Things escalated when Haddad asked if she viewed Israel as an apartheid state. "Yeah," she shot back, arguing it's not "originally their land" and that Israel is "abusing" Palestinians. Haddad fired back with a barrage of historical facts, challenging her on Palestine's existence as a state pre-1948.
"When was Palestine a country that Israel occupied?" he pressed, noting the region was under British Mandate after Ottoman rule, with no independent Arab Palestinian state ever established, no president, prime minister, army, or flag until 1964.The student countered by invoking the 1947 Nakba, Shakespeare's mentions of "Palestine" (which Haddad clarified referred to a Roman-era region, not an Arab state), and claims of Israeli restrictions on Palestinians, like fishing or collecting rainwater.
Haddad dismantled these point-by-point: Palestinians fished freely before October 7, 2023; Gaza was fully evacuated by Israel in 2005; and Egypt controls Gaza's southern border, not just Israel.
Tensions peaked when Haddad revealed his own story: As an Arab, he served in the IDF, commanded Jewish soldiers, and fought to protect Israel's 2 million Arabs. "Not only is it not embarrassing, I am absolutely proud," he declared. The student recoiled: "I was fine with this conversation until I found out you fought in a genocidal army."
Haddad rejected the label, insisting the IDF is "the best moral army in the world" and that he witnessed orders to avoid harming civilians.The debate devolved into rapid-fire clashes over history—Jews' ancient ties to the land, expulsions from Arab countries, rejected peace offers (like 1947's partition plan and 1990s proposals for a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as capital). The student accused Israel of massacres and olive tree burnings; Haddad blamed Hamas for hiding behind civilians and noted 80% Gazan support for October 7 atrocities.
Frustrated, she interrupted repeatedly, citing class time: "You've been holding me... I'm already late." As she walked away, Haddad called after her: "Educate yourself a little bit."
In a post-debate aside to the camera, he quipped, "Facts don't care about your emotions," labeling her stance a "404 error" amid cheers from commenters.Online reactions exploded with over 800 comments. "She doesn't hear what she wants to hear. So she doesn't even listen," wrote one. Another: "Must be tough for an Israeli Arab to speak against the lies of other Arabs. Respect!"
Critics mocked her knowledge gaps: "Her brain melted... Too many facts." Supporters hailed Haddad: "Yoseph is fighting for peace and knowledgeable about the history."
Produced by "Let's Do Something on Campus" - a youth-led Jewish pro-Israel movement promoting open dialogue, the video exemplifies campus divides over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Haddad, a vocal pro-Israel Arab, continues touring U.S. colleges, challenging narratives with his lived experience.
