Michigan Senate Candidate Apologizes for Downplaying Synagogue Attack

Democratic Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed has apologized to Jewish voters for remarks he made in March, which appeared to justify an attack on a Detroit-area synagogue. Speaking at a forum with Jewish Democrats in Lansing, El-Sayed admitted he "made a mistake" by saying, "hurt people hurt people," following the March attack on Temple Israel in West Bloomfield. He stated he should have only issued a clear condemnation of the incident.

El-Sayed's initial statement after the attack, while condemning violence against innocents, also included the phrase that "violence is a cycle" and "hurt people hurt people." This context was reportedly linked to the attacker, an American of Lebanese descent, who had allegedly lost family members in an Israeli strike in Lebanon. El-Sayed explained that his attempt to provide "broader context" was "inappropriate" and "unintentionally disrespected the fear and pain of those affected."

While the apology was reportedly welcomed by some Jewish Democrats present, concerns remain regarding El-Sayed's ties to content creator Hassan Shaikho, who has made strong anti-Israel statements and participated in El-Sayed's primary campaign events. El-Sayed has not disavowed Shaikho, stating his campaign is focused on "the cost of living" in Michigan and dismissing questions about the content creator as irrelevant.

Shaikho's recent comments, where he suggested American Jews could face threats due to their stances on Israel, have intensified criticism. He claimed he was not inciting violence but warned that if American Jews identify solely with Israel, "someone will eventually come and act, not against the state of Israel but against American Jews." El-Sayed has previously called Israel's actions in Gaza "genocide," described the Israeli government as "evil," and stated Israel should not exist as a Jewish state.

El-Sayed, a physician and son of Egyptian immigrants, faces Republican former Congressman Mike Rogers in a closely contested race that could impact control of the Senate. Rogers has criticized El-Sayed's apology as a "deception" aimed at "tricking the people of Michigan." Michigan's Attorney General, Dana Nessel, a Jewish woman, expressed feeling unsafe attending a recent Democratic convention event after a pro-Israel Democratic congresswoman, Haley Stevens, who lost to El-Sayed in the primary, was reportedly heckled with "Zionist pig" chants by party activists.