Activist Yoseph Haddad recently announced his entry into the political arena as part of the 'Amch Israel' party, led by Ofer Winter, identifying the role of Minister of Public Diplomacy as his primary goal. However, his political plans are shadowed by a legal question following an indictment filed against him in August 2025. According to reports by N12, the indictment charges Haddad with reckless and negligent use of a firearm, stemming from an incident in July 2024.
According to the indictment, during a road dispute with a scooter rider, Haddad cocked his personal firearm and fired a single shot toward the street. The indictment further notes that the scooter rider is charged with assault after spitting on Haddad's vehicle. The offense carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison. As of the time of publication, the prosecution and Haddad are engaged in intensive negotiations for a plea bargain. This process may decisively impact the sentencing and the possibility of avoiding a criminal conviction, which could affect his future political eligibility.
The case is currently being heard at the Tel Aviv Magistrates Court, with the next hearing expected in October, following the court recess. The central issue at hand is whether a ministerial appointment is possible under these circumstances. According to the High Court of Justice’s Deri-Pinhasi precedent, an individual under indictment for offenses that may indicate a moral flaw or damage public trust may find their path to a cabinet position blocked. Although this precedent has primarily been applied in cases of corruption and moral turpitude, legal experts estimate that in Haddad's case, if elected to the Knesset and seeking a ministerial post, the Attorney General would need to examine the severity of the acts, the evidentiary basis, and the public implications of the appointment.
Furthermore, Israeli law imposes restrictions on those convicted of criminal offenses sentenced to actual prison time, requiring a seven-year waiting period from the completion of the sentence before one can be elected to the Knesset, unless the Central Elections Committee Chairman determines the offense does not carry moral turpitude. Consequently, the results of the plea bargain—specifically whether it includes an agreement to avoid conviction or a determination regarding moral turpitude—will decide whether Yoseph Haddad can fulfill his political ambition and be appointed as a minister in the Israeli government.