Abdul El-Sayed apologizes to Jewish Democrats over past Temple Israel attack comments

Michigan US Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed apologized to the state Democratic Party's Jewish caucus for his past comments regarding the March attack on Temple Israel. El-Sayed had previously stated, "Hurt people hurt people," in reference to the attempted targeting of the synagogue's preschool, which many Jewish voters interpreted as justifying the attack. He acknowledged, "I made a mistake" and "If my statement caused pain, I'm sorry."

• El-Sayed's initial comments followed an earlier statement condemning the attack, and referenced Israel's war in Lebanon, where the attacker had lost family.
• He clarified that his intention was not to justify terrorism but to provide context, though he admitted it was inappropriate at the time of pain.
• Skepticism remained among some Jewish Democrats, particularly regarding his stance on a two-state solution, which he described as "incoherent to start with a solution."
• The apology is part of new outreach efforts to Jewish voters, as the Michigan Senate race is a crucial midterm contest.