Democrat Abdul El-Sayed is facing accusations of antisemitism in the Michigan Senate race, with Jewish voters and organizations sharply divided over his candidacy. El-Sayed has been criticized for his description of Israel's actions as "genocide" and his opposition to Israeli military aid, as well as his response to a terrorist attack at a local synagogue, in which he said "Hurt people hurt people".
Rabbi Yaakov Menken, executive vice president of the Coalition for Jewish Values, has slammed El-Sayed's apology for his response to the synagogue attack as "conditional", arguing that his controversies reflect a broader pattern of racism and bigotry.
Menken stated that El-Sayed's worldview is not just about foreign policy, but also has serious implications for Jews in the US. However, not all Jewish voters share the same concerns about El-Sayed, with some groups, such as Michigan Jews for Democracy and Bend the Arc: Jewish Action, endorsing his candidacy and praising his stance on domestic policy issues.
These groups argue that El-Sayed's positions on Israel may be divisive, but his commitment to fighting antisemitism and promoting social justice is unwavering. The controversy surrounding El-Sayed's candidacy has sparked a heated debate within the Jewish community, with some groups, such as Michigan Jews Against Extremism, strongly opposing his candidacy and others, like Jewish Voice for Peace Action, praising his remarks on Israel.
The debate is likely to continue in the final hours of the Michigan Senate race.