Michigan Jewish Leaders Demand Policy Shifts from Senate Nominee Abdul El-Sayed
Michigan Jewish leaders launch a petition urging Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed to clarify his stance on Israel and Jewish safety or risk losing support.
POLICY WIRE — Washington, USA — A coalition representing approximately 40,000 Jewish Michiganders launched a petition campaign on Tuesday, pressuring Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed and other political candidates to adopt specific commitments regarding Jewish safety and their stance on Israel. The group warned that failure to address these concerns could jeopardize their electoral support.
El-Sayed, a former Michigan health official, secured the Democratic nomination last month following a primary campaign marked by his vocal criticism of the Israeli government and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). While El-Sayed has previously stated that his opposition to these entities does not equate to criticism of Jewish people, telling NBC News last month, I love and revere Judaism and the Jewish people. I believe they are a light unto the world … but they are not the same as AIPAC and Israel, his rhetoric remains a point of contention.
The petition outlines five nonnegotiable requirements for candidates seeking the support of the Jewish community: ensuring Jewish safety, protecting the right of Jewish individuals to define their own identities, supporting Jewish sovereignty in Israel, welcoming the full participation of Jewish Michiganders in American political life, and providing an affirmative vision for the future of the Middle East. Organizers emphasized that political support is earned rather than owed.
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El-Sayed’s campaign has faced scrutiny for his past association with podcaster Hasan Piker and for comments made following a March attack on a Detroit-area synagogue, where he remarked that hurt people hurt people. Although he later apologized for those comments in August, critics like Rabbi Aaron Starr and other community leaders continue to monitor his evolving position. El-Sayed has maintained that he stands against all forms of antisemitism and that no one speaks for his campaign except himself and his official spokespeople.
As the November election approaches, El-Sayed faces former GOP Rep. Mike Rogers in a race that could prove pivotal for control of the U.S. Senate. With many Jewish voters expressing feelings of political homelessness, community leaders are closely evaluating the rhetoric of both candidates. Rabbi Starr noted that his congregation remains undecided, stating that they are listening to every word from both El-Sayed and Rogers as they weigh their options for the upcoming contest.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
