Yosef Haddad Defends Ofer Winter Over Gadi Eisenkot Embrace Amid Political Pressure
Activist Yosef Haddad defended Amcha Yisrael leader Ofer Winter after a friendly embrace with Gadi Eisenkot sparked online backlash, while revealing pressure from Likud to withdraw from the race.
Prominent public activist Yosef Haddad, running for the Knesset under the Amcha Yisrael Party, has strongly condemned critics who lashed out at his party leader, Ofer Winter, following a warm embrace with Yashar! party leader and former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot.
The unexpected encounter took place during an i24NEWS broadcast, where Eisenkot and Winter crossed paths in the studio. During the brief interaction, Winter told Eisenkot that he respects him on a personal level but would not sit with him in a coalition, to which Eisenkot replied wishing everyone success.
Following the incident, Haddad, who holds the number two spot on the Amcha Yisrael list, published a sharp and angry post on his Instagram account defending human values and mutual respect. He sharply criticized online commentators for losing perspective and confusing political opponents with actual enemies.
Haddad emphasized that while ideological differences remain and Amcha Yisrael will not join a government led by Eisenkot, basic human decency and mutual respect must not be abandoned during an electoral campaign. He warned against a return to the bitter internal divisions and incitement that preceded October 7.
Furthermore, Haddad pointed out what he described as blatant hypocrisy from coalition figures criticizing the gesture between former fighters, noting that coalition members are frequently seen fraternizing and smiling with MK Ahmad Tibi.
Meanwhile, the Amcha Yisrael party faces heavy pressure from the right-wing bloc and Likud to withdraw from the race to prevent splitting the conservative vote. Speaking at a cultural event, Haddad revealed that Likud attempted to recruit him until the very last moment, offering a high-ranking slot on their electoral list and a guaranteed ministerial portfolio in the next government.
