The battle of extremes in the Democratic Party: The candidate who "dreams of Israel" against the opponent who compared it to Hamas
Two candidates with diametrically opposed worldviews regarding Israel are facing off in a tight race in Michigan - a race that may reflect the direction of the Democratic Party.
News in brief: Haley Stevens, a clear supporter of Israel, will attempt to win next week's Democratic primary for the Senate. Facing her is Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, the son of immigrants from Egypt, who has placed his opposition to Israel at the center of his campaign. El-Sayed has denied Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state and compared it to Hamas, while Stevens has made it clear that she will support unconditional aid to Israel. The tight contest comes against the backdrop of the strengthening of the anti-Israel current within the Democratic Party.
US Representative Haley Stevens will compete next week in the Democratic Party's primary for the Senate against Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, in a battle between a pro-Israel candidate and a pro-Palestinian candidate. After a series of defeats for pro-Israel candidates and the strengthening of the progressive wing of the party, Stevens hopes to reverse the trend specifically in Michigan, a state with an exceptionally high percentage of Muslims. The 43-year-old Stevens has been a member of Congress from Michigan since 2018. She holds moderate positions and is supported by the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC and by the Democratic Party leadership, which has not helped many like her in recent contests.
Stevens presents unequivocal support for Israel. She made it clear that Israel is not committing genocide in Gaza, that she supports the continuation of American aid to Israel without conditions, and that she does not apologize for receiving donations from a pro-Israel lobby. During the campaign, she emphasized that she supports a two-state solution and criticized Benjamin Netanyahu. She previously said at a Hanukkah event:
"Israel comes to me in my dreams."
In an interview with the New York Times, she stated that she does not change positions according to fashion or political convenience. According to her, her opponent is determined to make Israel the only issue on the agenda, while she seeks to focus on the problems of Michigan residents.
Facing her is Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, a physician who has made Israel a central part of his election campaign. He called Israel's military campaign in Gaza a genocide, described the Israeli government as evil, and repeatedly claimed that AIPAC's influence distorts politics in the Democratic Party. El-Sayed even said that Israel should not exist as a Jewish state and provided an outrageous comparison:
"It's not a question of who is worse - this or this. Hamas is evil, the Israeli government is evil. You can say both."
El-Sayed enjoys the tailwind provided by the victories of progressive and anti-Israel candidates across the US. The Senate race between Stevens and El-Sayed may reflect how much the anti-Israel current has strengthened in the Democratic Party. The polls in the race are particularly volatile, and the New York Times reported a fairly close contest.
