Yoseph Haddad Joins Ofer Winter Party Targeting Arab Sector Votes

Prominent public diplomacy activist Yoseph Haddad, who has been heavily involved in advocacy since the outbreak of the Iron Swords war, has officially joined Ofer Winter's new political party, "Amha Israel."

When asked to rate Israel's official public diplomacy efforts, Haddad, who aspires to become the Minister of Public Diplomacy, gave a harsh assessment:

"I give it a five, and that is only out of respect for the mid-level staff and below who work their hearts out at the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs."

Political Strategy and Coalition Alignment

Haddad's connection with Winter began in February. He had several options for entering politics, including running independently under a party he registered but later sidelined, or joining established factions. He chose to run with Winter as a fresh political force, seeking to distance himself from any entities linked to the failures of October 7.

Despite his stance against old political players, Haddad clarified his alignment with the right-wing camp and his support for Benjamin Netanyahu for Prime Minister. He strongly rejected partnering with left-wing figures whose public statements, he argued, damage Israel's standing abroad and complicate advocacy efforts in Europe and the United States.

Addressing concerns that running separately from other right-wing factions like Bezalel Smotrich's party could risk the bloc's majority, Haddad dismissed the threat, stating that their voter bases do not overlap.

Electoral Potential in the Arab Community

Haddad expressed confidence in his ability to mobilize support within the Arab sector:

"I believe our party can bring at least two mandates from within the Arab society."

Regarding the surging crime rates in Arab towns, Haddad stated he would be willing to sit in a government alongside National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir to exert influence and oversee policy directly. He predicted that "Amha Israel" would be the surprise of the elections, securing double-digit mandates.

Roadside Weapon Incident

Haddad also addressed a recent controversial incident where he brandished a firearm during a traffic dispute:

"A man blocked me on the road after an argument. I stood my ground, but I never touched the weapon or chambered a round. It was kept between my knees solely out of concern that he might escalate the situation. I will fight to prove my innocence in court."