Piker argued opposing Israel is not inherently antisemitic in livestream
Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed distanced himself Monday from progressive commentator Hasan Piker, who argued in a livestream last week that opposing Israel is not inherently antisemitic. El-Sayed was among several Democratic candidates this year who used Piker’s online following to appeal to younger voters, and the two appeared together at campaign events during the primary season.
The remarks came in one of Piker’s typically hours-long livestreams, which he delivered wearing a suit and tie. According to the Associated Press, Piker argued against the idea that opposing Israel is antisemitic. He said American Jews are not uniformly supportive of Israel and added that many “Jewish institutions” are “teaching people the idea that Jews are monolithic” — a situation he called “a very dangerous mode of propaganda.”
The AP reported that last week’s comments may have cooled the relationship between El-Sayed and Piker. El-Sayed is the Democratic candidate for a Michigan seat that will help decide control of the U.S. Senate, and he has been working to unify Democrats in the state.
Piker, whose lengthy livestreams have drawn a large online political audience, has appeared with El-Sayed and other Democratic candidates during this year’s primary season.