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Abdul El-Sayed appoints Jewish liaison amid Michigan Senate race

US Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed has hired a Jewish liaison as he seeks to win over Jewish voters amid his continued criticism of US-Israel ties.

He is currently running in a closely contested Senate race in Michigan ahead of the November midterm elections. 

Veteran political consultant Lenore Goldman, who has worked with Jewish organisations such as the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, as well as the One Fair Wage movement, which campaigns for higher minimum wages in the US, was selected by El-Sayed.  

Goldman confirmed her appointment in an interview with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) on Wednesday. 

Goldman told the news outlet that she had been working with the campaign since September, although El-Sayed’s team had not publicly announced her appointment.  

The development follows local reports in August that the campaign was seeking to hire a liaison to Michigan’s Jewish community. 

El-Sayed backs ending all US military assistance to Israel amid its genocidal war on Gaza, which began in October 2023. 

During the final televised debate in Michigan’s Senate race on Wednesday, Republican candidate Mike Rogers alleged that some “Jewish Democrats” were “literally afraid” of El-Sayed.

“We’re doing exceptionally well with Jewish Democrats who are literally afraid,” Rogers said during the debate in Detroit. 

 “I’ve talked to ones with tears in their eyes about the future of their kids and grandkids, because [of] the anger and division that he is laying out on the street.” 

In his closing statement, Rogers further claimed that Jewish voters were among several groups of Democrats switching their support to him because they considered El-Sayed “too extreme”. 

Rogers, a vocal supporter of Israel, was then accused by El-Sayed of being “bought off” by special interests, including pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC.  

El-Sayed cited a recent New York Times report that the group’s super PAC intended to spend $9 million to support Rogers. 

AIPAC announced on Wednesday that it would stop endorsing candidates and making direct campaign contributions through its PAC, while its affiliated super PAC would continue independent election spending. 

Rogers responded by accusing El-Sayed of being “bought off by the Muslim Brotherhood” and alleged that his campaign had received funding from the Palestinian group Hamas. 

Amid attempts to conflate El-Sayed’s criticism of Israel’s actions in the Middle East with antisemitism, Rogers also targeted his opponent’s ethnicity and Muslim faith.  

The accusations followed repeated Islamophobic attacks from Republicans, including President Donald Trump, over alleged family ties between El-Sayed and the Egypt-founded Muslim Brotherhood. 

“If you are going to go to the United States Senate, we need to know: Are you for America or are you for these terrorist groups overseas?” Rogers said. 

El-Sayed, who has denied any association with the Muslim Brotherhood, condemned the remarks as a “shameful” attack. 

“To bring into question my commitment to the Constitution is really beneath you. I am proud of America. I’m proud to be an American. I’m proud of our Constitution that guarantees all of us the right to pray as we choose to pray,” he said. 

If elected, El-Sayed would become the first Muslim to serve in the US Senate. 

A Marist public opinion poll released on Wednesday showed El-Sayed leading Rogers by 50 per cent to 48 per cent among likely voters. 

However, the two-point difference falls within the poll’s 4.3-percentage-point margin of error. 

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Scientists stunned as new AI unlocks game-changing cancer treatment

The computational platform, named MAESTRO and detailed in the journal Advanced Science, uses large language models, or LLMs, to process established scientific knowledge regarding drug mechanisms and the biological pathways malignant cells exploit to survive treatment

© Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved

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Scientists stunned as new AI unlocks game-changing cancer treatment

The computational platform, named MAESTRO and detailed in the journal Advanced Science, uses large language models, or LLMs, to process established scientific knowledge regarding drug mechanisms and the biological pathways malignant cells exploit to survive treatment

© Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved

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Chilean Senate Approves Carabineros Incentive and Career Reform

The Chilean Senate has approved amendments made by the Chamber of Deputies to a bill modernizing the incentive and career system for the Carabineros de Chile. The legislative process is now complete, moving the bill to the president for signature and enactment. The reform alters the financial structure of official salaries and service conditions. It introduces a quarterly performance bonus equal to 10% of the base salary. Additionally, a risk allowance is established, ranging from 20% to 100% depending on the danger level of the specific municipality (comuna) where an officer serves. Those in strategic positions are eligible for a bonus of up to 30%. Career length regulations have also been revised. The maximum career age is extended to 41 for personnel appointed by the supreme authority (personal de nombramiento supremo) and to 38 for those appointed at the institutional level (personal de nombramiento institucional). Public Security Minister Martín Arrau stated these changes are retroactive, applying only to individuals who join the Carabineros after the law takes effect, leaving current officers' conditions unchanged.

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Iran Threatens Infrastructure Attacks if New Strikes Occur

Washington and Jerusalem have developed detailed plans for a new military operation against Iran, according to reports from Western media. The launch of these plans, which involve aerial bombardments rather than ground invasion or amphibious assault, has been postponed to align with the Israeli parliamentary elections on October 27 and the U. S. congressional midterms on November 3. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth discussed the operational details during a visit to Israel on October 19. President Donald Trump subsequently ordered a delay in the attack until after the U. S. voting concludes. This decision stems from concerns that a prolonged conflict and rising fuel prices could damage the Republican Party's standing. Should the Democratic Party win the midterms, they would gain significant leverage to limit presidential war powers through budgetary controls and potential impeachment proceedings. In Israel, polling indicates that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party will not secure a parliamentary majority. This forces Netanyahu to negotiate a coalition before resuming premiership, creating a fragmented political landscape regarding military tactics. While there is broad consensus in Israeli society that Tehran poses an existential threat, significant disagreements exist over the specific conduct of war. Consequently, the White House must re-verify its military strategy with any new Israeli government.

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