Haifa Faces Renewed Fight Over Controversial Hadash Deputy Mayor Nomination

Eight years after a stormy attempt to appoint Hadash faction leader Raja Za'atara as Haifa deputy mayor was stopped at the last minute, the city is again confronting a similar move. This time, the candidate is Faher Biadsa, the faction's number two, who is being pushed for a salaried deputy mayor post.

In 2018, Za'atara's nomination sparked public, political and media backlash. He had said he did not view Hamas or Hezbollah as terrorist organizations, was seen singing the Syrian anthem, and had compared Zionism to ISIS. The appointment was ultimately blocked by direct intervention from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and never won City Council approval.

The new bid needs support from at least 16 council members in a decisive vote expected in about two weeks. Behind the scenes, Deputy Mayor Sophie Nakash, who also heads former prime minister Naftali Bennett's HaBayit HaYachad Haifa operation, has been actively seeking backing for the proposal. The article says the effort is being carried out with an attempt to avoid media attention.

The move has triggered sharp political criticism, especially because of the past positions of some of those involved. Yair Lapid, Bennett's former political partner, called the 2018 nomination "madness," yet current representatives of his party, Yesh Atid, in Haifa, Yossi Shalom and Neta Buchbbut, are expected to support the Hadash appointment. Bennett's office denied involvement, saying, "Bennett is focused on fixing the country and not on the imaginary spin of Channel 14."

If the nomination passes, opponents may leave the city coalition. The decisive votes are now expected to come from Mayor Yona Yahav's faction, as Haifa weighs whether residents will effectively finance a highly controversial appointment through their municipal taxes.