Abdul El-Sayed, a candidate for the US Senate from Michigan, discussed controversial topics in a recent CNN interview. The conversation focused on Israel’s right to exist and social media posts he deleted about defunding the police.
Israel’s Right to Exist
In the interview, CNN’s Kasie Hunt asked El-Sayed if Israel has a right to exist. El-Sayed highlighted the significant spending by AIPAC in the elections, questioning whether the focus should be on sending funds to Israel amid accusations of genocide and apartheid. He stated that the existence of Israel is not in question, but emphasized a political approach that considers equal rights for all, including Jews, Israelis, and Palestinians.
El-Sayed indicated that the core issue is whether such funding should continue abroad when those resources could be allocated within Michigan. He noted, “The question of whether Israel has a right to exist is quite secondary to whether it has a right to our tax dollars.”
Social Media Posts on Defunding the Police
The CNN discussion shifted to El-Sayed’s past social media posts supporting the defund the police movement. In a June 2020 post, El-Sayed criticized excessive spending on police departments as opposed to investing in public services like schools and housing.
During the interview, El-Sayed referenced his work with Wayne County’s Department of Health, Human, & Veterans Services, underlining his commitment to funding a system that protects communities. He emphasized the need to invest in effective interventions such as community violence initiatives and behavioral health responses.
El-Sayed criticized the media’s focus on past tweets, suggesting that more substantive issues, such as healthcare and political influence by corporations, are of greater importance to Michigan’s citizens.
Fox News Digital attempted to reach out to El-Sayed’s campaign for further comments regarding these topics.
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