‘J.D., habibi’: Arabs celebrate as Michigan’s El-Sayed mocks foes with term of affection
From Michigan to the Middle East, Arabs are celebrating Abdul El-Sayed’s Senate win and delighting in his introduction of Arabic terms like “habibi” and “inshallah” to the American political lexicon. After being the target of Islamophobic rhetoric on the campaign trail, the rising political star who will be the first Muslim-American US senator has mocked his critics on the right while championing…
The Michigan Jewish community finds itself divided following Abdul El-Sayed's surprising victory in the state's US Senate race. While many traditional pro-Israel Jewish institutions endorsed Democrat opponent Elissa Slotkin, a significant number of left-leaning Jews rallied behind El-Sayed, who has been vocal in his criticism of Israel and associations with far-left figures.
Some prominent Michigan Jewish leaders, such as Rabbi Asher Lopatin, initially campaigned for Republican nominee Mike Rogers, but now face the challenge of building relationships with a senator they have publicly opposed. Progressive Jewish organizations, like Michigan Jews for Democracy, are seeking to broaden the Jewish tent to include El-Sayed supporters, while others are grappling with how to reconcile their differing viewpoints on Israel and politics.
The election of El-Sayed has sparked conversations about the future of the Jewish vote in Michigan and the potential for greater inclusivity within the state's Jewish community.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
