Yoseph Haddad, a prominent Christian Arab Israeli activist and IDF veteran, announced he’s planning to enter politics with an ambitious goal: becoming the first Arab member of Israel’s security cabinet.
“I plan to be the first Arab in the cabinet,” Haddad said in an interview. “There are many Arab citizens who are loyal to the state, who serve in the army, who contribute to society. I want to represent them.” Haddad, who has become a well-known voice advocating for Israel in Arabic-language media and internationally, said he believes Arab Israelis who identify with the state deserve political representation that reflects their values.
“For too long, Arab citizens who love this country have been ignored politically,” he said. “It’s time for that to change.” Haddad served in the IDF and was wounded during the 2006 Lebanon War. Since then, he’s built a public profile as an activist promoting coexistence and defending Israel against criticism in the Arab world and beyond.
Haddad is running in Ofer Winter’s “Amcha Israel” party in Israel’s upcoming parliamentary elections, in the second spot. If successful, Haddad would break a significant barrier—no Arab has ever served in Israel’s security cabinet, the small forum of senior ministers that makes key defense and foreign policy decisions alongside the prime minister.