Dr. Dan Diker Warns of Rising Anti-Israel Shift in U.S. Politics After Abdulrahman Al-Sayed's Primary Win

Abdulrahman Al-Sayed's surprising victory in the Michigan Democratic primaries has raised alarm in Israel. Dr. Dan Diker, president of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, described Al-Sayed as an extreme anti-Israel candidate who has turned opposition to Israel into a political engine. Diker called this development "Medadani on steroids" and warned it is just the beginning of a broader trend.

Al-Sayed defeated establishment-backed candidates despite significant financial opposition, including millions from AIPAC supporting his rival. Diker highlighted Al-Sayed's exceptional political skills, combining ideological messaging with strong communication abilities. Al-Sayed has labeled Israel an apartheid state and accused it of genocide, positions that Diker said make him highly problematic from an Israeli perspective. Previously a 2017 Michigan gubernatorial candidate, Al-Sayed is also a physician with a PhD and a key role in Michigan's healthcare system.

Diker emphasized Al-Sayed's use of social media to build a grassroots political movement against the establishment, gaining support from progressive figures like Bernie Sanders. Al-Sayed campaigned on ending U.S. military aid to Israel, arguing that Michigan residents struggle financially and that aid to Israel should be cut, a message that resonated with voters despite the economic benefits of that aid returning to the U.S.

According to Diker, this reflects a deep shift in the Democratic electorate's composition and its stance on Israel, where support for Israel is increasingly polarized. He noted that Israel has ceased to be merely a foreign policy issue and has become a significant domestic American political topic. Diker called for Israel to invest heavily in public diplomacy to expose its adversaries, as the Palestinian issue has become a key factor in Democratic primaries.

While Al-Sayed focused little on other international issues besides supporting aid to Ukraine, his campaign's emphasis on Israel shows how central the topic has become. Diker also warned that similar anti-Israel sentiments are beginning to appear within the Republican Party, though they remain less overt due to stronger pro-Israel support there currently.