Michigan Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed, the first Muslim American elected to the U.S. Senate, is back at the center of the debate over Israel after sharply criticizing American military aid. Speaking about concerns in the Jewish community, he said the United States has been "lying to ourselves about a two-state solution." His argument is that Washington cannot claim to support a Palestinian state while arming the people he says are working to prevent one. El-Sayed has campaigned against unconditional foreign military aid in general, not only to Israel, and he supports ending the roughly $4 billion the U.S. provides to Israel each year.

His words land at a charged moment, since President Trump announced this week that the U.S. will end military aid to Israel by the end of the year, and El-Sayed welcomed the move while also calling for an end to arms sales. His critics, including former primary rival Rep. Haley Stevens, have accused him of equivocating on Israel's right to exist, and he has tied his answers to a shared agreement between Israelis and Palestinians. He has also promised Jewish voters that he will fight antisemitism, and he has said he supports a two-state solution with equal rights for both peoples. Supporters see a politician applying his principles consistently, while opponents argue that his positions leave Israel more exposed and Jewish voters uneasy. Many questions remain, including how he would vote on arms sales once he takes office and whether his words can ease the concerns of the community he was addressing.