WASHINGTON (Michigan News Source) – Ahead of President Joe Biden’s remarks in Michigan on Thursday, he signed an executive order imposing sanctions on Israeli citizens involved in attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank. 

“Today’s actions seek to promote peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike,” said Jake Sullivan, National Security Advisor to the President. 

What’s the purpose of the executive order?

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Sullivan expanded on what the E.O. would accomplish in the Middle East, after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7. 

“This E.O. will allow the United States to issue financial sanctions against those directing or participating in certain actions, including acts or threats of violence against civilians, intimidating civilians to cause them to leave their homes, destroying or seizing property, or engaging in terrorist activity in the West Bank,” said Sullivan in a statement. 

Biden speaks to the UAW in Detroit. 

On Thursday President Biden visited Michigan and spoke with members of the UAW in his first campaign stop of the year in the state. 

“We now have in large part because of you and organized labor, the strongest economy in the whole damn world,” he said, according to the Detroit Free Press. “Inflation’s coming down. Jobs are growing.”

He also said a manufacturing renaissance is underway, according to the Detroit Free Press, commenting, “Remember they told us ‘manufacturing’s dead in America. China’s going to eat our lunch?’ Well, guess what man, we don’t taste that good.”

His visit came after he received the UAW endorsement last week. 

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“This November, we can stand up and elect someone who wants to stand with us and support our cause,” said UAW President Shawn Fain. “Or we can elect someone who will divide us and fight us every step of the way.”

Biden under scrutiny for Middle East response. 

President Biden has been criticized lately by Arab and Muslim Americans, including those in Michigan who hosted a protest ahead of his visit to Detroit due to his response to the conflict in the Middle East including a protest on Wednesday. 

“We are not interested in conversations with this campaign and this administration,” said Dearborn attorney Amer Zahr, a Palestinian American activist who helped organize the rally at Fordson High according to Detroit Free Press. “They have to call for a ceasefire. He could make a phone call tomorrow and put an end to all this. He has chosen not to. … President Biden, we say quite clearly: you are not welcome in our community.”

During the hour and a half rally in Fordson High, according to the Detroit Free Press, the crowd chanted: “Biden, Biden, you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide,” “Genocide Joe” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”

Dearborn Mayor, Abdullah Hammoud, expressed why he and others declined meeting with President Biden’s campaign manager during his visit. 

“This is not the time to talk about elections,” he said. “This is the time to ask and demand for an immediate ceasefire.”