El-Sayed: If Palestinians And Jewish Israelis Decide On A One-State Or A Two-State Solution, "I Am Good With That"
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2026/10/02/el-sayed_if_palestinians_and_jewish_israelis_decide_on_a_one-state_or_a_two-state_solution_i_am_good_with_that.html

Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed joins MS NOW's Ari Melber on "The Beat" for an extended conversation.

MELBER: Yes. And I think people hear you on the funding, and there's been a big debate about that, particularly with the current Israeli government actions, and, as you know, in the Democratic Party, more talk about limiting or ending that funding potentially.

But, on the state side, as you probably know, because you have led on this issue, it's usually the doves on both sides of the conflict that want a two-state solution, because that means the Palestinians get a state, a homeland they don't currently have, and the Israeli state that exists continues. It's usually the doves saying two-state.

And when we hear one-state, which,again, you're saying, well, you're going to weigh in on other things, but not that, well, if it's one state, is it only the Israeli state or only a new Palestinian state? As you know, there are groups, including terrorist groups, that say one state and wipe out Israel.

So do you see why, if people hear this, they're wondering why you have the decisive position on these other things, but here you're saying could be two, could be one, you're not sure?

EL-SAYED: Well, let me say a couple of things about this, Ari.

You and I, we don't pray the same way, but we pray for the same things. I'm sure, when we look our kids in the eye, we want the same things. You and I live in this incredible one state of ours peaceably. I believe in peoples who can live together peaceably.

But I do not believe that we can get to peace if a people's will toward self-determination is put down. You don't question my right to have a vote in this country. I don't question yours. You believe in my right to determine my future, and I believe in yours.

The reality of it right now is that we have had the attempt to completely foreclose upon any effort to Palestinian self-determination at all. And then we're told that the Palestinian people should just accept what they're foisted on under the idea of a two-state solution.

Meanwhile, our tax dollars are being used under the guise of that two-state solution to foreclose on the possibility of a Palestinian state, as the Netanyahu government...

MELBER: So, listening to you -- so, listening to you, though...

(CROSSTALK)

EL-SAYED: ... and the Israeli government has had the policy -- let me just finish -- had the policy of settling what should be the second state.

(CROSSTALK)

MELBER: And this is -- for people to understand -- and then, of course, people will make up their own mind. But it sounds more like you are, is it fair to say, more skeptical of a two-state solution? Is that -- is that what we're getting?

EL-SAYED: No. No.

Well, I'm telling you that I think you have to start with a process. The beautiful thing about democracy is that it's a process. We don't dictate the outcome, but we dictate the process, that people get to decide.

And, right now, there is no movement for Palestinian self-determination because it has been foreclosed upon, in large part by our tax dollars aiding and arming and abetting the Israeli government to foreclose on that movement for Palestinian self-determination. So I am for a process.

If the free Palestinian people and the free Jewish Israeli people decide they want two states, I am good with that. If they decide they want one state, I am good with that. But I want them on equal terms to be able to decide. That's what I'm talking about.

(CROSSTALK)

EL-SAYED: I'm committed to a process. People want me to commit to an outcome, but I'm committed to a process by which you get the outcome.