Hasbara Star Yosef Haddad Creating New Party for 2026 Elections

Israeli-Arab activist Yoseph Haddad is working to establish a new political party ahead of the upcoming election and is in talks about partnering with former Jerusalem deputy mayor Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, sources close to Haddad told The Jerusalem Post on Monday.

General elections are scheduled to be held no later than October.

A source close to Haddad said he is seeking to turn his large social media following and public advocacy work into political influence in Jerusalem. Haddad has become one of Israel’s most prominent Arab supporters in international media, frequently defending the country on television, social media and speaking tours abroad.

He gained further prominence during the war, when his online following grew significantly and he became a regular voice in Israeli and international commentary about the country’s position.

In February, a Midgam Institute survey found that a party led by Haddad could win four Knesset seats, enough to cross the electoral threshold. At the time, Haddad’s spokesperson said that “all options are on the table,” adding that Haddad was focused on fighting for Israel in any arena where he could have influence.

The survey found that most of Haddad’s support would come from Jewish voters, with 73% from the Jewish sector and 12% from the Arab sector. It also showed that a Haddad-led party could draw voters from both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc and the opposition, potentially making it a significant factor in coalition-building after the election.

The poll suggested that Haddad’s party could outperform some currently represented factions, including Benny Gantz’s Blue and White, which has fallen below the threshold in several recent surveys.

Haddad served in the IDF and was seriously wounded during the Second Lebanon War in 2006. He later founded Together Vouch for Each Other, a nonprofit that works to connect Arab society with broader Israeli society and address problems facing Arab communities.

Hassan-Nahoum, who is originally from England, served as deputy mayor of Jerusalem from 2018 to 2023 and had previously been a member of the city council. She currently serves as special envoy for trade innovation at the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

In 2024, Hassan-Nahoum became secretary-general of Kol Israel, a faction of the World Zionist Congress. She is also active in international media as a commentator and advocate for Israel and women’s rights. She previously led the Yerushalmim party in Jerusalem’s 2013 municipal election.