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🇮🇱 Israel /Elections & Politics

El-Sayed distances himself from Piker after antisemitism row

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed distanced himself from influential anti-Israel livestreamer Hasan Piker.
  • Piker made comments interpreted as justifying threats against American Jews and referred to Israel as "Jewish ISIS."
  • El-Sayed reiterated his commitment to Jewish safety and denounced rhetoric that puts the community at risk.

Michigan's Democratic US Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed has publicly distanced himself from Hasan Piker, a prominent anti-Israel livestreamer and one of his key supporters. The move comes after Piker made comments on a Twitch livestream that were widely interpreted as justifying threats against American Jews.

If Jews in America keep putting this idea out there that they are singularly invested in Israel, eventually someone’s going to come around and take action. Not against the state of Israel, mind you, but against American Jews.

— Hasan PikerComments made during a Twitch livestream on Aug. 20.

During the Aug. 20 livestream, Piker stated, "If Jews in America keep putting this idea out there that they are singularly invested in Israel, eventually someone’s going to come around and take action." He further specified, "Not against the state of Israel, mind you, but against American Jews." Piker also referred to Israel as "Jewish ISIS" while displaying a picture of Michigan state Sen. Jeremy Moss, a pro-Israel Jewish Democrat running for Congress.

Jewish ISIS

— Hasan PikerReferring to Israel during his livestream.

In response, El-Sayed shared a social media statement directly linking to Piker, reiterating his "commitment to Jewish safety." El-Sayed declared that "antisemitism is a scourge" and denounced "any rhetoric that puts the community at risk." This statement, from a candidate known for his own criticism of Israel, acknowledges the political challenges posed by his most prominent surrogate's remarks.

commitment to Jewish safety

— Abdul El-SayedStated in response to Piker's comments.

Piker's comments have drawn sharp criticism from other Democrats. Michigan US Rep. Hillary Scholten called Piker "a hack who thrives on hate, shock and awe because he lacks substance," describing his remarks as "disgusting" and "dangerous." Scholten reportedly halted endorsement talks with El-Sayed following the controversy. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries also weighed in, stating on X/Twitter that "There is zero justification for threats against the safety of our Jewish brothers and sisters at this moment of rising hate."

antisemitism is a scourge

— Abdul El-SayedDenouncing antisemitism in his statement.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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