Michigan senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed urges end to US arms sales and aid to Israel

Michigan senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed has called for an end to US arms sales to Israel, as well as a halt to American military aid, expressing his readiness to work with President Donald Trump on the issue—a position that goes beyond Trump’s current plan, which focuses on ending aid.

El-Sayed said he agrees with Trump’s proposal to stop US assistance to Israel by January, stressing that Washington should not continue funding a foreign military that uses American weapons to commit what he described as horrific acts.

He added: “I am willing to work with Trump on the issue of ending aid to Israel and halting arms sales to a country that uses them to commit terrible acts.”

Commenting on the broader context, El-Sayed emphasized the importance of distinguishing between Judaism and the Jewish people on one hand, and the Israeli state and its policies on the other. He said that criticism of the Israeli government’s actions should not be conflated with attitudes toward Jews or their religion.

The senator-elect’s stance comes after Trump announced his intention to end US military aid to Israel, a move El-Sayed welcomed while urging that the step be expanded to include a halt to American arms sales as well.