Arab-Israeli Activist Yosef Hadad Assaulted During US Podcast Debate

Yosef Hadad, an Arab-Israeli activist and CEO of the nonprofit "Together, Arabs for Each Other," appeared on a podcast in Los Angeles, USA, on Monday. During the recorded debate, Hadad confronted pro-Palestinian activists, including a far-right extremist who escalated the verbal confrontation into a physical altercation both inside and outside the studio. Hadad filed a police complaint against his assailant.

Hadad described the incident on social media, stating he was attacked by a neo-Nazi who underestimated him. He recounted that the attacker began verbally abusing him during the podcast, turning the debate violent. After filming, the attacker struck Hadad from behind in the parking lot but quickly learned not to underestimate him. Hadad emphasized that when anti-Israel activists fail in verbal debates, they resort to physical violence, which also fails to intimidate him.

He also criticized other participants who accused him and Israelis of attacking people, calling it a typical tactic of anti-Israel activists who provoke and then complain when Israel responds. The incident highlights the tensions surrounding Israeli-Palestinian discourse even abroad and the risks faced by activists like Hadad.