Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdulrahman El-Sayed said in a debate Thursday that he would not vote to send defensive weapons to Israel even if Iran or another state actor attacked the country.
The debate took place in Grand Rapids, Kent County. Moderator Rick Albin, a longtime WOOD TV8 political reporter, asked El-Sayed directly whether he would vote to provide defensive weaponry to Israel if it were “attacked tomorrow by Iran or another state actor.”
El-Sayed did not answer yes or no. Instead he pivoted to domestic spending priorities.
“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,” El-Sayed said.
He then criticized U.S. involvement in the broader conflict, accusing Israel of pushing the United States toward war with Iran.
“You know, you asked a hypothetical question about being attacked by Iran, but let’s be honest about what happened here. 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,” El-Sayed continued.
Albin pressed again for a direct answer, asking whether El-Sayed would “provide defensive weapons for Israel.”
“I don’t want our tax dollars buying weapons for other countries,” El-Sayed replied. “I don’t know what’s so hard about that.”
Albin summarized the response plainly: “That’s a no.”
El-Sayed went on to describe both Iran and Israel — the United States’ top ally in the Middle East — as “both dangerous in their own way.”
