Professor: Haddad's Past Videos Could Harm His Political Prospects

Professor Asher Cohen, a scholar of Israeli politics, stated that past videos of Yosef Haddad expressing support for a Palestinian state alongside Israel could significantly impact his potential voters if interpreted as his current deep-seated views. Cohen explained that voters are actively searching for past statements from candidates, but the influence of such videos depends on whether the individual has since recanted them and on their overall public standing. He noted that if a second video emerges with a similar message, particularly from after the "Guardian of the Walls" operation, its impact will hinge on voters' perception of it reflecting Haddad's core beliefs.

Cohen believes that for parties polling around 4-5 seats, the primary concern for their leadership will not be such past statements but rather convincing voters that their ballots won't be wasted if the party fails to cross the electoral threshold. He also suggested that if Likud is behind the release of these videos, it could backfire, as the public dislikes infighting, especially with potential future coalition partners. Cohen pointed out that Channel 14 also opposes this type of criticism from Likud towards "Winter's" party.

Regarding Haddad's past statement to Moshe Feiglin that Israel is an "Israeli state" rather than a "Jewish state," Cohen acknowledged that voters might connect this to the "two-state" videos, potentially viewing it as indicative of Haddad's deeper ideology. However, he stressed that the ultimate impact rests on each voter's individual assessment of whether these represent a core belief or a stance that should be overlooked given Haddad's work in the "war of consciousness." Cohen also highlighted the Israeli political reality where voters tend to focus on the list's head, often forgetting or not recognizing those lower down, a phenomenon observed in Naftali Bennett's party and potentially in "Winter's" party as well.