State senator representing Dearborn apologizes to Arab Americans after visiting Israel

State Sen. Sylvia Santana, D-Detroit, whose district includes a high concentration of residents concerned about Palestinian rights, has apologized to her Arab American and Muslim constituents after recently traveling to Israel.

Santana, whose 2nd Senate District includes all of Dearborn, Dearborn Heights and parts of Allen Park and Detroit, posted an apology Saturday on Facebook and X, formerly known as Twitter.

The apology came after an uproar from Arab American advocates who learned of her trip, made amid an escalation of settler attacks on Palestinian civilians in recent months and a broader wave of violence that gained momentum after an Israeli hard-line government took office in December. A two-day offensive in the Jenin refugee camp in May left 12 Palestinians and one Israeli soldier dead.

Dearborn Heights City Councilman Mo Baydoun canceled a previously scheduled ice cream social with Santana set for Monday at The Custard Company, which he co-owns, with locations in Dearborn and Dearborn Heights, community advocates said.

An official with the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, David Kurzmann, told the Free Press in a statement Monday the federation facilitated a trip to Israel by several lawmakers.

"I recognize my presence on this trip has sparked anger and disappointment by many in the Arab/Muslim community," Santana wrote in her apology. "For this I truly apologize, seek your forgiveness and hope that you will understand that I had no malicious intent. There is no perfect combination of words that I can offer that truly reflects the feelings in my heart. My only goal was to learn about this region of our world and to improve my understanding of matters related to Michigan."

Santana said she "should have exercised better discretion and engaged in a different protocol with community leaders to seek their counsel prior to the trip."

This was Santana's second trip to Israel, said Osama Siblani, a longtime Arab American advocate who is publisher of the Dearborn-based newspaper, Arab American News.

"It's offensive," Siblani told the Free Press on Monday. "We're upset about it."

Santana did not notify Arab American leaders or others about her visit until it became known on social media in recent days, Siblani said.

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On Saturday morning, Siblani posted on Facebook that she had traveled to Israel: "The news about Santana’s visit to Israel shocked and angered the Arab American community, to say the least. Santana’s visit constitutes a slap in the face to the Arab American community who has been supportive and respectful to the Senator."

Siblani said that many in Santana's district have roots in southern Lebanon, an area that has over the decades been under Israeli occupation and fought with Israel, like in the summer of 2006. Other Arab American groups in Dearborn are also generally sympathetic to Palestinians. Dearborn is 47% Arab American and Dearborn Heights about one-third Arab American, according to census data. Along with Hamtramck, they have the highest concentrations of residents with Arab ancestry among municipalities in Michigan. For decades, Dearborn residents have held rallies and other events in support of Palestinians.

Silbani and TCD Dearborn News both said that Councilman Baydoun had canceled the ice cream social after learning about her trip. Baydoun did not return an email Monday seeking comment.

Just after 6 p.m. Saturday, Santana posted a statement on Facebook: "It has come to the attention of my constituents specifically those in the Arab/Muslim community that I recently visited Israel in my capacity as a State Senator. This is a trip offered to state lawmakers to learn more about Michigan's relationship with Israel."

Santana added: "I understand now more than before the level of pain, sensitivity and deep rooted emotions that this trip has produced. This experience will always stay with me and will help guide my work in Lansing."

It's unclear when the trip was held, who paid for it, how many lawmakers attended and who they met with. Santana did not return an email seeking comment.

Kurzmann's statement read: “The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit facilitated a bipartisan, bicameral legislative trip to Israel including educational, social welfare and economic development meetings.”

Kurzmann did not offer additional information about the trip. Siblani said about 16 lawmakers attended it. Supporters of Israel say it's important for Michigan and Israel to have solid ties that can promote trade.

Hussein Dabajeh, legislative director for Wayne County Commissioner Sam Baydoun, whose district includes Dearborn, commented in response to her apology on Facebook: "You have many friends in the Arab American community that you could have talked to BEFORE committing to this trip and we could have talked to you about many reasons why you should not have taken this trip. ... I will never vote for you again."

Abed Ayoub, a Dearborn native who is national executive director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), told the Free Press that her trip did "a disservice to her constituents ... we see her actions as a dismissal of our concerns and a blatant disregard for the moral imperative to champion human rights."

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer visited lsrael in 2019, prompting similar criticisms from Arab American advocates.

In May 2021, Arab Americans held protests in Dearborn criticizing Democrats and President Joe Biden for supporting Israel during a conflict with Palestinians.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Contact Niraj Warikoo: nwarikoo@freepress.com, Facebook.com/nwarikoo, Twitter @nwarikoo.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: State senator Santana apologizes to Arab Americans after Israel trip