Israeli-Arab activist Yoseph Haddad sharply criticized Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar political party, on Thursday after Eisenkot mentioned his name while explaining why he wouldn’t rule out sitting in a coalition with Mansour Abbas, leader of the Ra’am party.
In an interview with Udi Segal, Eisenkot said he wouldn’t rule out a coalition with Abbas, justifying the position by noting that Likud “is signing Yoseph Haddad today as an MK.”
1+Haddad said Eisenkot used his name to justify a potential partnership with Abbas. “I tried to understand the context and replayed his response several times. I admit—I didn’t succeed in understanding it and was even surprised by it. But it’s basically something like—You don’t rule out Yosef Haddad even though he’s Arab, so why rule out Mansour Abbas.”
Haddad then addressed Eisenkot directly, questioning whether the comparison stemmed solely from both men being Arab. “Aside from Arab identity, we have absolutely nothing in common! You’re a Golani guy, Gadi—me too! So are you comparing a disabled Golani IDF veteran to someone who can’t even bring himself to call Hamas a terrorist organization?!”
אתמול גדי איזנקוט התראיין בחדשות 13 ונשאל אם הוא פוסל שותפות קואליציונית עם מנסור עבאס. התשובה שלו הייתה שהוא לא פוסל, ובהסבר לכך הוא השתמש בשם שלי. ניסיתי להבין את ההקשר וחזרתי כמה וכמה פעמים על התשובה שלו. אני מודה- לא הצלחתי להבין ואפילו הופתעתי מזה. אבל זה בעצם משהו כמו- את… pic.twitter.com/ZFkF2VkzbC
— יוסף חדאד – Yoseph Haddad (@YosephHaddad) July 16, 2026
Haddad added that he founded an Arab-Israeli organization working for partnership and advocacy on behalf of Israel, and said there’s no similarity between him and Ra’am’s approach. “There’s absolutely nothing linking me to Mansour Abbas, and no one should try to whitewash and legitimize him on my back.”
The activist made clear he opposes partnership with the Arab parties currently serving in the Knesset. “I categorically oppose the way of the Arab parties; I believe we shouldn’t sit with them—we need to boot them out!”
1+Haddad also addressed reports about possibly entering political life, saying he hasn’t made a decision yet. “I haven’t hidden that I’m considering entering political life, and by the way, contrary to a ton of rumors published about my name in the media, I’m not locked into anywhere and still haven’t decided where my path will lead me.”