DETROIT (VINnews) – Abdul El-Sayed, the far-left Arab Democratic candidate seeking Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat, appeared to dodge a direct question about Israel’s fundamental right to exist as a Jewish state during a recent event with Jewish supporters.

El-Sayed, a former gubernatorial candidate known for his progressive positions, told the audience last week that he “often struggle[s]” with the question, suggesting it forces a deeper debate over the definition of a Jewish state rather than offering a clear affirmation of Israel’s legitimacy.

“I often struggle with the question that people ask in this particular scenario, because what they now ask is, ‘Do you believe in the right of Israel to exist as a Jewish state,’ which, to me, forces the question of a definition of what a Jewish state means,” El-Sayed said, according to footage from the event.

The remarks have raised concerns among pro-Israel advocates in Michigan’s Jewish community, who view unequivocal support for Israel’s existence as a Jewish homeland as a baseline expectation, especially following the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas massacre and the ensuing war against Iranian-backed terror groups.

El-Sayed’s hesitation stands in contrast to longstanding bipartisan U.S. policy recognizing Israel as the Jewish people’s nation-state. Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state is rooted in international recognition including the 1947 UN Partition Plan, the 1948 Declaration of Independence, and repeated affirmations by American presidents across party lines.

Critics argue that questioning or equivocating on this core issue echoes positions held by elements of the progressive left that have increasingly aligned with anti-Israel activism, including calls for boycotts and pressure on the Jewish state that many see as undermining its security amid existential threats from Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran.

El-Sayed has positioned himself as a leading progressive voice in Michigan politics, a state with a significant Arab-American population and a growing Jewish community concerned about rising antisemitism. His campaign for the Senate seat has drawn national attention as Democrats navigate internal divisions over Israel policy.