During a debate on Thursday, Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Abdulrahman El-Sayed, who identifies as a Muslim leftist, stated he would vote against providing defensive weapons to Israel in the event of an attack from Iran or another state actor.
The moderator, Rick Albin, a well-known political reporter from WOOD TV8, queried El-Sayed about whether he would support supplying military aid to Israel if it were “attacked tomorrow by Iran or another state actor.” El-Sayed avoided a direct yes or no response, suggesting instead that he wouldn’t back measures to help Israel defend itself, arguing against the use of taxpayer money for foreign military support.
“I’ve been absolutely clear. I want our tax dollars spent here to provide schools here … I want to make sure we’ve got good schools here and health care here. I want to make sure that we are taking care of people here. That is my priority,” he articulated.
Addressing Albin’s hypothetical scenario about an attack from Iran, El-Sayed commented on Israel’s perceived influence, stating, “Israel has pushed us to go to war in Iran. And of course, my colleague who thinks there’s a war for everything went right along with it. And here we are. Israel had clear war aims. They wanted us to go to war with them, and their war aims were what? The annexation of southern Lebanon? Ask yourself, are we safer because of that war? He wants unconditional support for a foreign government. I want unconditional support for kids in our schools, unconditional support for our health care, child care, things that he would vote to defund.”
When pressed again by Albin about whether he would provide defensive weapons for Israel, El-Sayed reiterated his stance.
“I don’t want our tax dollars buying weapons for other countries,” he said. “I don’t know what’s so hard about that.”
In response, Albin distilled the answer to a clear “no.”
El-Sayed also mentioned in the Grand Rapids debate that both Iran and Israel, regarded as America’s top ally in the Middle East, possess their own threats.
