Michigan Senate Candidate Calls Israel 'Not Our Friend'

El-Sayed argued that an ally taking U.S. funds to involve the nation in unnecessary wars is not a true friend. He compared Israel to a friend who exploits resources, speaks ill of others, and entangles them in conflicts, concluding that it is time to realize Israel is not actually a friend. His remarks have heightened concerns among American Jewish leaders and fueled divisions within the Democratic Party ahead of the November midterm elections.

These comments follow previous controversies for El-Sayed, including scrutiny over his family's alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and his sister-in-law's involvement in a federal terrorist watchlist lawsuit. El-Sayed defended his sister-in-law, attributing her inclusion on the list to Islamophobia and a system that assumes guilt based on names and backgrounds. Additionally, El-Sayed previously faced criticism from the Jewish community in March for controversial remarks following an attack on the Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield, for which he later apologized.