Abdul El-Sayed Apologizes for Synagogue Attack Remarks

Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed apologized Saturday to the Michigan Jewish Democratic caucus for past remarks concerning a March attack on Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield. During the attack, Ayman Mohammad Ghazali rammed his car into the building and shot a security guard before killing himself.

El-Sayed previously stated that "hurt people hurt people," citing the attacker's loss of family in an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon. Critics viewed the comment as a justification for domestic terrorism. At the Democratic Nominating Convention in Lansing, El-Sayed admitted he made a mistake and that his attempt to provide context was inappropriate for the moment.

Despite the apology, caucus members remained skeptical after El-Sayed refused to endorse the Democratic platform's two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, advocating instead for a process ensuring equal rights. The apology occurs as El-Sayed seeks to unify the party and attract Jewish voters before the general election against Republican nominee Mike Rogers.