A petition organized by clergy seeking concessions from Senate nominee El-Sayed on Israel policy has gained 17 more signers, according to The Times of Israel. The outlet reported the development as Michigan Jews pressed the candidate and Democrats gathered behind him ahead of Election Day.

The additional signatures expand participation in an existing effort. The source summary does not specify the petition’s total number of signers, identify the newcomers or detail the policy changes being requested. It also does not describe a response from El-Sayed to the latest additions.

Those limits matter when describing the scale of the campaign. An increase of 17 signatures is a count of additional participants, not a measure of support across Michigan’s Jewish population. Without the earlier total, the percentage increase cannot be calculated. The reporting establishes that the petition has attracted more signers; it does not establish how representative their views are.

The account also describes Democratic support for El-Sayed alongside the petition campaign. It provides no breakdown of that support or information about whether any of the petition’s signers intend to vote for him.

What a senator can do on Israel policy

A U.S. senator has several formal ways to influence foreign policy. The Senate considers legislation, votes on federal spending and conducts oversight of the executive branch. Its members can propose amendments, question administration officials and seek information about how existing laws are being implemented.

These powers are relevant to relations with Israel because Congress helps determine funding and the legal conditions attached to federal programs, including foreign assistance. A senator can advocate for changes to those conditions or support legislation addressing security cooperation and other aspects of the bilateral relationship.

The Senate also has responsibilities that distinguish it from the House of Representatives. It considers presidential nominations for senior diplomatic positions and ambassadors. Under the Constitution, treaty approval requires the agreement of two-thirds of senators present. Many foreign-policy decisions, however, proceed through executive authority or legislation rather than treaties.

An individual senator cannot independently set U.S. policy toward another country. Legislation generally requires passage by both chambers of Congress and presidential approval, unless Congress overrides a veto. The executive branch conducts diplomacy and administers assistance within the applicable legal framework.

How campaign petitions work

A petition asking a candidate for policy commitments is a form of political advocacy. Signing it communicates support for its demands, but does not itself change federal law or bind the candidate to a particular Senate vote.

Such an advocacy petition is distinct from a ballot-access petition, which serves an election-administration purpose under state rules. The effort described here seeks policy concessions from a nominee. Its reported function is to press him for commitments during the campaign.

What to watch

The next details to look for are the petition’s full demands, its total signature count and any response from El-Sayed. A public statement specifying legislation, spending conditions or oversight commitments would clarify what the requested concessions would involve in Senate practice.