Israeli-Arab pro-Israel activist Yoseph Haddad said he was attacked from behind after a filmed debate in Los Angeles by far-right activist Dennis Faitosa, whom Haddad described as a neo-Nazi, following a heated exchange over Israel and Haddad’s service in Israel’s military.

The confrontation took place during an appearance on the Digital Social Hour podcast, where Haddad participated in a “one versus 10” format with a group of pro-Palestinian activists.

Faitosa, who recently sought the Republican nomination in California’s 30th Congressional District but was eliminated after winning only a small share of the vote, was among those who debated Haddad.

During their exchange, video from the studio showed Faitosa denouncing Haddad over his service in the Israel Defense Forces. He called the Israeli activist a “baby killer,” used a profane insult against him and described him as a “murderous monster.”

Haddad said the dispute subsequently turned physical outside the studio, where Faitosa allegedly attacked him from behind. Video of the incident showed Faitosa being taken to the ground before Haddad responded by punching him.

“I was attacked by a neo-Nazi in the US, but he didn’t know he was messing with a Golani soldier! Yesterday I came to participate in a filmed debate against a group of anti-Israel people, with the person debating me changing each time,” Haddad wrote on social media alongside video of the incident.

“He very quickly learned a lesson—because we don’t stay silent in the face of anti-Israel attacks, and he picked the wrong person!” Haddad wrote.

He said the violence reflected what he viewed as a broader pattern among anti-Israel activists who cannot prevail in verbal arguments.

“This is nothing new. When they can’t win a verbal debate, they move to a physical confrontation … The problem is that they lose there too!” Haddad added, “This is exactly the classic example of the anti-Israel crowd — they attack Israel and then whine when Israel responds and wins!”

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