Yosef Haddad Criticizes Mansour Abbas for Avoiding Hamas Terror Label

Yosef Haddad, an Israeli public diplomacy activist, sharply criticized Mansour Abbas, leader of the Ra'am party, for refusing to explicitly label Hamas as a terrorist organization during a recent interview. The interview aired on the program "At Midday" with host Esti Perez, where Abbas was asked directly if he could say that Hamas is a terrorist group responsible for the October 7 massacre of Israeli civilians and should be eliminated. Abbas did not provide a clear answer, stating the issue is repeatedly raised and asking to give a response, but ultimately avoiding a definitive statement.

Haddad shared a clip of the interview on his Instagram account and responded firmly to the question himself, saying "unequivocally yes." He accused Abbas of lying and being afraid, emphasizing that there can be no reconciliation and Hamas must be completely destroyed. Haddad, who identifies as an Arab citizen of Israel, challenged Abbas by saying, "I say clearly in three languages 'Hamas is a terrorist organization,' and you cannot say it. Who are you here to work for?"

This confrontation follows Haddad's recent criticism of Gadi Eizenkot, former IDF Chief of Staff and head of the "Yisrael" party, for not ruling out a coalition partnership with Abbas. Haddad accused Eizenkot of using his name to justify cooperation with Abbas and rejected any comparison between himself and Abbas, highlighting their fundamentally different stances and values. Haddad also stressed that his work with an Arab-Israeli organization promoting partnership and public diplomacy for Israel is entirely distinct from Ra'am's approach.

The exchange underscores ongoing tensions within Israeli Arab politics and the broader debate over how to address Hamas and political cooperation with Ra'am.