Israeli Arab activist Yoseph Haddad has accused members of the ‘Squad’ of undermining Arab-Jewish coexistence in the Middle East by distorting historical facts and promoting extremist ideologies. According to Haddad, representatives of the Squad, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, and Rashida Tlaib, are either misinformed or intentionally misleading the public, contributing to rising antisemitism and the proliferation of extremist groups.
As the CEO of Together Vouch for Each Other, an organization founded in 2018 by young Israeli Arabs to bridge cultural and religious divides, Haddad has emerged as a prominent voice in Israel’s public diplomacy efforts, especially following the Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023. Since then, Jewish communities across the United States and Europe have faced a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents, with pro-Hamas demonstrations appearing on college campuses as early as October 8.
Haddad described the rise of extremist voices in the West as a result of waves of immigration and population displacement from conflict zones in the Middle East. He noted that while the majority of Muslim immigrants flee persecution in search of a better life, a vocal minority brought extremist ideologies with them, effectively holding their communities hostage. He stressed that the majority of Muslim immigrants do not support extremists, but the presence of even 10 to 20 percent of extremists within the immigration waves can create a significant threat.
When addressing accusations that Israel enforces an apartheid system between Jews and Arabs, Haddad rejected the comparison outright. He argued that real apartheid, such as in South Africa, involves segregation in transportation, hospitals, courts, sports, and even walking on sidewalks. However, in Israel, the situation is completely different, emphasizing that the country fosters integration and coexistence. Haddad criticized the emotional approach of the Squad, urging others to rely on facts instead of emotion when discussing Israel’s status.
He also mentioned a run-in with a protester he referred to as ‘the useful idiots.’ These individuals, he said, have no idea of the consequences of their actions. One such incident involved a pro-Palestinian protester who, after being presented with Hamas’ charter, claimed he was unaware of its contents. After Haddad read the charter, the protester removed his Hamas headband, acknowledging the reality of his actions.
Haddad pointed out that history can be approached in multiple ways—through religious texts like the Torah for Jews, the Bible for Christians, and the Quran for Muslims. Even atheists can consult history books to understand the deep-rooted connection of the Jewish people to the land of Israel. He emphasized that the Torah explicitly mentions the presence of Jews in Israel, tracing their presence back thousands of years. He also highlighted the Biblical reference to the birthplace of Jesus in Jewish Bethlehem, challenging the notion that Palestinian Muslims have a historical claim to the land before the Jews.
Haddad noted that while Jerusalem is never mentioned in the Quran, the term ‘sons of Israel’ appears more than 43 times. He also emphasized that the name ‘Palestine’ was imposed by the Romans as a punishment for the Bar Kokhba revolt. He highlighted that in 1947, Arabs had the opportunity to establish a Palestinian state through the UN Partition Plan, which the Jews accepted despite receiving less land and fewer resources. However, Arabs rejected the plan and opted to wage war. When the Jews emerged victorious, 156,000 Arabs remained within what became Israel. Haddad shared his personal connection to this history, explaining that his grandfather was one of those Arabs who stayed and eventually became part of the Arab Israeli identity.
Finally, Haddad warned that the cycle of bloodshed and death must be ended, emphasizing that the Palestinians, whether in the West Bank or Gaza, would suffer the most. He urged a recognition of Israel’s existence and its permanence, as continuing the cycle of conflict would lead to further suffering. Several requests for comment sent to Reps. Ocasio-Cortez, Tlaib, and Omar were not returned.