Israeli-Arab activist Yoseph Haddad has voiced his concerns about the impact of the "Squad" on the delicate balance of coexistence between Arabs and Jews in the Middle East.
Haddad, who is also the CEO of Together Vouch for Each Other, an organization dedicated to bridging cultural and religious divides, has become a prominent figure in Israel's public diplomacy efforts. His rise to prominence comes in the wake of the horrific massacre by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
Haddad expressed his concerns in an interview with Fox News Digital, stating, "Representatives of the Squad are trying to harm the coexistence and partnership that exist in the region between Arabs and Jews."
He went on to criticize Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, and Rashida Tlaib for their lack of understanding and misrepresentation of the geopolitical situation in the region. "I think it was Ocasio-Cortez herself who said she had no idea about the geopolitics of this regionshes right. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib know exactly whats going on here, but they decide to lie and twist the facts," Haddad said.
According to Fox News, the aftermath of the Hamas attack has seen a surge in antisemitic incidents across the United States and Europe. Jewish communities have been targeted, and pro-Hamas demonstrations have sprung up on college campuses.
Haddad categorizes the demonstrators into three groups: the uninformed, the paid protesters, and the extremists. He warns that the latter, who have migrated from the Middle East, pose the greatest threat.
Haddad attributes the rise of extremist voices in the West to immigration and population displacement from conflict zones in the Middle East. He warns that a small percentage of extremists among the immigrant population can equate to millions of potential threats.
"When you have so many immigrants all around the world, its enough for 10 or 20 percent of them to be extremists and suddenly, youre dealing with millions of extremists," he said.
Haddad also criticizes governments for their ostrich-like approach to the problem, burying their heads in the sand in the hope that the problem will pass unnoticed. He warns that such an approach will only make them more vulnerable.
Haddad vehemently rejects accusations that Israel enforces an apartheid system between Jews and Arabs. He argues that the reality in Israel is far from the segregation seen in apartheid-era South Africa. "In real apartheid, like in South Africa, everything was segregated transportation, hospitals, courts, sports, even walking on the sidewalks," Haddad said. "But if you actually come to Israel and see life here, its the complete opposite 180 degrees different."
Haddad also shares an anecdote about a protester he encountered, whom he refers to as one of the "useful idiots." He recounts reading the charter of Hamas to the protester, who was unaware of what he was supporting. The protester, upon realizing the implications, removed his Hamas headband.
When asked about the aspirations of the Palestinians, Haddad points to slogans often heard at anti-Israel and antisemitic protests. He suggests that the majority of Palestinians do not wish to coexist with Israel. "The majority of Palestinians do not want to live side by side with Israel," Haddad said. "So when people talk about a two-state solution and question Israels commitment, I say: Dont ask the Israelis ask the Palestinians. Youll be shocked to find that many of them arent willing to accept it."
Haddad also discusses the historical connection of the Jewish people to the land of Israel, citing references from religious texts like the Torah and the Bible. He challenges the notion that Palestinian Muslims have a historical claim to the land before the Jews. He also highlights that the term "sons of Israel" appears more than 43 times in the Quran, while Jerusalem is never mentioned.
Haddad emphasizes that in 1947, Arabs had the opportunity to establish a Palestinian state through the U.N. Partition Plan. However, they rejected the plan and chose to wage war instead. He shares his personal connection to this history, explaining that his grandfather was one of the Arabs who stayed and became part of the Arab Israeli identity.
Haddad concludes by stating that acceptance of Israel's existence is the only way to break the cycle of bloodshed and death. "Its either you accept the fact that Israel exists and is here to stay, or you continue with this cycle of bloodshed and death that we are trying to escape," said Haddad. "But the ones who will suffer the most are you, the Palestinians, whether in the West Bank or Gaza."
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