In Dearborn, Michigan, the Arab-American community is reeling from shock, pain, and exhaustion after nearly three years of war, mass killings, and destruction in Palestine and Lebanon. Activist Suehaila Amen's voice trembles as she describes the plight of south Lebanon, where Israel is systematically wiping out entire villages.
Amid this despair, Amen finds hope in the rise of politicians across the US calling for an end to government support for Israel. In Michigan, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, a physician and public health advocate, is running for the Senate on a pledge to invest in local communities instead of foreign wars. He has been vocal in denouncing Israel's war on Gaza, which he recognizes as genocide.
El-Sayed, of Egyptian descent, faces an avalanche of spending from pro-Israel groups, including AIPAC, which have backed his Democratic primary opponent, Congresswoman Haley Stevens, with over $50 million. At a Friday night rally in Dearborn, boos rang out each time AIPAC was mentioned.
Abbas Alawieh, a candidate for Michigan's state Senate, spoke at the rally, noting that his ancestral village of Bint Jbail is experiencing ethnic cleansing by the Israeli military. 'They just demolished the school that my grandfather was a principal at,' he said, emphasizing that the community's pain is deeply personal.
El-Sayed's supporters believe his victory would be 'historic' and demonstrate that not everyone aligns with Israel's interests. They argue that he would prioritize American constituents over lobbyist groups, focusing on issues like healthcare and affordable housing.
Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud urged the community to participate in the democratic process, stating, 'We have to take it into our hands. Drive out the vote, making sure that we're electing candidates who are there to fight for working families.'
The race has become a microcosm of the rift within the Democratic Party over Israel, with Stevens staunchly pro-Israel and backed by top Democrats like Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. AIPAC has broken primary records with its pro-Stevens spending.
El-Sayed, endorsed by Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, has dismissed bigotry-laced attacks, including attempts to paint him as foreign. 'People don't care as much about my name; they care if I care to remember their name,' he said, emphasizing that voters are focused on his policies, not his ethnicity.
Source: www.aljazeera.com