Yosef Haddad's Past Support for Ra'am's Coalition Entry Surfaces
Translated & summarized from Kipa by baba
Yosef Haddad, second-in-command of the Am Israel party, is facing criticism after a 2021 interview revealed his support for Ra'am joining the Israeli coalition. Haddad called Ra'am's potential entry "a huge thing" and a significant step for Arab society in Israel. He believed it would help reduce gaps between Jews and Arabs and allow Arab citizens to maintain their identity. The resurfaced comments contrast with his current political positions.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Yosef Haddad, second-in-command of the Am Israel party, expressed support for Ra'am joining the coalition in a 2021 interview.
- Haddad called Ra'am's potential coalition entry "a huge thing" for Israel's political reality.
- He noted that Christian citizens had voted for Ra'am, which he said was committed to Arab society.
- Haddad saw Ra'am's participation as a step toward reducing gaps between Jews and Arabs in Israel.
- He stated that Arab citizens should be proud Israelis without abandoning their national identity.
- The resurfaced interview highlights a contrast with Haddad's current political platform.
Yosef Haddad, the second-highest-ranking official in the Am Israel party led by Ofer Vinter, has resurfaced in negative headlines following the revelation of a 2021 English-language interview. In the interview, Haddad expressed support for the Islamist party Ra'am joining the Israeli coalition government, a fact uncovered by Channel 13.
During the interview, Haddad was asked about the political wisdom of a narrow government relying on a party with roots in the Muslim Brotherhood. He emphasized the significance of Ra'am's participation, noting that even Christian citizens had voted for the Islamic party, which he stated had committed to working for Arab society in Israel. "It's a huge thing in terms of the political reality in Israel," Haddad said, adding that Christian votes for the Islamic movement were unprecedented.
Haddad viewed Ra'am's entry into the government as part of a broader effort to reduce gaps between Jews and Arabs in Israel. He argued for a shared Israeli identity that would not require Arab citizens to abandon their national and cultural identities. "We are proud Arabs, proud Israelis, and we need to say that," he stated in the interview.
He also commented on the representation of Arab citizens in the Knesset, welcoming a party's entry into the coalition. According to Haddad at the time, Ra'am prioritized the needs of Arab society in Israel, shifting focus away from the Palestinian issue and events in Gaza, Ramallah, and Jenin. These past statements highlight a contrast with Haddad's current political stance alongside Vinter.
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