Yosef Haddad Addresses Resurfaced Interview Amid Political Controversy
Activist Yosef Haddad responded to resurfaced footage showing him speaking about a Palestinian state years ago, clarifying that his views changed entirely after October 7.
Yosef Haddad Responds to Resurfaced Interview Controversy
Yosef Haddad, the prominent Arab-Israeli activist and number two on the political party list of Ofer Winter, has addressed a resurfaced video from a past interview with the Dubai-based Al Arabiya network. Critics used the old footage to claim he supported the establishment of a Palestinian state, drawing sharp political reactions.
In a detailed public response, Haddad clarified that the interview was recorded over five years ago and that the clips were manipulated out of context. He emphasized that his worldview underwent a significant shift following the 2021 Guardian of the Walls operation and hardened completely after the October 7 massacres perpetrated by Hamas.
"A Palestinian state will not be established, and we made this clear in the party's foundational principles: no Palestinian state will rise in the territories of the Land of Israel," Haddad stated.
Criticism and Political Fallout
Haddad noted that despite his vocal opposition to anti-Israel propaganda and his defense of the country on the international stage, political actors and adversaries continue to use deceptive editing to damage his reputation. He reiterated that his political platform aims to integrate Arab citizens into Israeli society while firmly rejecting Palestinian nationalism.
Meanwhile, right-wing figures weighed in on the controversy. Moshe Feiglin criticized Haddad's ideological framework, arguing that substituting a generic Israeli national identity for Jewish national identity inevitably leads to political inconsistencies regarding regional statehood.
Moving Forward in Israeli Politics
Despite the controversy, Haddad maintains that his advocacy focuses on improving socioeconomic conditions within Arab-Israeli cities such as Nazareth, Rahat, and Shefa-Amr, fostering full civic integration while maintaining unwavering loyalty to the Jewish state.
