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Thinking about how Biden’s election will affect the Middle East and North Africa, I chose to focus on the effects on ordinary citizens. Main points follow--- https://carnegie-mec.org/diwan/83173 via @CarnegieMEC
Trump policies have harmed MENA citizens concretely in several ways:
--Muslim ban denied access to US to tens of thousands annually from #Iran #Libya #Somalia #Syria #Yemen. Biden will reverse on day 1.
--Muslim ban denied access to US to tens of thousands annually from #Iran #Libya #Somalia #Syria #Yemen. Biden will reverse on day 1.
--Trump cut refugees accepted by US from 110,000 in 2016 to under 15,000 in 2019--at a time when MENA citizens struggled w/regional wars & turmoil. Biden promised to increase to 125,000 refugees accepted in his first year.
--Trump maximum pressure on #Iran led to crushing econ hardship for citizens. Biden will consider lifting at least some sanctions to get back into deal w/Iran.
--Trump policy was disaster for Palestinians: cut aid to UNRWA, encouraged annexation, turned blind eye to demolitions etc. Biden will reverse much of this.
No wonder citizens polled in MENA--in contrast to many of their leaders--preferred Biden over Trump by large margins https://www.arabbarometer.org/
Biden policy in MENA probably won't be all that citizens might hope; but it seems likely to be less cruel than that of Trump.
