Israeli Politician Yosef Haddad Rejects Two-State Solution After Previous Support

Yosef Haddad, the second-highest-ranking official in the "Am Israel" party, has publicly stated that he no longer supports the establishment of a Palestinian state, a significant shift from his previous stance. In a past interview conducted in Arabic for Al-Arabiya, Haddad had explicitly endorsed the two-state solution, saying, "The final solution is the State of Israel alongside the State of Palestine, this must happen and cannot be denied. Inshallah." He had also argued that increased integration of Arab Israelis into senior government positions would pave the way for dialogue with Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.

However, in a recent statement on X, Haddad explained that the "Guardian of the Walls" events in May 2021 caused him to change his mind. He cited the perceived unity between Palestinians and Arab citizens of Israel who he claimed instigated violence in mixed cities as a reason for his altered perspective. He further stated that the events of October 7th solidified his belief that the true nature of Palestinians had been revealed.

Haddad asserted that a Palestinian state will not be established and that his party's principles explicitly oppose it, vowing instead to work towards returning lands to Israel. He also emphasized his strong opposition to Palestinian identity, claiming to be the most vocal opponent within the Arab community. Haddad mentioned receiving threats and a fatwa from Gaza, identifying himself as a primary target for Palestinians who view him as a collaborator and traitor due to his advocacy work exposing what he calls Palestinian lies and asserting Israeli claims to the land.

He concluded by urging an end to what he described as "spin and lies" aimed at portraying him as a supporter of Palestinians, highlighting his efforts to combat the Palestinian narrative.