Yosef Haddad Slams Channel 14 for Political Smear Campaign

Yosef Haddad, a candidate for the Am Israel party, has launched a sharp criticism against Channel 14, accusing the Israeli news outlet of conducting a political smear campaign against him. The controversy erupted following reports by Channel 14 concerning Haddad's past involvement with the "Heart of a Child" association, which facilitates medical treatment in Israel for children with heart conditions from around the world, including from Gaza and enemy states. Haddad contends that the channel misrepresented his work, presenting it as personal promotion of the association rather than as part of his journalistic efforts to showcase Israeli humanitarianism. He stated that the footage used by the channel was taken from a report he produced for i24NEWS in English, aiming to highlight the association's humanitarian activities. "I did not promote the association and did not receive a shekel from it, I promoted Israeli advocacy!" Haddad asserted. He further pointed out that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously expressed support for the association's activities, questioning why Channel 14 omitted this fact. Haddad suggested the channel's reporting implied a double standard, asking, "So maybe what is permitted for Bibi is forbidden for Yosef Haddad, like perhaps speaking in the past about a Palestinian state." Haddad escalated his criticism on Tuesday morning, noting that the morning program on Channel 14 continued to cover the issue. He claimed the channel failed to mention Netanyahu's support or their own previous positive coverage of the association. He also highlighted that Miri Regev had honored Haim Tayeb, president of one of the association's branches, with a torch lighting ceremony on Independence Day, questioning why Channel 14 did not investigate this. Haddad concluded by asserting that the publications against him are politically motivated and expressed confidence that the public would reject the accusations.