Young professionals with Ambassador Ed Gabriel.

DEARBORN — Few communities have a more vested interest in Middle Eastern affairs than Arab and Muslim Americans. Their status in the U.S. and the future of their home countries rest in the policy views of the next president. 

To some, choosing between the two major presidential candidates might be an obvious choice. However, the local Arab American community has proved reluctant to eagerly commit to Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton. During the primary elections in March, Arab Americans were credited with tilting the scales in favor of Clinton’s Democratic rival, Bernie Sanders, helping him win Michigan.

For Ed Gabriel, former U.S. ambassador to Morocco, Clinton, a former secretary of state, is the best choice for president.

Having fostered U.S.-Moroccan trade relations, security and military cooperation while serving as ambassador from 1997 to 2001, Gabriel said he often attended meetings involving key Middle East leaders and Clinton, witnessing firsthand the reasons why he believes the Democratic nominee will be one of the greatest commanders-in-chief in this county’s history.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the former ambassador, now working as an advisor for outreach focused on Arab American communities with the Clinton campaign, met with students at both Wayne State University and Henry Ford College and joined community leaders in round table discussions to address Clinton’s plans to back the working class and the importance of registering voters ahead of the October 11 deadline.

Gabriel told The AANews that Clinton has already developed close relationships with political actors across the entire region, establishing trust with leaders across the Middle East– the only thing that can help move toward workable solutions. 

In 2000, Gabriel said he was involved in the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and proposals set by former President Bill Clinton. He said during that process, Hillary Clinton was the first to call for a two-state solution. From that experience, he said, she has become highly schooled about what it takes to bring about peace between Israel and its neighbors.

The ambassador recalled a meeting Clinton had with Morocco’s late King Hassan II in 1999, which he attended. During the meeting, the then-first lady engaged the king about religion. Gabriel recalled that she’d found the Maliki school of Sunni Islam— a sect predominantly practiced in the west of the county— fascinating and suggested the king should write a book. She’d told the king the world should understand the philosophy its adherents have about the religion, something she said most Americans do not understand.

Two years later, the king’s son, King Mohammad VI, established a university to train imams in this school of Islam.

“She was so ahead of herself,” Gabriel said.

In his experience with speaking to leaders in the Levant, Persian Gulf and North
Africa, Gabriel said, “there is tremendous confidence that she is going be fair and balanced and move in the direction that’s not only in America’s interest, but show that America has regained leadership in the region.”

Gabriel also pointed to Clinton’s 25 year record of protecting the civil rights of minorities and to her unabashed views against Islamophobia. At this year’s Democratic Convection, several Muslims took to the stage to back Clinton.

In fact, Gabriel said a presidential campaign is employing a director of Muslim outreach for the first time. In addition, the Clinton campaign has an ethnic outreach arm, one of which is dedicated to connecting with Arab Americans.

With respect to Republican candidate Donald Trump, Gabriel said many constituents see him as a, “scary alternative.” He stressed the role of local Arab and Muslim Americans in determining how America is perceived around the world.

“I believe if we win Michigan, it would have the effect of not only electing Clinton, but helping redirect the world towards a more positive attitude towards America,” he said.

In the near future, the ambassador will travel to the battleground states of Virginia and Pennsylvania, which could also help Clinton win the election.