El-Sayed refuses to say whether Iran or Israel poses greater threat to US during Michigan debate

WASHINGTON, DC: Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed on Thursday, October 8, declined to say whether Iran or Israel poses a greater threat to the United States during a heated Michigan Senate debate, drawing criticism from Republican rival Mike Rogers for his foreign policy positions.

El-Sayed dismissed the question as a “ridiculous hypothetical” and argued that both countries had demonstrated dangerous conduct. The exchange happened during a debate dominated by disagreements over the Iran war, US support for Israel and other policies. 

Abdul El-Sayed rejects Iran-Israel comparison as Mike Rogers questions his refusal 

When asked about which country represented the greater threat to the United States, El-Sayed argued that Israel had pushed Washington towards war with Iran and criticised American involvement in the conflict.

“Here’s what’s happening right now: our ostensible ally in Israel has lobbied us to go to war with Iran,” El-Sayed said. “We have watched as Iran has responded by b**bing all kinds of countries in the Middle East and then choking off the world’s energy supply.”

El-Sayed added that “this is a situation in which I don’t think we should be a part (of),” arguing that US funds should instead support domestic priorities, including schools, healthcare and childcare. When pressed again, El-Sayed maintained that the question was unreasonable, saying “both of them have proven dangerous in their own way.”

However, Rogers, a former congressman who chaired the House Intelligence Committee from 2011 to 2015, defended Israel’s right to exist and protect itself. When asked whether Israel could take any action that would cause him to withdraw his support, he said that “if they were talking about using nuclear weapons, they would definitely lose my support. I've never heard them say that, though.”

Rogers also attacked El-Sayed over his response to the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which killed about 1,200 people. He criticised the Democrat for not issuing a statement marking the attack's third anniversary. 

“This is why you should get absolutely angry,” Rogers said, accusing El-Sayed of failing to acknowledge the violence and suffering inflicted during the attack. El-Sayed rebutted that, “I condemned that.” 

Iran War, Canada trade dispute and healthcare fuel debate clashes

The foreign policy disagreement extended to the ongoing Iran conflict, with El-Sayed criticising the Trump administration’s approach and accusing Rogers of failing to use his access to the White House to push for an end to the war. “He's got a direct line to the president who's making sure the war does not end, and he's not using it,” El-Sayed said.

The candidates also disagreed over trade with Canada. Rogers said he had contacted Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick about reaching an agreement, while El-Sayed accused him of failing to challenge President Donald Trump’s policies. Both candidates supported pausing the gas tax as the conflict contributed to elevated energy prices.

Immigration and healthcare were also contested. Rogers said some immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota had probably been inappropriate, while defending efforts to target people who had committed serious crimes. El-Sayed said violent undocumented immigrants should be deported but argued that enforcement must not violate constitutional protections.

Rogers criticised El-Sayed’s support for Medicare for All, calling his views on healthcare "dangerous" and arguing it would involve "taking over your private health insurance and giving it to the government." El-Sayed accused Rogers of serving corporate interests and wealthy donors.