In the lead-up to Israel’s upcoming elections—the first since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks—Arab-Israeli partnership has become a central political issue. Yoseph Haddad, an Arab-Israeli activist and former IDF soldier, is running for the Knesset as the second candidate on the new right-wing People of Israel party list, which supports Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Haddad, who serves behind party chairman Brig.-Gen. (res.) Ofer Winter, has emerged as a prominent voice advocating for greater integration between Arab and Jewish communities in Israel. Following the October 7 attacks, his platform expanded significantly, including numerous national television appearances and international speaking engagements. Haddad was seriously wounded during his military service in the 2006 Second Lebanon War and later founded the nonprofit Together Vouch for Each Other, promoting Arab-Israeli societal connections and addressing challenges facing Arab society.
Rejecting the commonly used term “coexistence” to describe Jewish-Arab relations within Israel, Haddad prefers “partnership.” He argued that coexistence implies a passive and reluctant tolerance, whereas partnership reflects active, mutual commitment. Referencing an incident during the Supernova festival attack on October 7, Haddad cited an Arab Israeli bus driver from Rahat who stayed to help evacuate more than 30 Jewish Israelis, saying, “That’s partnership, not coexistence.”
Addressing concerns about rising crime rates in Arab communities, Haddad acknowledged shortcomings in government policies, particularly criticizing National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s approach. However, he also attributed responsibility to leaders within Arab society, urging greater cooperation with authorities to curb violence. Haddad expressed his intent to influence decision-making directly by entering the Knesset and promised to work toward improved security for Arab communities.
The People of Israel party emphasizes a slate composed entirely of newcomers, distancing itself from established political figures criticized for perceived security failures surrounding the recent attacks. Despite this emphasis on renewal, the party supports Netanyahu’s premiership rather than backing rival candidate Gadi Eisenkot of the Yashar party. Haddad explained this choice by citing an “ideological gap” with Eisenkot and a pragmatic view that a full political overhaul is unlikely.
Haddad voiced sharp criticism toward Ra’am party chairman Mansour Abbas, accusing him of presenting different messages to Hebrew- and Arabic-speaking publics and questioning his stance on Hamas. He also condemned Ra’am’s inclusion of former Yesh Atid MK Yoav Segalovitz—its first Jewish candidate—as a strategic move to shield Abbas from criticism regarding his approach to Hamas.
Looking ahead, Haddad aims to capture seats from Arab voters to bolster his party’s representation. Polls currently project the People of Israel party with about five seats, just above the electoral threshold.
Haddad also unveiled plans to revive Israel’s public diplomacy ministry, which was dissolved in 2023 after the attacks. He plans to seek the post of public diplomacy minister and intends to hold regular press briefings in Hebrew, Arabic, and English to counter what he described as “anti-Israeli propaganda” and misinformation. He characterized this effort as essential to supporting the IDF and Israeli defensive interests on the global stage.
“I’m proud of my country, and I’m proud of Israeli society,” Haddad said, emphasizing the support he has garnered from diverse groups and his commitment to bringing a new spirit to Israeli politics. He indicated that a detailed plan for his first 100 days in office would be announced soon.