FANNING THE FLAMES

Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed – perhaps in a rabid effort for more attention, or because of his true sentiments – has been fanning the flames of antisemitism, stating at an event in Pontiac in late May that he struggles with whether “he believes Israel has a right to exist as a Jewish state,” according to Jewish Insider. On June 10, federal prosecutors indicted eight anti-Israel activists with University of Michigan affiliations for their roles in a set of coordinated terrorist attacks targeting U-M leaders and organizations over Israel and the Hamas war, including attacking the homes of former university prez Santa Ono and regent Jordan Acker, along with the Jewish Federation of Detroit office in Bloomfield Township. One of the accused is a former paid staffer of El-Sayed’s campaign, Mariam Odeh of Dearborn. The indictment listed Odeh as the president of the organization Students Allied for Freedom and Equality or SAFE, which had its funding and recognition revoked. While his campaign tried to distance itself from her actions, stating she had not been part of the campaign since April 15, El-Sayed said at a campaign event in Dearborn, “It’s a lot more about what you’re advocating for that gets you indicted or not indicted, rather than what you did.” Elyssa Schmier, regional director of Anti-Defamation League of Michigan, responded to Jewish Insider, saying the allegations “paint a disturbing picture of individuals who sought to use fear, harassment and threats of violence to advance their cause.” “We cannot let terror campaigns like this run rampant on our universities, where they spread antisemitism, poison the minds of our youth, and threaten families’ safety,” Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers said on X. Governor Gretchen Whitmer opined, “Violence, vandalism, threats, and intimidation are unacceptable. We must remain united in calling out hatred of any kind and continue working together toward peace in Michigan.”