly Muslim countries, nevertheless hopes to appeal to Arab Americans disappointed with the Biden administration’s inability to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza.

Here’s a sample of what the candidates and their surrogates have said to Jewish and Arab voters in recent days. Remarks have been edited for length and clarity,

Trump reached out to Lebanese Americans

Trump posted on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday: I want to see the Middle East return to real peace, lasting peace, and we will do it right so this doesn’t happen every 5 or 10 years! I will preserve the equal partnership between all Lebanese communities. Your friends and family in Lebanon deserve to live in peace, prosperity and harmony with their neighbors, and this can only happen with peace and stability in the Middle East. I look forward to working with the Lebanese community living in the United States of America to ensure the safety and security of the great Lebanese people. Vote Trump for peace!

Former President Bill Clinton addresses Arab American voters

Clinton spoke at a campaign rally Wednesday in Michigan: When I read that Michiganders are considering not voting because they are angry at the Biden administration for honoring its historic obligation to Trying to prevent the destruction of Israel, I think it’s a mistake. because Donald Trump showed what he wanted. We cannot kill our way out of conflict, but we must fight to find safety. Kamala Harris said she would try to negotiate an end to the violence, an end to the killings and a new peace process – and that should be enough.

Republican Vice Presidential Candidate JD Vance Addresses Arabs, Jews

Vance told October 10 rally in Detroit: I think most Jewish and Arab Americans recognize that what is in the best interest of Israel and Palestine is peace, and Donald J. Trump is the peace president. Kamala Harris seems all for starting or escalating conflicts on every continent around the world. Donald Trump believes that peace comes through strength: ending the massacres, getting Americans out of harm’s way and focusing on building a peaceful vote. This is how we help the Palestinians. This is how we help the Israelis. But what’s more important is how you help American citizens.

Rabbi Sharon Brous asks Jewish Voters Need to Talk to Their Friends on the Right and the Left

On a Zoom call Wednesday hosted by the Jewish Democratic Council of America, Brous, the leader of the Los Angeles Jewish community Ikarsaid: I invite you to look to your political left, those who in previous elections probably would never have thought about not voting for the Democratic candidate at the top of the ticket, but who now, frankly, find themselves on the fence because that they do not correspond to the way the administration has handled the war in Gaza. I ask you to turn to those on your left and remind them that the only way to have a just, dignified and peaceful future for Israelis and Palestinians alike is to have a strong and responsible American administration.

And I’m going to invite you to look to your right at those who are saying that they just feel that they just don’t believe that the vice president will stand with Israel when push comes to shove. I’m going to ask you to remind them that Vice President Harris has continued to support Israel, has consistently called for the return of the hostages, and has consistently fought for Israeli democracy.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis Vows Harris Will Pressure Hamas

Polis, who is Jewish, was also on the JDCA zoom call Wednesday. He said: Kamala Harris will ensure that we continue to pressure Hamas with every means possible to free the hostages while they are still alive. We know that Donald Trump plays football with the dictators of the world. He takes the side of those who flatter him rather than those who are oppressed. And we must ensure that we have the moral guidance of leadership that Kamala Harris will provide to ensure that we exert maximum pressure – yes, on Hamas, but also on Iran and other forces of chaos and attacks in Middle East – to ensure that we can protect the Jewish State of Israel, as well as work towards the autonomy of the Palestinian people, who can finally be freed from the Hamas dictatorship in the Gaza Strip.