Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed was confronted repeatedly over whether Israel has a right to exist during a tense CNN interview on Thursday, in addition to several social media posts he's deleted about defunding the police."AIPAC is a big part of this conversation because Israel has become a very central topic, especially inside the Democratic Party, but nationally as well.Do you believe Israel has a right to exist?" CNN's Kasie Hunt asked.El-Sayed responded, "So, Kasie, AIPAC has become a big issue in this election because AIPAC has already spent $30 million in this election — they’re by far the biggest spender in the race.
Now, the question about a right to exist is interesting, because nobody’s ever asked me whether I believe Palestine has a right to exist.Every single president who’s served has said they believe in a two-state solution.
Israel exists.The question is whether we want a politics where our money is sent over to Israel to fund genocide and apartheid instead of investing in our own kids."Abdul El-Sayed, candidate for US Senate in Michigan, speaks before U.S.
Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT) takes the stage at Mumford High School on May 3, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan.
(Sarah Rice/Getty Images)MICHIGAN DEMOCRATIC SENATE CANDIDATE CLAIMS ISRAEL 'JUST AS EVIL' AS HAMASHunt noted that he said Israel exists, but asked him again if the country had a right to exist."I didn’t say that.I just said the question of Israel‘s existence is not a question.
I‘m not going to play this gotcha game about whether or not it has a right to exist.The question, ultimately, is about whether or not we want a politics that dignifies equal rights," he responded.The CNN host asked a third time, "You’re not going to play the gotcha, but you’re not going to say you think Israel has a right to exist?"U.S.
Senate candidate from Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed, has been endorsed by Bernie Sanders and embraced comparisons between he and Zohran Mamdani.(Bill Pugliano/G...