Michigan Senate Candidate Abdul El-Sayed Addresses Israel’s Right to Exist and Defund the Police Controversies

Interview Clash: El-Sayed and Questions on Israel

In a tense CNN interview, Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed faced repeated inquiries about whether Israel has a right to exist. El-Sayed questioned why he was only asked about Israel and not Palestine, emphasizing the two-state solution supported by past presidents. He pointed to the massive expenditure by AIPAC in the election, stressing his focus on investing in local children rather than funding overseas conflict.

El-Sayed commented, “The question of whether Israel has a right to exist is secondary to whether it has a right to our tax dollars.”

In the discussion, he highlighted his desire for equal rights, including peace and dignity for Jews, Israelis, and Palestinians.

Social Media Posts and Stance on Police Funding

CNN’s Kasie Hunt also asked El-Sayed about deleted social media posts supporting the defund the police movement. He wrote in June 2020, criticizing cities for spending more on policing than on essential services. El-Sayed clarified by citing his experience as a director working on community-focused interventions.

He stated, “Judge me by my work, I funded the system because it needed to be funded.”

El-Sayed argued that discussions should focus on systems that genuinely protect people, referencing relevant interventions.

Reaction to Media Focus

El-Sayed criticized CNN’s focus on past tweets and clickbait topics, suggesting that discussions on housing, healthcare, and corporate influence are what people want from their next senator. He noted the absence of questions on these tweets within Michigan communities.