Arab-Israeli Activist Clarifies Stance on National Anthem Lyrics

Yoseph Haddad, a candidate for the Knesset with the 'Am Israel' party, has responded to claims made by right-wing influencer Michael Vilensky on Channel 14, who alleged that Haddad seeks to change the national anthem, "Hatikvah." Haddad clarified in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that he does not advocate for altering the anthem's official lyrics.

Haddad explained that when he personally sings "Hatikvah," he chooses to substitute the word "Yehudi" (Jewish) with "Yisraeli" (Israeli). He described this as a personal choice that allows him to express his sense of belonging to the state.

To further illustrate his point, Haddad included a clip from an interview on Ben Ben Baruch's podcast, where he elaborated on this distinction. He emphasized the difference between his personal singing practice and a formal proposal to change the anthem's wording.

Haddad stated that while he is open to criticism of his views, he objects to being misrepresented. He reiterated that his personal adaptation of the anthem's lyrics does not equate to a call for an official revision of the national anthem.